The idea of claustrophobia is a perfect basis for any film created to scare or make the viewer feel distressed. We have seen many horror films, such as the 2000s hit The Descent, that are set in small spaces to make the viewer feel the dread of the characters. Small spaces can certainly make someone feel a sense of approaching doom or convinced that they will be trapped in that space forever. Many science fiction films set in outer space show you the ability that astronauts have to make life and death decisions while confined in tight space vessels.
Claustrophobia is something that many people suffer from. It can be triggered by elevators, rooms with no windows, or even small cars. It creates a sense of fear in the individual that can cause them to act irrationally or suffer panic attacks. It is no surprise why this phobia has been the center of many horror films. With that said, the idea of claustrophobia has spanned across many genres including science fiction, survival, and action-thrillers. Although these films may be scary to many, let’s take a look at seven movies that have captured the idea of claustrophobia within their plots.
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7 Room
A24
Although Room was based on a fictional novel of the same name, there have been real-life stories of individuals being kidnaped and held in a confined space for a very long time. The A24 film is considered a drama, but the first act could absolutely be classified as horror. The story follows a young woman named Joy Newsome (Brie Larson) who has been held captive in a small shed for seven years by a sinister man known as Old Nick (Sean Bridgers). For the past five years of her captivity, she has been raising a son, brilliantly played by Jacob Tremblay. Luckily the two do escape, and the rest of the film focuses on them adapting to the outside world.
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6 The Abyss
20th Century Fox
For anyone who has a fear of water, drowning, or small spaces, James Cameron’s The Abyss will certainly scare you from beginning to end. The story follows a group of engineers who are put to a secretive task of recovery in the lowest depths of the ocean, encountering extra terrestrials along the way. The deep, dark ocean is a perfect location to induce claustrophobia, and we are given several scenes where the characters almost drown. One of the most terrifying scenes consists of Bud (Ed Harris) and his wife Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) desperately trying to escape a small underwater vessel as it quickly fills up with water.
5 Apollo 13
Universal Pictures
Apollo 13 tells the true story of the failed NASA mission to the moon, which leads to a desperate mission of getting the astronauts home safely. The film is an epic visual achievement that shows you the terrifying reality of space and the claustrophobic dread that comes with it. In space, there is no way out until you get the ship back to Earth safely. The movie is a ticking clock of disaster and shows you the pure precision that astronauts have in deadly situations aboard a claustrophobic vessel.
4 127 Hours
Warner Bros.
Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours depicts the true story of Aron Ralston who sawed off his own arm after it was pinned between two rocks. The movie is quite terrifying once you realize the dreadful situation that Ralston (James Franco) was in for five days. The space was very small, and to make matters worse, he quickly ran out of food and water. It is a story of strength and determination and features the sheer capabilities of Boyle as a director. It is no easy feat to make a film confined to basically one area, but Boyle pulls it off giving us a very exciting film.
3 The Descent
Pathé Distribution
The Descent is a perfect example of using claustrophobic situations in a horror film. The story follows a group of friends who embark on a journey into underground caves, eventually running into prehistoric monsters. Although it is an effective monster film, many of the scariest scenes are when the friends are crawling through tiny cave tunnels. At one point, one of them gets caught in a small tunnel, as the cave begins to collapse. The fear of being stuck in a space that small, or potentially getting crushed, is something that nobody wishes to experience.
2 Panic Room
Sony Pictures Releasing
Panic Room could be one of David Fincher’s most underrated films. Jodie Foster plays a recently divorced woman who moves into a stunning New York City brownstone with her daughter (Kristen Stewart). During their first night in the house, criminals break in, and the two must lock themselves into a panic room. The film is a nail-bitter that shows the dread of being confined in a small space, with deadly predators on the other side. At the same time, Foster’s character is extremely claustrophobic. It is smart and exciting from beginning to end and is the perfect movie for a Saturday night.
1 Buried
Warner Bros. Pictures
Being buried alive is a situation that everybody hopes they will never have to experience. Ryan Reynolds gives a fantastic performance as a kidnaped man, buried alive in the desert with nothing more than a cell phone, pen, and lighter. The entirety of Buried takes place within the coffin, making it a monumental achievement in filmmaking. We watch as Reynold’s character desperately uses the tools available to try to escape. At the same time, the coffin is slowly filling up with sand, making it that much more claustrophobic. It is a ticking time-bomb of a film that will have you feeling constant dread from beginning to end.
