Movies About Being Trapped

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a 1980 horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The story follows the Torrance family, comprised of Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy, and his son Danny. Jack takes a job as an off-season caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. As time goes on, Jack descends into madness, eventually attempting to murder his wife and son. Danny, who possesses psychic powers known as “the shining”, is able to use these powers to help his family escape the evil forces of the Overlook Hotel.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a 1982 horror/sci-fi film directed by John Carpenter. The story follows a group of American researchers based in the Antarctic as they are terrorized by a shape-shifting alien that has assimilated the bodies of their colleagues. As the creature stalks them, they must stay one step ahead in order to survive. The movie is known for its intense atmosphere and the excellent special effects. It has become a cult classic and is considered one of the best horror films of all time.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a psychological horror movie starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. In the film, novelist Paul Sheldon (Caan) is rescued from a car crash by the deranged former nurse Annie Wilkes (Bates). Annie forces Paul to write another novel featuring her favorite character, Misery Chastain, while holding him captive in her home. As he works, Paul realizes that Annie is a dangerous psychopath and that his survival may depend on his ability to outwit her. The movie follows the intense battle of wits between the two, as Paul desperately attempts to escape Annie's clutches and bring her dark secrets to light.

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel, Oliver Stokowski, Wotan Wilke Möhring
Rated R

The Experiment is a 2001 German thriller film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. The film follows a group of men who have volunteered to take part in a psychological experiment at an isolated research facility. The experiment is designed to simulate a prison environment, with the men assigned the roles of either "prisoner" or "guard." The experiment quickly spirals out of control, as the guards take their roles too far and the prisoners, led by the rebellious Berus (Moritz Bleibtreu), fight back against their captors. The film ultimately deals with themes of power, control, and group dynamics, ultimately exploring the thin line between order and chaos.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak, William Bendix
Rated Not Rated

Lifeboat is a 1944 American drama-thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film follows eight survivors of the sinking of a British freighter in the Atlantic Ocean, who are stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. The survivors include a nurse, a journalist, a millionaire, a stewardess, a steward, a German U-boat captain, a British seaman, and a black sailor. Forced to make decisions in order to survive, the group is divided by national and class differences, while they are hunted by the German U-boat. The survivors must find a way to unite and work together to stay alive, while being tested by their own moral beliefs. With its character-driven plot, Lifeboat explores themes of morality, heroism, and the human condition.

From James Mangold, starring John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes
Rated R

From Dan Trachtenberg, starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
Rated PG-13

From Vincenzo Natali, starring Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller
Rated R

From Neil Marshall, starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder
Rated R

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Rated R

From Joel Schumacher, starring Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

From Jeremy Saulnier, starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart
Rated R

From Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, starring Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, Emilio Buale
Rated TV-MA

From Rodrigo Cortés, starring Ryan Reynolds, José Luis García-Pérez, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky
Rated R

From J.C. Chandor, starring Star: Robert Redford
Rated PG-13

From Mikael Håfström, starring John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub
Rated PG-13

From André Øvredal, starring Brian Cox, Emile Hirsch, Ophelia Lovibond, Michael McElhatton
Rated R

From Wes Ball, starring Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Rated PG-13

From James Watkins, starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell
Rated R

From Adam Wingard, starring Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen, Nicholas Tucci
Rated R

From Alexandre Aja, starring Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi, Laura Boujenah
Rated TV-14

From Bruce McDonald, starring Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly, Hrant Alianak
Rated Not Rated

From Adam Robitel, starring Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine
Rated PG-13

From Simon Brand, starring Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Bridget Moynahan, Joe Pantoliano
Rated Not Rated

From John Erick Dowdle, starring Chris Messina, Caroline Dhavernas, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green
Rated PG-13