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Lock It Down: 5 Horror Films That Are Stuck Under House Arrest

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House Arrest Horror

It’s been… *checks watch* just over a year since COVID-19 started, and the world has been put on a long-term time out. I was thinking of what kind of list I could create to commemorate such an occasion, and it seemed only appropriate to focus on horror films in which the subjects just can’t leave the house. 

In many, many horror films, we often find ourselves perplexed by the subject’s inability to wisen up and just get out of the damn house. “Why don’t they just leave?”, we wonder (while secretly glad they don’t… it would be a very short and boring movie, otherwise). Well in these films, they actually can’t leave. Whether they’re put on house arrest or held for the sake of their own safety (supposedly), these protagonists are simply stuck.

 

100 Feet (2008)

House Arrest Horror

After spending 7 years in prison for killing her abusive husband (in self defense), Marnie (Famke Janssen) is fitted with an ankle bracelet and held under house arrest for 6 months. She’s bored and lonely, but not alone — the spirit of her horrible husband is trapped in the house with her, and he’s pretty angry about the whole murder thing. As far as ghosts go, he’s rather hands-on, and Marnie is soon desperate to expel the spirit so she can serve her time in peace. 

Full disclosure, the ghost effects are… not great. But the whole “you’re literally trapped in here with a very angry and motivated ghost with a score to settle” concept is a good one. And the early scenes of Marnie trying to find something to do in the house (pre-internet, poor thing) are pretty relatable. 

Where to watch: Unavailable streaming

 

Housebound (2014)

House Arrest Horror

This New Zealand horror-comedy follows a troubled young woman named Kylie (Morgana O’Reilly) who is sentenced to 8 months under house arrest after she tries (and fails) to rob an ATM. But to add insult to her ego’s injury, she’s placed at her childhood home under the care of her eccentric mother, Miriam (Rima Te Wiata). Miriam is convinced the house is haunted, and as a reluctant Kylie learns more of the house’s secrets, she finds it harder to be a skeptic. But! It’s complicated. 

This is really just a great film to check out for yourself. It’s the feature film debut for Gerard Johnstone, and he knocks it out of the park with a horror-comedy that works both angles well. Housebound has a lot of heart, particularly in the way it communicates Kylie’s challenging relationship with her mother and stepfather. You feel Kylie’s complex shifting attitudes towards her mother — annoyance and guilt, pity and frustration — and exactly how they affect Miriam, thanks to a masterful performance by Te Wiata. 

Housebound has been highly praised by critics and fans alike, and took home the awards for Best Horror Film, Best Comedy Film, and Best Ensemble Cast at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival (one of my favorite fests). 

Where to watch: Hoopla, Tubi

 

Intruders (aka Shut In, 2015)

Agoraphobic Anna (Beth Riesgraf) has not left her house in the 10 years since her father’s death. When a group of thieves break in to steal her hidden fortune (making the unfortunately inaccurate assumption that she’d not be home), Anna — unable to leave to seek help — is forced to take matters into her own hands. 

Intruders is an interesting take on house arrest horror because the only thing keeping Anna trapped inside the house is herself. There’s no legal pressure. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave areas that they consider to be safe, but with the security of her refuge compromised, Anna is confronted with a terrifying reality. Whenever she does try to leave, she’s overcome with a crippling panic attack that drives her back inside with such intensity that she physically can’t overcome it, even with the knowledge that she’s in grave danger. 

One of the things that I love about Intruders is how it flips the script on the intruders. There’s a great moment when Anna turns the tide on their sorry asses that brought a cheer from the audience when I first saw the film at the Toronto After Dark Film Fest. The third act isn’t as strong, but it’s still a worthwhile watch. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Tubi

 

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

A spiritual successor to Cloverfield, the found footage hit, 10 Cloverfield Lane switches to a third-person narrative with a phenomenal (yet small) cast. In the film, two strangers — Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr) — are brought to the underground bunker of a quiet yet imposing man named Howard (John Goodman, who is absolutely terrifying in this role). It seems that there has been some sort of attack and the air has been poisoned, and so the surprisingly homey bunker is their only safe haven. They are to be locked inside for at least a year, but Michelle begins to wonder about the legitimacy of Howard’s claims.

While they’re not exactly under house arrest, they are locked inside this underground “home” for a set amount of time, with no contact with the outside world. They’ve been told that they can’t leave — as much as they may want to. As with most other house arrest horror, there’s a montage of the ways they find to kill time, which — after this past year of isolated quarantine — feels all too familiar. 

10 Cloverfield Lane is a bit of an unconventional addition to this list, but I feel it fits the theme. 

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and YouTube

 

Rear Window (1954)

House Arrest Horror

Widely considered to be one of Hitchcock’s best films, Rear Window is the classic tale of a housebound photographer turned armchair (wheelchair) detective. When L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies breaks his leg during a photography assignment, he’s stuck in his apartment, confined to his wheelchair and watching the neighbors through his window to kill his abundance of time. He gets wrapped up in the lives, loves, and losses of his fellow complex-dwellers, but in his near constant observance of their daily activities, he notices strange behavior from the man across the way that leads him to believe the man has killed his wife. 

Come for the murder and study in voyeurism, stay for the gorgeous long shots that pan across the complex, focusing on each apartment and the rich lives that unfold within. It’s really a beautifully shot film, with a delightful romantic development between Jeff and his girlfriend Lisa (who he was initially going to dump because he thought she’d never be able to keep up with his rough-and-ready lifestyle). 

It’s definitely more of a thriller, but to see how the concept can be given a more horror-friendly turn, check out Disturbia (2007). It’s really just a modern retelling of the Rear Window story, but with a serial killer neighbor and teen who’s stuck inside thanks to an ankle monitor that he earned by punching his teacher. 

Where to watch: Rent on AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube
Where to watch Disturbia: Rent on AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube

 

Honorable Mention: Delirium (2018)

House Arrest Horror

Tom (Topher Grace) is released from a mental institution and placed under house arrest for 30 days, with the caveat that if he has any trouble, he will be returned to the institution. Tom has inherited his father’s mansion (note that his father committed suicide 5 days prior to Tom’s release) and will be staying alone in the house, with his parole officer sent to check up on him every now and then. He suffers from hallucinations and struggles to maintain a grip on reality, receiving garbled phone calls and seeing visions of his deceased father. The situation, predictably, escalates. 

Ok, I’ll be honest, Delirium isn’t a great film. The script is awkward, the plot is predictable, and it really overextends the logic of the situation (you’re telling me that after 20 years in a mental institution, they leave the guy alone, in a house, with no guidance or ability to care for himself, and just say “you’ll be free if you can handle this for 30 days”? No). But! It fits the theme, so, here it be.

Where to watch: Netflix

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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Michael Keaton Raves About “Beetlejuice” Sequel: A Beautiful and Emotional Return to the Netherworld

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Beetlejuice 2

After more than three decades since the original “Beetlejuice” film took audiences by storm with its unique blend of comedy, horror, and whimsy, Michael Keaton has given fans a reason to eagerly anticipate the sequel. In a recent interview, Keaton shared his thoughts on an early cut of the upcoming “Beetlejuice” sequel, and his words have only added to the growing excitement surrounding the film’s release.

Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice

Keaton, reprising his iconic role as the mischievous and eccentric ghost, Beetlejuice, described the sequel as “beautiful”, a term that encapsulates not only the visual aspects of the film but its emotional depth as well. “It is really good. And beautiful. Beautiful, you know, physically. You know what I mean? The other one was so fun and exciting visually. It’s all that, but really kind of beautiful and interestingly emotional here and there. I wasn’t ready for that, you know. Yeah, it’s great,” Keaton remarked during his appearance on The Jess Cagle Show.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Keaton’s praise did not stop at the film’s visual and emotional appeal. He also lauded the performances of both returning and new cast members, signaling a dynamic ensemble that is sure to please fans. “It’s great and the cast, I mean, Catherine [O’Hara], if you thought she was funny last time, double it. She’s so funny and Justin Theroux is like, I mean, come on,” Keaton enthused. O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz, while Theroux joins the cast in a yet-to-be-disclosed role. The sequel also introduces Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter, Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife, and Willem Dafoe as a dead B movie actor, adding new layers to the beloved universe.

“It’s just so fun and I’ve seen it now, I’m gonna see it again after a couple little tweaks in the editing room and I confidently say this thing is great,” Keaton shared. The journey from the original “Beetlejuice” to its sequel has been a long one, but if Keaton’s early rave is anything to go by, it will have been worth the wait. Showtime for the sequel is set for September 6th.

Beetlejuice

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‘The Unknown’ From Willy Wonka Event is Getting a Horror Movie

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Not since the Fyre Festival has an event been so lambasted online as Glasgow, Scotland’s Willy Wonka Experience. In case you haven’t heard about it, it was a children’s spectacular that celebrated Roald Dahl’s offbeat chocolatier by taking families through a themed space that felt like his magical factory. Only, thanks to cellphone cameras and social testimony, it was actually a sparsely decorated warehouse filled with flimsy set designs that looked like they were bought on Temu.

The famous disgruntled Oompa Loompa is now a meme and several hired actors have spoken out about the inelegant party. But one character seems to have come out on top, The Unknown, the mirror-masked emotionless villain who appears from behind a mirror, terrifying younger attendees. The actor who played Wonka, at the event, Paul Conell, recites his script and gives some backstory to this frightening entity.

“The bit that got me was where I had to say, ‘There is a man we don’t know his name. We know him as the Unknown. This Unknown is an evil chocolate maker who lives in the walls,'” Conell told Business Insider. “It was terrifying for the kids. Is he an evil man who makes chocolate or is the chocolate itself evil?”

Despite the sour affair, something sweet may come out of it. Bloody Disgusting has reported that a horror movie is being made based on The Unknown and may get a release as early as this year.

The horror publication quotes Kaledonia Pictures: “The film, gearing up for production and a late 2024 release, follows a renowned illustrator and his wife who are haunted by the tragic death of their son, Charlie. Desperate to escape their grief, the couple leave the world behind for the remote Scottish Highlands – where an unknowable evil awaits them.”

@katsukiluvrr evil chicolate maker who lives in the walls from willies chocolate experience in glasgow x #glasgow #willywonka #wonkaglasgow #scottish #wonka #theunknown #fyp #trending #foryou ♬ its the unknown – mol💌

They add, “We are excited to begin production and look forward to sharing more with you as soon as possible. We are actually only a few miles from the event, so it is quite surreal to see Glasgow all over social media, worldwide.”

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