Claustrophobia is the fear of being enclosed in a confined space and unable to escape. It can be triggered by many situations or stimuli such as elevators, windowless rooms, small cars, and tight-necked clothing. For some people, even going to the movies can make them feel claustrophobic.
While many movies give us a sense of an expansive world in which popular characters roam freely, the magic of cinema can also tighten the walls around us and provide some truly claustrophobic encounters. Few feelings create anxiety more than being trapped in a small space. Many films take advantage of this discomfort, often being filmed in one location or room for the entire movie.
A movie does not have to be shot in an enclosed setting to be able to invoke a feeling of claustrophobia in the audience. Many films play on the fear of confined spaces by using elements that trigger that same overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia. This can include the feeling of being trapped, being somewhere where you cannot leave or escape, or being hunted down or in mortal danger.
The infographic below looks at some of the best movies that make viewers feel claustrophobic, ranked in order of their claustrophobic factor. The varied settings include: an estate, a phone booth, a panic room, a canyon, a bunker, and a coffin. Some are underground, while others are right out in the open. Nevertheless, all of those settings play successfully into conjuring up feelings of claustrophobia.
The infographic includes information on each of the movie directors, box office statistics, release date, famous quotes, and more. NOTE: All of the films are rated R, except for 10 Cloverfield Lane, which is PG-13.
Source: Movies That Make You Feel Claustrophobic by Storage Centres
Which claustrophobia-ridden big screen tales give you goosebumps? Leave a comment below and let us know!
As Above, So Below (2014) – This movie starts out interestingly enough, exploring the catacombs of Paris, but the farther down they go, the weirder it gets. If you’re even the slightest bit claustrophobic, it will freak you out!
The Last Descent (2016) is based on a real event that took place in November 2009. I’m not even claustrophobic but I had to stop watching because I couldn’t stand it anymore! Now I’ll always be haunted by the image of the poor guy who got stuck in the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah.
Submarine movies have most of their action and drama taking place inside a small confined space while submerged hundreds of feet underwater. So if you are claustrophobic, keep this in mind before watching “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “The Hunt for Red October,” or “K-19: The Widowmaker.”