36 Movies About Isolation To Watch During This Lockdown

Disclaimer: Getting to watch movies during this lockdown that has been implemented to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a huge privilege. However, if watching movies where people are in isolation or reading an article about such movies trigger you in any way, please proceed with caution. If not, waltz right in.

Ever since the first few cases of the coronavirus disease appeared in India, state governments started to take measures. People started to self-quarantine themselves, appealed for work-from-home, and maintained a healthy social distance. But things hit the fan royally when Narendra Modi appeared on national television at 8:00 PM and announced a national lockdown to stem the spread of the virus. Some started panic shopping. Some started vigorous social distancing. And a massive chunk of the country began walking towards their homes. But there were a privileged few, like me, who started stockpiling movies to watch during this period.

Now, on the first day itself, I understood that movies that portray escapism in any way won’t work for me. They’ll only increase my urge to go out and do all the things that I did before when things were normal, from a certain point of view of course. Then I tried watching movies and TV shows that were so far away from reality and out there that I could have my daily dose of escapism without triggering an urgency to go out (link to the article on that is down there). But even that didn’t pan out all too well because too much brainlessness isn’t satisfying. That’s when I found myself gravitating towards movies about isolation.

SEE ALSO: 10 Mindless Things To Watch In Quarantine Without Worrying About Sh*t!

Why? Maybe I related with those people in isolation since I’m locked up in my home. Maybe I found ways to deal with my isolation while watching people in this state of seclusion. Maybe I realised how much worse my home quarantine can be by watching those bone-chilling tales of isolation. I don’t know. But here’s a list of some of the best movies about isolation. The #1 rule of this list is that it has to be a movie where at least 85-90 percent of the screen time is limited to one place. That place can be a building, a room, a vehicle, or a goddamn island.

Trapped (dir. Vikramaditya Motwane)

Rajkummar Rao’s brilliant performance as a man trapped in his newly bought flat didn’t impress me at first. Because I, a person from Siliguri, was unaware of the problems that come with high rise buildings since there aren’t many here. One trip to Mumbai later and I was hooked. Now I know that if I get locked out in any flat, those cockroaches that I kill are going to become my breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.

The Invitation (dir. Karyn Kusama)

There’s something weird about meeting your ex with your current partner. What’s weirder is meeting your ex, who now is with a former drug user, along with your friends, current partner and two other people, in a house that’s locked from the inside and the key is nowhere in sight. Oh, and your ex, her partner, and those shady characters are probably out to drug and kill everyone. And just to take your anxiety to the next level, the whole movies take place in that one insanely well-lit house.

The Lighthouse (dir. Robert Eggers)

If I tell you that there’s a Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe movie where they’re playing two drunkards stuck in a lighthouse, I am sure you aren’t going to think much about it. In addition to all that if I say that there aren’t any supernatural elements in them, you’ll walk away from me and never watch it altogether. But trust me when I say that no other movie has sunken its teeth into the topic of toxic masculinity and how it can be a vicious monster when subjected to isolation like The Lighthouse.

Train to Busan (dir. Sang-ho Yeon)

The premise is similar to any zombie movie. An infection causes the dead to come back to life and their bite has the same effect. If you want to live, you’ve to run. What Sang-ho Yeon does with that? He puts the infected and the healthy in a high-speed train hurtling towards Busan while the entirety of South Korea crumbles. It’s thrilling, action-packed and extremely emotional. And it has everyone’s favourite actor from Parasite, Woo-sik Choi, in a small but very effective role.

Buried (dir. Rodrigo Cortes)

Ryan Reynolds is trapped in a coffin. That’s it. Ryan Reynolds is trapped in a coffin and he doesn’t know why. He has a telephone whose battery is obviously draining. Therefore he only has a limited amount of time in his hands which he has to use to survive and learn the reason why he’s in a goddamn coffin. Reynolds’ performance is off the charts and hence it is kind of sad that not many film fans talk about it. Please rectify it. Now.

12 Angry Men (dir. Sidney Lumet)

Apart from a few exterior shots of a courtroom, Lumet’s debut movie takes place in a jury room where twelve jurors decide the fate of a kid who has allegedly murdered his father. Eleven of the jurors are sure that the kid has done. But one isn’t. So, they discuss why that one juror believes so for around ninety minutes. And in that ninety minutes, the movie covers topics of the class divide, privilege, toxic masculinity, humanity, justice, injustice, and so much more. It’s technically a perfect film.

Green Room (dir. Jeremy Saulnier)

As far as my limited film knowledge goes, I don’t think anyone has come up with the concept of turning a green room into one of the scariest places. Yes, there are neo-Nazis led by an incredibly scary Patrick Stewart. But it’s a green room. How can that be scary? Oh! If someone has been murdered in it and you witness it despite being told to stay away from it and now you’ve nowhere to go. The movie is terrifying, dripping with black humour, and satisfyingly gory. So, brace yourselves before watching it.

Rear Window (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Ayyo! The master of suspense has finally entered the list and how. Hitchcock tells the story of an adrenaline junkie, played by the effortlessly awesome James Stewart, confined to his apartment due to an injury. He spends all his time watching the activities of his surroundings and eventually starts to suspect that somebody has been murdered! I’ll admit that the first time I watched it, I didn’t even realise that the camera never leaves the apartment. Yeah, it is that good and that intense!

Rope (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Another stellar use of a single location by Hitchcock is in this shining display of the director’s bomb-under-the-table theory of using suspense to engage the audience (check out the theory here). I won’t say what’s the ‘bomb’ but I’ll say this that after watching it, you’ll definitely think twice before choosing a elitist megalomaniac who wants to display their power by killing people and getting away with it as your quarantine partner. If you think that’s a reference to a real person, you’re goddamn right!

Phobia (dir. Pawan Kripalani)

In my opinion, this Radhika Apte starrer has gone from being a film that nobody watched to being under appreciated. Now, with everyone in isolation, I think it’s time to give Kripalani’s direction, storytelling, and Apte’s hauntingly convicing performance as an agoraphobic woman its due credit. I think that this is the first Bollywood horror movie where I didn’t have to make an effort to stay engaged. Technically, Phobia walked so that Trapped could fly.

Dog Day Afternoon (dir. Sidney Lumet)

My man, Sidney Lumet is back with another one-location movie. This time it’s a bank robbery. This time there’s Godfather alumni Al Pacino and John Cazale. And they’ve nowhere to go. I feel that it’s a great subversion of heist movie tropes because we usually see the perp escaping in some way or another. But what if they fail because they’re so f*cking dumb? What are they going to do? How’re they going to handle the ever-rising pressure? That’s all what this tight AF film is all about.

Die Hard (dir. John Mctiernan)

I am sure you could see John McClane swinging into this list of movies about isolation from a mile away. Right? It’s a classic in terms of using a single location to give all the thrills, chills, laughs, gasps, and practically everything you need in an action movie. Dwayne Johnson tried to recreate it with Skyscraper but it never understood the essence of what makes Die Hard what it is. What is the essence, you ask? Well, it’s the portrayal of McClane’s character flaws and his constant urge to overcome them with only Sgt. Powell as a voice of reason to guide him.

Get Out (dir. Jordan Peele)

It’s easy to forget that Peele’s debut film takes place in one location because of how spacious the Armitage household is. I mean just imagine having all that place at your disposal and still being trapped inside your mind by a bunch of white people. That’s terrifying. Yes, technically the movie switches between Chris and Rod. But since Chris is still in that godforsaken house off-screen, Get Out is one hell of a movie about isolation.

1408 (dir. Mikael Hafstrom)

I don’t love most Stephen King movie adaptations. The ones that I do are on this list. The reason why I love this one is because I have a dream of going to the most haunted places and experiencing something paranormal. Just a little glimpse. Anything. Not to get the assurance that there’s something after I die. Just for the thrill. And the way Hafstrom shows how that can go wrong with impeccable direction and amazing use of practical and digital effects really gets me every time. Also, how brilliant is John Cusack in this? Ugh!

[REC] (dir. Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza)

Okay, here’s a suggestion. Please don’t watch the sequels that came after this film or its Hollywood adaptation. They’re all shit. This movie is pure gold and serves as a great reminder of how well the whole hand-held horror trope can work if it’s used intelligently. In addition to that, it injects you with a very real fear of what isolation can feel like and how that fear can snowball into something else once classism, racism, and ego comes into play. Also, it has the power to crumble your dreams of ground reporting as a journalist.

The Raid: Redemption (dir. Gareth Evans)

Asian action movies have always been superior to that of anything that goes on in the West. And among Asian action movies, Indonesian action movies are probably a cut above the rest, with Evans’ one-location adrenaline pumper being right at the top. It’s basically Die Hard on cocaine or any performance enhancing drug while being choked by the grimy walls of a desolate building. I’ve heard that blow-by-blow action films aren’t usually engaging. Let this movie tell you otherwise and introduce you to action Gods like Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, and Yayan Ruhian. Action Gods!

Dredd (dr. Pete Travis)

Sylvester Stallone single-handedly destroyed Judge Dredd’s reputation that he had created via the graphic novels. On the other hand Karl Urban single-handedly made him a cult icon by locking himself up in a building with a rookie and the most notorious gangster in town, Ma-Ma (played by ever villainous Lena Headey). This movie doesn’t hold back on its action and it goes all out in terms of gore. Because you need to feel the heat that a person whose last name is Dredd can bring. It’s a shame that this movie didn’t spawn a franchise.

Locke (dir. Steven Knight)

I am sure you’ve heard that joke, or made it yourself, that all the directors are trying to hide Tom Hardy’s face in one way or another. Yeah, this is one of those movies where his face is on full display as he drives from Birmingham to London. The movie has a few external shots. Or else you are in the car with Tom Hardy who gives a performance that will definitely make you ask how the f*ck is he doing that?! It has a wide array of talented British actors lending their voices but technically it’s a one man show about a man losing everything while he’s alone.

The Shallows (dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)

Like husband, like wife. Ryan Reynolds decided to showcase isolation in a coffin. Blake Lively did the same on a rock while a blood-thirsty shark is trying to kill her. The best part about the movie is that it makes everything feel believable. If you haven’t ever surfed, you are definitely not going to after watching this. If you have, you’ll probably point out a few problems. But I am sure you’ll end up commending how well Jaume uses an open location to instill a sense of loneliness.

The Hateful Eight (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

In my opinion, Tarantino has made only two comfort films. One’s The Hateful Eight and the other’s of course Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Once Upon’s for the summer and The Hateful Eight is for the winter. You can get cozy in your blankie and watch several hours of beautifully scripted scenes being played out by some of the best actors available in the pool. Tarantino aptly shows that if you a fill a room with the wrong (or right) people and then lock them inside in some way, it makes for some high octane entertainment.

Murder on the Orient Express (dir. Sidney Lumet)

What the hell was up with this guy, Lumet, and confined spaces? I am just kidding. I love him and wish he could’ve been immortal so that he could’ve found various closed spaces to tell engaging stories. Also, why do we try to remake anything when the original is this good. From Albert Finney’s genre-defining performance to the great Ingrid Bergman gracing the screen and Sean Connery charming the pants off of everyone, all in the tight bogeys of a train, this is another pitch perfect thriller by the master of genres.

Alien (dir. Ridley Scott)

The movie’s subtitle, ‘In space no one can hear you scream’, practically spells it out for you that it is going to be about isolation. You have no source of entertainment, yes. You have nothing to look at outside other than the literal void of space, yes. You have the sense of irritation that comes with loneliness creeping up on the characters, yes. But do you know what’s also creeping up on the astronauts aboard the Nostromo? An unkillable alien with a seemingly infinite capacity for eating anything that moves!

The Shining (dir. Stanley Kubrick)

If anyone asks me what’s my favourite horror movie, I always say that it’s The Shining. Because it turns one of the things that I hold dear to my heart into a monster i.e. family. I mean, just imagine that you’re in isolation with your parents, which currently many if you are in, and then one day the cabin fever gets to them and they try to chop you up because the voices told them to do so. What are you going to do? Yes, the movies have shown us that you should kill them. But can you? So interesting!

Misery (dir. Rob Reiner)

I love this movie so much that I’ve written an entire article on how it predicted the toxic relationship fans and their idols will have due to the increase in accessibility to each other. But the reason you really feel the air being sucked out due to the toxicity is because of Reiner’s razor-sharp direction and Bates and Caan’s crackling performances. Bates won an Oscar for this FFS! Do I need to convince you any more why you should watch it if you haven’t already? Okay, it has one of the most bone-chilling scenes in the history of horror movies and it’s just a few seconds long.

The Evil Dead / Evil Dead (dir. Sam Raimi, Fede Alvarez, respectively)

This is a rare situation where I feel that the remake is as good as the original. Both of them respect the horror genre and make good use of a wonky cabin in the middle of nowhere. The only reason I prefer the remake is because it does away with the unnecessary humour that sometimes came in the way of the horror of being isolated from the world and being haunted by an ancient entity in the case of the original. Also, Jane Levy saying ‘feast on this motherfuc*r’ before driving a chainsaw into the devil’s face in a blood rain… classic!

Under the Shadow (dir. Babak Anvari)

I have lost count of how many times I have recommended this movie to everyone because it is so perfect. There’s a mother and a daughter stuck in their apartment in the middle of a war in Tehran. What’s keeping them there? The war of course. The mother’s undying urge to become something more than what society wants her to be. Regressive laws. Superstition. And just genuine fear that your flaws will get the better of you and you’ll end up scarring your child for life. Also, there may or may not be a Djinn that gobbles up little children just because it can. It’s really not that clear but it’s clear enough to make you sh*t your pants.

The Thing (dir. John Carpenter)

Horror movies taking place in isolation ka baat ho raha hai aur Carpenter ji ka naam na aaye? Aisa ho sakta hai kya? I don’t know about you but I adore movies that deal with trust issues in a group of people belonging to the same species! You will think that six or so people will stand up for each other. But the moment the ideal situation starts to turn into something else, you will be surprised how quickly we drop our masks and have a go at each other. The alien is just a physical manifestation of all the venom that we carry with us every day.

May the Devil Take You (dir. Timo Tjahjanto)

I had come across Timo during my quest for Indonesian action films. He has impressed me very much with Headshot and The Night Comes for Us. But little did I know that the man can do horror and that too in isolation. He does take a page out of The Shining to show what it’s like to face your family if they turn into your worst nightmare. And it also deals with the very relevant discussion of how the current generation is being forced to carry the debts left by the previous one.

Don't Breathe (dir. Fede Alvarez)

Every movie about a pandemic or an alien invasion or any calamity shows looting. Now, picture yourself in that situation. You know there’s a blind, apparently helpless, guy in a house. You can easily steal stuff from him and survive. You go in there and it turns out he’s a killer! And now you’ve no way to escape because the moment you move, he knows where you are. That’s what this second Fede entry is all about, minus the pandemic-calamity part. These kids are just assholes. They kinda had it coming for them.

Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)

Garland is one of the most dependable names in the sci-fi, horror genre. In his directorial debut, he kicks off stuff with the oldest of sci-fi tropes i.e. questioning what humanity exactly means. But then he changes gears so quickly and drives into the road that leads to anxiety kingdom that you won’t even realise that he has done it. And now what was looking like a romantic getaway with a beautiful android, because it’s Alicia Vikander FFS, turns into a nightmare with a megalomaniac in the form of a bald Oscar Isaac. Additionally, if the ending doesn’t make your blood boil, in a good way, I’m sure you’re not human.

Kaun (dir. Ram Gopal Varma)

Remember when Ram Gopal Varma’s movies used to be good? This film is undoubtedly an example of RGV’s immense potential. Here he pulls a Hitchcock by using a single location as the (apparent) protagonist’s prison. She has nowhere because not only is it raining outside, but also a serial killer is on the loose! The movie goes off the rails as Varma tries to use long takes without proper planning. However, that final twist more than makes up for it. I wish the twist happened way earlier in the film so that the film could’ve dwelled on it longer.

Cast Away (dir. Robert Zemeckis)

In 2000, Tom Hanks’ character was isolated from the world on an island. He had to survive by hook or by crook so that he could get off of that island. In 2020, Tom Hanks was isolated from the world on an island continent. He had to survive by hook or by crook so that he could get off of that island. Do I need to write anything more to explain how unintentionally relevant this movie is? I mean, it’s right there.

Exam (dir. Stuart Hazeldine)

I am sure every alternate person in the world has given one of those tests which has a question set by a person who just wants to be cocky. Or you’ve at least come across one of those WhatsApp forwarded questions which has the dumbest answer ever. Now what if that question was at the centre of the plot of a film and the film was set in a stress inducing room and full of people that have a low tolerance for frustration. That said, I think it is brilliantly acted and the conversations are very well written.

Free Fire (dir. Ben Wheatley)

I think this is the only movie on this list that won’t stress you out although it is about a bunch of gangsters who meet in a deserted warehouse to do a gun deal. The deal goes sideways and now everyone wants to kill everyone. But since everyone’s stupid, their negotiations are hilarious, thus making the kills and the wounds seem even more hilarious. On top of that it features talented faces like Michael Smiley, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley, Noah Taylor, Jack Reynor and more.

</iframe>

Dawn of the Dead (dir. George A. Romero)

I love Zack Snyder and his style and I love Edgar Wright and his ability to parody something without disrespecting it. But nothing beats the original. Yeah, it is tacky. It is unintentionally hilarious. But, even back then, it urged audiences to ponder upon their affinity towards capitalism and how it can end us all by setting the film in a mall, the poster boy of capitalism. And what are we doing now? Thinking about capitalism and how it is ending us quicker than the coronavirus.

The Towering Inferno (dir. John Guillermin)

We started this list with a skyscraper. We’re end this list with a skyscraper because we love well-rounded lists like we love our well-rounded movies. I’ve to admit that this film blew me away. I went in to this movie thinking it’s going to be a product of its time. The acting’s going to be stilted. The special effects are going to be bad. But, boy-oh-boy, did it subvert my expectations and took my anxiety to the next floor. I really want to see how it was made because those fires look painfully real!

There, done. That’s 36 movies about isolation that you can watch during isolation. But please do stay isolated because there’s a deadly virus out there that’s killing people left, right and centre. And for some reason, even without infecting anyone, it is bringing out the worst in them and turning them into racists, casteists and just overall bad people. I am sure by the time you make your way to the 17th film on this list, you’ll get the hang of how to isolate yourself. I mean, it is the least we can do to save humanity. In India, we’ve been told that the national lockdown will be maintained for 21 days. If you watch one movie from this list ever day, you’ll sail through it. If it extends, I will try to come up with more lists. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and don’t lose

I hope you all would like my post and if you want felling boring and want to earn money than click the link below

https://winzo.sng.link/Bqcna/66u5?_dl=&_p=3MqM0N7HyQ

Download it and play games and earn money

Thank you

36 best movies to see in lock down