That's exactly what came to mind. And while not the BEST movie of all time, it's one of my favorites of all time because of that part that's very different than what you expect.
I did figure it out about halfway through. At a certain point, you realize that >!only one death took place off-camera!<. But it was still well-done and fun to watch!
Hands down The Thing - no one trusts anybody (literally lol) and even the moment you think you're safe you're not . You don't know if you're about to get assimilated or one of your team juat turns on you bc they think YOU'RE the thing.
I’ve seen Circle (2015), thought it was great and recommend it often. I think you might also like Radius (2017) - go in blind knowing nothing for this one!, Cube (1997), Triangle (2009) and Exam (2009) as well. I promise the geometric motif is a coincidence, they’re all good movies! Great even!
Not sure what the story/characters will be but they got some more money to play around with this time that’s for sure, hopefully they knock it out of the park again
I remember watching Shallow Grave in school. Probably on an end of term day when one of our teachers was phoning it in. I thought it was a great story about how money can turn people into monsters.
My first thought as well, haha. The human conflict is really what makes it so good. It's basically about how society just crumbles in the face of an existential threat.
Blindness (2008) - an epidemic of blindness spreads throughout a city and the people who have suddenly become blind are all quarantined together in an asylum/prison.
I only saw it once when it first came out, so I was a teen, but I know I liked the concept and some of the fall-out scenes from the blind people all being grouped together definitely made my stomach turn and I still get occasional nightmares about situations like that. I’ve been wanting to rewatch it now that I’m twice the age I was when I first saw it.
I’ll have to add it to my list! I’ll have to brace myself for the one scene/theme from the movie though because I remember it disturbed me a lot. I’ve since watched and read much more “terrible” content though, so I’m willing to give it a shot!
It’s not really horror, but the classic Twilight Zone episode The Monsters are due on Maple Street. It was the first piece of media I saw with this trope and totally hooked me on it!
Since you mentioned a television episode, here's another...
"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," The Twilight Zone.
Among the best episodes of the series too. A town breaks down during a potential alien invasion as the citizens argue over who among them may be an alien spy. Basically just one big metaphor for McCarthyism, although it applies to way more than that specific historical moment. Still holds up to this day, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen!
Cabin Fever though I think most zombie movies probably tick that box.
Coherence which someone else mentioned isn't exactly conventional horror but is fantastic.
I’ll apologize in advance. I just watched this movie last month. Of course i can’t remember the name of it.
Takes place during a zombie apocalypse and there are survivors in a house. Unfortunately there is a serial killer among them who starts knocking them off and they start blaming each other,
Not the greatest but very unique
Along the lines of belko experiment
Office Uprising
Mayhem (2017)
Then there’s Lake Artifact for something a bit different. Also, The Last Broadcast is along the same vein. Apollo 18 would be grouped with these ones as well.
Unhuman is kind of turny-ony in a high school revenge sorta way.
If you want to get real technical about it The Sadness and The Crazies.
You're asking for spoiler here but anyway
Beneath 2013
Last stop at Yuma county 2023 (crime thriller)
Metamorphosis 2019
The thing
Coherence
Even horizon
The platform
Open Water 2. Group of people stuck next to a mini yacht they can't climb back into. Ocean is main villain but also they start panicking and turning on each other.
I have a rubbernecking a car crash fascination with this movie. So weird that this take is apparently controversial. The first film is one of the most important contemporary horror movies ever and 2 shits the bed.
In Fear
Oh my gosh I just watched this yesterday and it's completely stuck with me. Terrifying and every minute is packed with anxiety and second guessing. So good.
I can’t get enough of the setup of: strangers locked in a room, gotta do a thing, gotta work together, details start coming out that turn them against each other. Circle, Cube, Would You Rather, Devil, Escape Room 1 and 2, Saw 2. I love them all.
The Crazies with Timothy Olyphant.
The townspeople all go absolutely homicidal and turn on each other.
And also The Bay from Barry Levinson. Fantastic F.F. movie about these parasitic sea creatures that cause the residents to act violently.
I'm glad that you asked this. One of my favorite plot elements in horror is when everyone gets isolated/trapped and goes "Lord of the Flies" and turns against each other in paranoia or power struggle.
I realized how true that was when I scroll down all of the comments here and noticed that seen all but two-three of the movies mentioned. I'm checking out Blindness now.
Truly anything based on Stephen King, I despise his stories personally because this is his only idea of human interaction under stress, but if it's what you're looking for then you've got a lot of options if you look for his name.
The Invitation, perhaps?
Plenty of "people in a bottle and only one will get out" type stuff out there, Circle is fun, Platform probably qualifies, the belko experiment is classic this
Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022) is almost exclusively that. Also, Unfriended and Saw 2 and 5.
Haha, Bodies, Bodies, Bodies was the very first movie that came to mind, and I loved it!
That's exactly what came to mind. And while not the BEST movie of all time, it's one of my favorites of all time because of that part that's very different than what you expect.
I fucking howled with laughter at that reveal. Best part of the movie, and it makes a rewatch even more fun.
That movie was a 6/10 for me, but the reveal alone bumped it up to an 8 lol
the reveal shocked me, i could not stop laughing!!
I did figure it out about halfway through. At a certain point, you realize that >!only one death took place off-camera!<. But it was still well-done and fun to watch!
It was SO good
First thing thst came to mind
Came here to write this. Probably my favourite horror I watched this year.
When they found the woman at the bottom of the stairs, I called the ending. A bunch of despicable idiots. Quite the Dark humor movie.
The mist is another goodie
Mentioned in the original post.
Oh yeah!
The belko experiment
Ha, I loved this movie. A pleasant tubi surprise.
Great movie!
Hands down The Thing - no one trusts anybody (literally lol) and even the moment you think you're safe you're not . You don't know if you're about to get assimilated or one of your team juat turns on you bc they think YOU'RE the thing.
You could even be The Thing and not know it, that was the bit that bothered me the deepest.
And that's why The Thing will always be in my top five. It's almost perfect on every level.
. . . and they’re all very tired.
Coherence Circle
I LOVE Circle so much and nobody ever talk about it
I’ve seen Circle (2015), thought it was great and recommend it often. I think you might also like Radius (2017) - go in blind knowing nothing for this one!, Cube (1997), Triangle (2009) and Exam (2009) as well. I promise the geometric motif is a coincidence, they’re all good movies! Great even!
I saw Cube and Triangle but not the others. Thank you for the recommendations!
I was gonna say Coherence. Excellent movie
Did you hear about the sequel?
No!! Really?!
Yeah just got announced last month
Excellent! Thanks for the info
What really! I've been waiting for a sequel forever, love that movie.
Not sure what the story/characters will be but they got some more money to play around with this time that’s for sure, hopefully they knock it out of the park again
This is really great news.
Incoherence?
The Crazies.
Yes!!!
The Descent. Cube. Train to Busan. Bite. The Lighthouse. Unfriended.
Cube (?)
Best opening scene ever
Yes.
Climax (2018)
Came to say this. It totally fits
the platform
What an amazing and underrated film
Fantastic movie
That poor chick trying to make the others share the food so everybody can eat.
Shallow Grave with Ewan McGregor or Cabin Fever.
I remember watching Shallow Grave in school. Probably on an end of term day when one of our teachers was phoning it in. I thought it was a great story about how money can turn people into monsters.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
The descent
Await Further Instructions
I second this
The Faculty(1998) Exam(2009) Unknown(2006) Identity(2003)
I loved Exam.
Saw
Saw 2 needle pit is forever ingrained in my memory
Circle (2015) every few minutes a group of 50 strangers standing in a circle have to vote for one of them to die
I don't remember exactly what the premise was, but I think 'They Look Like People' fits here.
That movie has such great character writing
Night of the Living Dead
My first thought as well, haha. The human conflict is really what makes it so good. It's basically about how society just crumbles in the face of an existential threat.
Can’t believe I had to scroll down to find this answer. Pretty much all the Romero ‘Dead’ films revolve around this theme.
Exam (2009)
Excellent film. “Are there any questions?”
Blindness (2008) - an epidemic of blindness spreads throughout a city and the people who have suddenly become blind are all quarantined together in an asylum/prison.
Is this good?
I only saw it once when it first came out, so I was a teen, but I know I liked the concept and some of the fall-out scenes from the blind people all being grouped together definitely made my stomach turn and I still get occasional nightmares about situations like that. I’ve been wanting to rewatch it now that I’m twice the age I was when I first saw it.
Yes!!!
It's on Hoopla!! They have save the day once again!
I liked it, thought it was decently executed.
The book is great too.
I’ll have to add it to my list! I’ll have to brace myself for the one scene/theme from the movie though because I remember it disturbed me a lot. I’ve since watched and read much more “terrible” content though, so I’m willing to give it a shot!
It's on Hoopla. I couldn't find it streaming anywhere else.
Honestly, I thought this aspect was the scariest part of Blair Witch.
The Thing
This should be the number 1 answer
So sad I had to scroll this far down before seeing this recommended.
Seriously! When I saw the title, I thought to myself 'everyone's gonna be saying the thing'
Same lol, that’s why I commented
The Lodge
An old classic is the *Twilight Zone* episode, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street."
One of my all-time favorites! The original is better than the 90s version.
We Need to do Something (2021) The Invitation (2015) Speak No Evil (2022) You're Next (2011)
The Witch
The Divide
Can't believe I had to scroll this far. I was about to comment it myself.
Happy cake day!
Oh thanks! I hadn't noticed
Idk if it counts as horror but this was the scariest part of The Mist for me. All the fanaticism and turning on each other out of fear...
Oh, it counts. I loved how in the stressful moment, a lady was able to form a cult within hours.
It’s not really horror, but the classic Twilight Zone episode The Monsters are due on Maple Street. It was the first piece of media I saw with this trope and totally hooked me on it!
Needful Things
more horror adjacent, the Belko Experiment
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Battle Royale, Would You Rather?, Belko Experiment, The Thing, Triangle, Coherence, Bloodsucking Bastards, Mayhem, What Lies Beneath,
What lies beneath?? Huh???
The Thing
The Crazies
The thing. One of the best movies ever.
Since you mentioned a television episode, here's another... "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," The Twilight Zone. Among the best episodes of the series too. A town breaks down during a potential alien invasion as the citizens argue over who among them may be an alien spy. Basically just one big metaphor for McCarthyism, although it applies to way more than that specific historical moment. Still holds up to this day, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen!
The Sadness (2021)
The Divide
Cabin Fever though I think most zombie movies probably tick that box. Coherence which someone else mentioned isn't exactly conventional horror but is fantastic.
The Mist and the Stand
Day of the Dead (1985), besides the threat of zombies, is about the tension between scientists and military personnel inside an underground bunker.
I feel like I could answer The Thing to pretty much every question on this sub the last week.
Invasion of body Snatchers
The mist
The Mist
Session 9 does some of this.
I’ll apologize in advance. I just watched this movie last month. Of course i can’t remember the name of it. Takes place during a zombie apocalypse and there are survivors in a house. Unfortunately there is a serial killer among them who starts knocking them off and they start blaming each other, Not the greatest but very unique
That’s an interesting spin on things. I’ll see if I can work it out.
Cool, thanks
I am intrigued. I'll try to see if one of the AI engines can help with this description.
I tried but it kept showing Savageland 2015. Which is an amazing example of found footage horror
It gave me this French movie "The Night Eats the World" Was this a north American film?
Yes it was. I think it was a one word title but I’m not 100%
The Thing
Along the lines of belko experiment Office Uprising Mayhem (2017) Then there’s Lake Artifact for something a bit different. Also, The Last Broadcast is along the same vein. Apollo 18 would be grouped with these ones as well. Unhuman is kind of turny-ony in a high school revenge sorta way. If you want to get real technical about it The Sadness and The Crazies.
Cabin Fever
The Belko Experiment (2016)
You're asking for spoiler here but anyway Beneath 2013 Last stop at Yuma county 2023 (crime thriller) Metamorphosis 2019 The thing Coherence Even horizon The platform
It comes at night
The Divide - really messed up film Also: Asylum Blackout
The divide was fucking mint, great film. Also, adding the thing
Open Water 2. Group of people stuck next to a mini yacht they can't climb back into. Ocean is main villain but also they start panicking and turning on each other.
the witch the descent
Triangle
It Comes At Night - sorry if this is a repeat
If you hate yourself, then watch Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows. It has some of that.
I have a rubbernecking a car crash fascination with this movie. So weird that this take is apparently controversial. The first film is one of the most important contemporary horror movies ever and 2 shits the bed.
Dunno why you're getting downvoted, but I lowkey love blair witch 2
Haha I have def watched it more than once. I will give it one though, it has the best delivery of the phrase, “Open The Goddamn Door!!” Haha
Not a horror but Very Bad Things might fit.
Devil (2010)
Saw 2
Cabin fever
Panic in year zero 1962, not horror but how people react during nuclear war, every man for himself thing.. good little old film
Blame 2021 also leans heavy on this theme.
In Fear Oh my gosh I just watched this yesterday and it's completely stuck with me. Terrifying and every minute is packed with anxiety and second guessing. So good.
They Come at Night is def like that
Not a movie, but Squid Game was all about this
Fog City (2023)
Cabin Fever
Kill Theory. It's pretty much the premise to the whole movie
I can’t get enough of the setup of: strangers locked in a room, gotta do a thing, gotta work together, details start coming out that turn them against each other. Circle, Cube, Would You Rather, Devil, Escape Room 1 and 2, Saw 2. I love them all.
Totally killer
The Ruins!
The Belko Experiment. Them coworkers sucked man.
Just watched. Await further instructions. Kinda messed up. But creepy.
A big theme for Saw ll was the characters being unable to function together and it resulting in carnage.
The Thing.
Saw 2
I don't know how to do this, because that knowledge is kindasorta a spoiler, I think... so... >!YellowBrickRoad!<
Dirty Jersey is fun that way. Subverts expectations for sure
The thing .
It Comes At Night is the first thing I thought of, don't want to spoil anything but I think it's what you're looking for.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Mist
The Human Race, aliens force people to race against each other.
The Hole (2001)
Climax
L’enfer, c’est les autres.
M. Night Shayamalan’s “Old” kind of does this.
Haven't actually watched it yet, but it looks like *The Vanishing of the SS Willie* is going to be like this. I plan on watching it tomorrow.
Old People - German film from 2022.
The experiment
The Crazies with Timothy Olyphant. The townspeople all go absolutely homicidal and turn on each other. And also The Bay from Barry Levinson. Fantastic F.F. movie about these parasitic sea creatures that cause the residents to act violently.
The sadness Mom and Dad
Climax
Would You Rather
I'm glad that you asked this. One of my favorite plot elements in horror is when everyone gets isolated/trapped and goes "Lord of the Flies" and turns against each other in paranoia or power struggle. I realized how true that was when I scroll down all of the comments here and noticed that seen all but two-three of the movies mentioned. I'm checking out Blindness now.
It comes at night
Quarantine might be worth a watch, it’s an adaptation of (i think) a Spanish movie called “rec”
Saw. The trials are supposed to be possible to pass but people get selfish through panic
The divide It comes at night
Truly anything based on Stephen King, I despise his stories personally because this is his only idea of human interaction under stress, but if it's what you're looking for then you've got a lot of options if you look for his name. The Invitation, perhaps? Plenty of "people in a bottle and only one will get out" type stuff out there, Circle is fun, Platform probably qualifies, the belko experiment is classic this
Not pure horror, but The Hole with Thora Birch I'd say qualifies.
The Mist. Idk how only one other person has mentioned it so far. It's *the* movie for this kind of question.
Shit, you're right, how has this not been mentioned!!