Phobic Fears: 6 films like Fall: Deadpoint that play on our phobias
- Carla Davis
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Fall 2: Deadpoint is the upcoming sequel to 2022’s surprise hit film Fall. It was about two young women named Shiloh and Becky, who found themselves stuck at the top of a 2,000 foot tall broadcasting tower, and it felt so real that it basically freaked a lot of people the f**k out.
In Fall 2: Deadpoint, Shiloh’s sister Jax and friend Luce take a trip to Thailand, where they traverse Mount Kwan, only to find themselves trapped by a rockslide at a height of 3,000 feet. Fall 2: Deadpoint opens in theatres September 2.
Of course, a lot of people are afraid of heights, so both of these films really play on that visceral fear. But, what are some other “trapped” scenarios that have the power to cause an intense reaction in people? Let’s take a look at some films that explore these fears.
The Descent – If you have a fear of being stuck underground, The Descent might be a tough watch for you, but it’s one of my favorite movies. In it, a woman grieving the loss of her husband and young daughter goes on a spelunking trip with some friends, including the devious Juno.
And, yes, I said devious. In addition to indications that Juno may have been having an affair with Sarah’s husband, she has chosen a cave system that is unmapped – and she lied about it. This is really, really bad, because the women are trapped underground after a partial collapse. With no idea how to get out, they have to use their wits…and they soon discover that they are not alone. There are weird, mutant, human-like creatures throughout the cave system, and these creatures are used to eating whatever comes their way.
The Descent is claustrophobia-inducing and utterly terrifying. It is available on multiple streaming platforms, and will be added to Shudder in October as part of the horror streamer’s Season of Screams event.
The Abyss – Being stuck underground would be bad enough, but what if you were stuck underwater? That’s the premise of James Cameron’s 1989 blockbuster, in which a SEAL team is dispatched to research the sinking of a US submarine. They use an underwater drilling platform called Deep Core to help, bringing along the foreman Bud, and his ex-wife Lindsey, who designed the platform.
An accident causes the team’s submersible to become trapped at the very edge of a trench, and that’s where the thalassophobia/claustrophobia kick in hardcore. It’s been many years since I saw The Abyss, but I remember it causing me to break out in a cold sweat…it’s that intense.
For those who prefer a touch of sci-fi in their thrillers, this one also features some close encounter scenes. And pity the cast and crew members, because nearly half of the live-action photography in this film took place underwater, and they were subjected to six months of 70-hour work weeks.
The Abyss is available to watch on multiple streaming platforms.
The Poseidon Adventure – Another underwater entrapment film well worth watching is 1972’s The Poseidon Adventure. Ah, those 70s’ disaster films! They were always jam packed with big name actors, and this was no exception. TPA featured Gene Hackman, Jack Albertson, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, and Leslie Nielsen among others.
The SS Poseidon is an older luxury liner, and on New Year’s Day, it is on its final trip from NYC to Athens before moving to the scrapyard. It’s not a great new year for anyone on board, because the boat is hit by a rogue wave, and flipped upside down.
Reverend Scott (Hackman) leads a group of survivors on a quest to get to the 1” thick hull of the boat, where they hope they can be rescued, and along the way, the group encounters multiple hazards. Not everyone makes it, obviously, but it’s a harrowing journey for the survivors and viewers alike.
The Poseidon Adventure is available to rent on multiple platforms, including Prime and YouTube.
Saw – Being locked in a room with no hope of escape is a terrifying thought for almost anyone, right? That’s the premise of James Wan’s iconic 2004 film Saw. Two men (Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell) awaken in a large, dirty bathroom. One is chained to a pipe, and the other is also chained on the other side of the room. Between them is the body of a man who appears to have shot himself in the head.
While they think their situations are hopeless, it soon becomes clear that someone is playing a very bizarre and deadly game, attempting to turn them against one another. Oh, one more thing: each is provided with a saw, and while they at first attempt to saw through their chains, they eventually realize that the intention is for them to saw through their ankles in order to escape their chains.
Saw has a brilliant storyline, and doesn’t flinch when it comes to violence and gore. Saw is available to rent on multiple streaming platforms.
Like Fall 2: Deadpoint, Frozen traps us at an unmanageable height
Frozen – The scenario of being trapped is explored in a different way in this non-Disney 2010 horror survival flick. Couple Dan (Kevin Zegers) and Parker (Emma Bell) go on a skiing trip with Dan’s friend Joe (Shawn Ashmore). Just before the ski resort closes in advance of an incoming blizzard, the three convince the lift operator to let them take one more run down the slope. They never get the chance, since another operator takes over, and the lift stops halfway up.
It soon becomes evident that our three potential heroes are going to have to either brave the blizzard, or manage to get down and find a way to safety. Frozen manages to put us in the place of these three trapped souls, as they bicker, cry, suffer from frostbite, deal with wolves, and eventually give jumping a try.
That attempt to jump down into the “soft” snow doesn’t go well for the one who attempts it, and it’s a really hard scene to watch, ouch. Frozen is a great watch, and it’s available on Pluto TV and a number of other streaming services.
The Blair Witch Project – The fear of being lost in nature/the woods is referred to as “woods shock”, and that’s the phobia explored in 1999’s extremely successful independent film The Blair Witch Project.
Haters, please spare me your dismissive remarks about this sublime, absolutely terrifying film about three film students working on a documentary about the fabled Blair Witch. This film was something absolutely new and unique when it was first released, and to me, it has withheld the test of time.
The trio of Heather, Mike, and Josh visits Burkittsville, Maryland to interview the locals, then venture into the woods to explore a few of the locations mentioned in the stories.
Despite the fact that they have a compass and a map, they become hopelessly lost, finding themselves in the same exact spot they were already in at one point. Of course, the stress causes them to bicker and fight, and the nights are terrifying. They hear people laughing and running around outside their tent, and one morning, Josh is missing.
If you haven’t seen The Blair Witch Project, and are relying on the POVs of people who scoff at it or talk about how bad it is, I urge you to check it out for yourself. Watch it at night with all the lights out, and see if you feel inclined to walk into the woods in the dark.
The Blair Witch Project can be streamed on HBO Max.
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