Circle and 3 Other Thrillers About Survival Games Based on a Completely Unique Idea
These flicks will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Survival games have become a cinematic pleasure in their own right. This hybrid genre combines science fiction, horror, and dramatic thriller elements, allowing viewers to experience the bizarre power of the concept that drives and defines such films.
1. Exam, 2009
Exam is a thriller about eight finalists taking an exam for a job at a prestigious corporation. Stuart Hazeldine's film combines the concepts of Cube and 12 Angry Men to tell the story of people confronting each other in a confined space.
In the allotted 80 minutes, the contestants must find the answers to the questions, which are absent from the exam sheet. Thus, the contestants must learn to cooperate, compete, and find ways to resolve their contradictions.
2. Cube, 1997
A meeting of strangers in a cube-shaped room is the prologue to Vincenzo Natali's psychological thriller, the flagship of all puzzle films that have appeared since.
The Canadian film is notable for its inventive zeal – Natali enclosures a clever concept within a cinematic square, making it the driving force of the film. The characters move from room to room via hatches and encounter deadly traps triggered by motion or sound sensors.
They realize too late that they are in a futuristic space where cubic rooms have a specific order of movement.
3. Devil, 2010
What happens when five strangers get stuck in an elevator? Considering this hypothesis with mystical overtones, let's assume that the devil himself is among them.
This is what the film produced by M. Night Shyamalan tells us. From this director, we can expect both discouraging twists and thrilling surprises in the finale.
Devil can rightfully be called a concept film, personally signed by Shyamalan and assembled according to his signature recipe. Whether it's the best or the worst is up to the audience to decide.
4. Circle, 2015
Fifty strangers become participants in a deadly game. It is forbidden to cross the red circle – instant death awaits those who do. This terrifying elimination game continues until only one winner remains.
Circle takes viewers through a spectrum of emotions, from the novelty of the concept to complete confusion. Along with the tension the film maintains, many episodes are designed to test viewers' patience; the film lacks acting flexibility and black humor.