I have recently looked at an article listing films that took place in one room or house. Personally, I cannot imagine a good story taking place in a single location. There's actually a zombie movie that centers around a guy stuck in a toilet cubicle. Not to mention the 'saw' films. I'm a little inspired to give a single-room story a go. But how would one go about doing this?
I'd probably watch 12 Angry Men, Rear Window, and My Dinner With Andre to see what they have in common and start with that.
With much introspection. These stories/movies tend to be more about the protagonist's psychological state than anything else and these tend to be man vs. self stories, minus a few outliers.
Watch Buried. The whole movie takes place in a box. This guy is buried alive. It's actually a really great movie. But talk about stripping things to the barebones. One character. One space that allows for very limited action. And one movie that is definitely worth checking out.
"Rope" by Hitchcock is a one-roomer too, I believe. He seems to come up a lot. The concept is definitely doable, though it has to be done a bit more artfully.
I adore the film Phone Booth and the whole film revolves almost entirely around a single phone booth. Clearly it's been done before. An Inspector Calls, a play, also centres around one room. I think the trick is basically stunning characterisation brought out through equally stunning dialogue. Clearly it takes a certain amount of (all right, a lot of) skill, but it has been done.
I wanted to watch it, but I'm too scared I'm a little claustrophobic myself, so the very concept fascinates and horrifies me (well, it probably horrifies just about anyone), but it's esp bad if you have these fears of being trapped!
You should watch it. It's really good. I hate small spaces and the idea of being trapped, too. But it's a really good movie. I've actually watched it a few times. You wouldn't think that you could get a whole movie out of this setting where the guy can't even sit up, but I think it's kind of brilliant.
Funny, some people wish to be cremated due to fear of being buried alive. But I think I'd be more fearful of being burned alive, myself.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie isn't limited to one room, exactly, but it does have a very limited setting and is quite worth the read.
I believe you. I've heard it's supposed to be excellent. But I just went and read the plot on Wiki and just reading that had my heart pounding and, when I got to the film's ending, I was very glad I haven't seen it! On Wiki it says the name "Mark White" or whatever the kid's name is was written on the coffin by Paul? What's that about? I googled plot twist and nothing came up.
@Mckk -- Mike White is an off scene character. He's just part of a story that the main character is told about. But Mike White is not an actual character in the movie and is never intended to be. I'm not giving anything away by saying this. You should watch it!
Yeah but I'm not gonna - it'll give me nightmares I realise you don't wanna spoil the film for other people so I'm gonna put my question in spoilers: Spoiler What I don't get is the synopsis saying "Paul" (the victim) wrote Mark's name on the coffin?
I second Rear Window. It's so well done that by the end of the film your overall experience of watching it is that you forget it takes place in one building, yet the feeling of confinement, and the frustration of that, is expressed exactly where it's needed.
Arsenic and Old Lace isn't exactly one room- but 90% does take place in the one house. Plus it's just funny as all get-out. So as for how to do it though, I think that might depend on what kind of story you want to tell. Snippets of a larger story, but only what happens to transpire in one room/house? The whole story happens in the house, so an external force is keeping them trapped inside? Maybe a shut-in's emotional journey to stepping outdoors. There are a lot of options even within that 'one room/house' setup. Also, novel or short story? I'd imagine short story would be easier, but I don't think novel would be impossible.
Closet Land, 1991 It all takes place in a single location, and is the story of a victim of political capture and subsequent torture. It's riveting. I would almost add Kiss of the Spider Woman, 1985, but I don't think that sticks to the true rigor of a story that only plays out in one location. There's a second story within the primary story, which is told by Luis Molina to ValentÃn Arregui, which takes the narrative (from the perspective of the viewer) outside of the prison they are both in and over to Nazi occupied France. So, maybe not that one... but maybe yes? I would say you need a story that wants to be told in that fashion. I don't think reverse engineering a story into the confines of a single location would be as successful as a story that naturally evolves to never leave that location. The film Closet Land is like that. One location, two characters, lots of psychological and physical torture. Kiss of the Spider Woman is kinda', sorta', almost like that in that the second story is a metaphor for the actual situation of the two imprisoned individuals (ValentÃn is a political prisoner and iirc, Luis is incarcerated under sodomy charges).
Locke is a good film, the entire thing is a man in a car (played by Tom Hardy) having different phone conversations on his journey. You get very into it and it's clever how well you feel you know all the characters despite only actually meeting one. I think you can still hear both sides of the conversation. Edit to add: the man is played by Tom Hardy, not the car!
Adding in another suggestion : The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Additionally, Waiting For Godot is told in one physical place, albeit outside.
One way to get around that is to have the main character dreaming (therefore the story technically took place in one room--the main character's bedroom, in his head while he dreamt--but for 99% of the story it might as well took place in an entire world, depending on the scope of the dream's story).
