Jesse Eisenberg Stars In The Best Suburban Horror Movie Streaming On Netflix
The popular 2019 horror film Vivarium is now on Netflix. The project was developed by Lorcan Finnegan, who directed the film from a screenplay by Garret Shanley. The movie stars Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg as Gemma and Tom, a young couple who are searching for their dream home. So their peculiar real estate agent takes them to a suburban housing development called Yonder.
The inspiration for Vivarium came from Finnegan’s experience of house-hunting, coupled with his fascination with the concept of suburbia as a claustrophobic and oppressive setting.
Upon entering the neighborhood, they become trapped in an eerie, labyrinthine maze of identical houses. Their attempts to leave prove futile as every road leads them back to their original house. Gemma and Tom eventually find a mysterious box with specific instructions for its content. If they don’t do as they are told, they will be trapped forever.
As time passes, Gemma’s (Imogen Poots) and Tom’s (Jesse Eisenberg) relationship deteriorates, and they become increasingly desperate to escape the bizarre suburban nightmare and unravel the true nature of their predicament. The inspiration for Vivarium came from Finnegan’s experience of house-hunting, coupled with his fascination with the concept of suburbia as a claustrophobic and oppressive setting.
The film’s production design played a crucial role in creating the monotonous and unsettling atmosphere. The uniformity of the houses was achieved by constructing a single house and duplicating it multiple times using visual effects.
The distorted portrayal of suburban life in Vivarium serves as a commentary on conformity, societal expectations, and the dehumanizing aspects of modern society.
As time passes, Gemma’s and Tom’s relationship deteriorates, and they become increasingly desperate to escape the bizarre suburban nightmare and unravel the true nature of their predicament.
The movie’s title, Vivarium, refers to an enclosed environment designed for the observation and study of living organisms. The Jesse Eisenberg film premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. Following the acquisition of distribution rights by Saban Films and Vertigo Releasing, it was released in the United States in March 2020.
The film had a simultaneous limited theatrical and video-on-demand release. Vivarium received generally positive reviews from critics. The film currently holds a rating of 73 percent on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s critical consensus described the movie as a well-acted sci-fi/horror hybrid with exciting ideas that it explores with style.
Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg were also praised for their ability to convey the growing desperation and frustration of their characters. The film’s unique concept, atmospheric cinematography, and eerie tone were also well-received. However, some viewers felt that the movie’s metaphorical themes were heavy-handed and that the narrative became repetitive in its execution.
The suburbs have been a favored setting for horror movies for a long time. This seemingly idyllic environment, with its illusion of safety, neatly manicured lawns, and picket fences, provides a perfect backdrop for filmmakers to tap into universal fears and deliver spine-chilling stories that leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
The biggest reason the suburbs work well as a setting for horror is due to the familiar-turned-eerie factor. As seen in the opening sequence of the Jesse Eisenberg movie, suburban neighborhoods are associated with security and normalcy, making it all the more unsettling when its peace and comfort are shattered by terrifying events.
The dark underbelly of suburbia is another aspect horror movies exploit. Horror movies often delve into the secrets, hidden evil, and dysfunctional dynamics that exist within suburban communities. This contrast between the surface appearance and the hidden darkness fuels a sense of dread and suspense, inviting viewers to explore the sinister side of suburban life.
More Suburban Horror Movies To Check Out
Along with Jesse Eisenberg’s Vivarium, a few other notable examples of horror films set in suburbia include 1982’s Poltergeist. This classic film, directed by Tobe Hooper, follows a suburban family whose life is disrupted by evil spirits in their home. The Stepford Wives, based on the novel by Ira Levin, explores the eerie concept of a suburban town where the wives are replaced with robotic duplicates.
The Babadook, released in 2014, is an Australian psychological horror film directed by Jennifer Kent. It revolves around a widow and her young son who encounter an evil entity in their suburban home. The movie uses the suburban setting to explore grief, isolation, and the psychological toll it takes on the characters.
Since horror in suburbia is such a popular sub-genre, Vivarium starring Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg, is definitely worth a look while it’s still streaming on Netflix.
