Ben Wheatley’s new film Free Fire is a Boston set action-thriller starring Cillian Murphy, Brie Larson and many more, which sees a meeting between different gangs break out into a bloody shootout and an all out game of survival. It is also entirely set in a warehouse; a decision that Wheatley uses to create an incredibly effective film of utter carnage. To mark its release in cinemas this Friday, we have collected five other films either entirely or mostly set in one location.
- Rear Window (1954)
Known as one of, if not the greatest thriller of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece is testament to the fact that the simplest premise can often be the most effective. It follows L.B. ‘Jeff’ Jefferies, a wheel-bound photographer who spies on his neighbours to pass the time and becomes convinced that one has murdered his wife. As well as offering a fascinating comparison point between the protagonist and the voyeuristic nature of a movie audience, Hitchcock is able to construct an incredibly tense and gripping movie, using not only one location but also, mostly one point-of-view.
- The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Hughes’ high school comedy was monumental for countless reasons. It was an instant teen classic, birthed ‘The Brat Pack’ and has influenced every single high school film released since. Hughes places five students with extremely different backgrounds and perspectives into a detention room for the entirety of the film. Against this backdrop and mostly single location, the five characters begin to see the similarities between themselves and build a connection with each other. It is a genuinely emotionally resonant and insightful film, that still feels as fresh today as it did twenty-two years ago.
- Moon
This science-fiction film directed by Duncan Jones takes even more of a risk than the other entries on this list. As well as being set on a small base on the far side of the moon, it also essentially features one actor (Sam Rockwell) if you exclude Kevin Spacey as the voice of GERTY and characters that appear on video transmissions. Moon’s position as a modern sci-fi classic is a true sign of Rockwell’s acting prowess and Duncan Jones’ potential as a filmmaker, and is a must-see for everyone regardless of if you’re a fan of these two or the genre.
- Reservoir Dogs
Whilst featuring a number of locations in its various flashbacks, this independent classic that introduced audiences to the filmmaking power of Quentin Tarantino is primarily set in a warehouse that the criminals return to after a bank heist goes wrong. With it’s aforementioned setting and extensive violence, Reservoir Dogs was clearly an inspiration for Free Fire much like Tarantino was for countless filmmakers that have emerged since the 1990s.
- Twelve Angry Men
Sydney Lumet’s debut feature follows a twelve-man jury as they deliberate the outcome of a murder trial. Through all-round outstanding performances, an effective use of close-ups, an undeniably gripping subject matter and of course, the single location, Lumet is able to create a tense thriller full of high stakes and moral authority. It has also persisted in audiences’ and critics’ minds alike as one of the greatest films of all time and currently stands at number five on IMDB’s 250 highest rated pictures.
FREE FIRE is released in cinemas THIS FRIDAY
