Across the nation — and the world — millions of movie lovers are sheltering in place, thirsting for something great to watch and maybe some tips on how to cope. Well, we’ve got you covered with a list of both!
Movies have long imagined worlds where heroes have to face an array of isolating obstacles, from haunted houses to dystopian drama, far-flung science-fiction, and desert island disasters. These stories offer thrills, chills, laughs, and some moments maybe freshly familiar. So we turn to them not only for entertainment, but also as a guide of how to best handle sheltering in.
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It’s a Disaster (2012)
This delectable dark comedy invites viewers into a couples’ brunch that is disastrous in every way possible. When calamity hits Los Angeles, four couples are trapped inside one house, where mimosas and social awkwardness swiftly gives way to shocking secrets, DIY drug trips, and proposed three-ways. Then things really get wild. David Cross, Julia Stiles, and America Ferrera co-star.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Brunch is cancelled. Sure, you love your friends. But do you want your hours-long hang time stretching into days of shared quarantine? Don’t think so! Keep your booze and breakfast treats to yourself and keep social boundaries and social distancing intact by opting instead for video-chat happy hours.
The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King’s classic horror novel, Stanley Kubrick’s controversial adaptation follows a family of three over the course of a rough winter shut in at the massive but isolated Overlook Hotel.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: All things in moderation. All work and no play makes Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) a wannabe spree killer. Look, it’s totally cool to have a drink or two or to go on a walk to chill out after a long day. But one’s got to be careful not to overdo it. Or else getting hammed with the evil dead could get you left out in the cold.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Divas of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, star in this psycho-biddy thriller about two elderly sisters holed up in a deteriorating house with only each other and their decades-old resentments to entertain them.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Mix it up for dinner! Eating the same dishes over and over again can get tedious. Challenge your taste buds with something new and unexpected. It keeps things fun!
Freaks (2018)
Now on Netflix, this imaginative and celebrated sci-fi indie follows a spirited young girl (Lexy Kolker) who’s being held in her house by her frantic father (Emile Hirsch). What threats lie outside? She doesn’t know, but she’s determined to find out!
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Stock up on ice cream. It’s a good idea to have your household’s favorite snacks and comfort foods well stocked, and ice cream is a no-brainer. For one, it’s delicious. For another, time goes by strangely in isolation. And the lure of that strange ice cream truck that keeps parking right outside is all the stronger when there are no frosty treats in the fridge.
Swiss Army Man (2016)
This outrageous buddy-comedy tells the tale of Hank (Paul Dano), a lonely castaway on a desert island whose path to salvation, sanity, and self-acceptance begins when a farting cadaver (Daniel Radcliffe) washes ashore.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Get creative! Loneliness can be brutal, but Hank combats it by indulging in his imagination. He hums his own theme music to push him to hope and bravery. He turns trash into model towns, costumes, and props to spin a fantasy future worth fighting for. But best of all, he transforms a rotting corpse into a water fountain, a grappling hook, a jet ski, and the ultimate companion.
Moon (2009)
Duncan Jones’s heralded directorial debut centers on Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), a miner working alone on the moon for a three-year stint. With only recorded messages from Earth, reruns of sporting events, and a stoic AI called Gerty for company, Sam is industrious but alone. That is until an accident brings an unexpected guest into his moon base.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Be a friend to yourself. Sam finds comforts in virtual communications with loved ones and co-workers and his model-building hobby. But the greatest solace comes from learning to love himself. In times of isolation, Moon teaches us that we can be our own best friends.
Ex Machina (2014)
Isolation has never been as sleek and sexy as in this sci-fi thriller from writer/director Alex Garland. In Ex Machina, groundbreaking engineer Nathan (Oscar Isaac) lives in a remote kingdom, cozy within a fortress of concrete, glass, and minimalist design. It’s just him and the robots he’s readying to release to the world. That is until he invites a human guest (Domhnall Gleeson) to test the cognitive abilities of his latest android (Alicia Vikander).
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Dance! It’s good for the mind, body, and spirit. In Ex Machina’s instantly iconic disco number, Nathan “tears up the dance floor” with the help of his sidekick Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno) as a way to unwind and ease the tension between housemates who are beginning to butt heads. Take a look at TikTok to see how households all over are jumping on this beat, but be well aware Nathan was there first.
The Martian (2015)
This seven-time Oscar-nominated space epic stars Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars. To survive, he must defy the odds at every step, reaching out to NASA for rescue, finding provisions on a barren landscape, and keeping his sanity while light years away from home and everyone else.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Start a garden. Hobbies are great for managing stress. Gardens grow a feeling of accomplishment along with delicious fruits and vegetables. You don’t need a yard or even much space to nurture new plants. Pick a pot and some easy-to-sprout options. Give them some sunshine and water and enjoy. Bonus pro-tip: Don’t forget the herbs. If you run out of ketchup, let parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme rescue your taste buds from tedium.
Rear Window (1954)
Headlining this Alfred Hitchcock classic, James Stewart plays a professional photographer who is confined to his apartment by a crippling full-leg cast. Lucky for him, a whole world of wonder and intrigue lies right outside his window. An incredible view puts his neighbors across the way on full display, for better or for murder.
Shut-in Pro-Tip: Watch out for your neighbors! People-watching is a great way to “kill time.” But even at a distance, you can be an aid to your community by checking in on the wellbeing of others. Of course some people don’t appreciate being the focus of such attention. So bonus tip: Watch out for your neighbors!
What movies would you recommend for sheltering in? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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Source: IGN.com The Dos and Don’ts of Sheltering in Place, According to the Movies