‘Vivarium,’ which is fueled by the flawless performances of Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg, is a film that is very timely. It’s about a couple who are looking for a new home but find themselves trapped in a monolithic suburbia from which they can’t get out. Their suburban dream turns into their worst nightmare, and their solitude develops into mental degradation as a result of the events that follow. The film’s traumatic depiction of powerlessness and misery does not fit well into any genre. It contains aspects of science fiction and even humor, but it is mostly a horror film. It feels more suited to the cosmic horror genre because it’s an eerie metaphor about de-humanization and is stylised with surreal images. So we’ve got a list of cosmic horror flicks that are quite comparable to ‘Vivarium’ farther down in this post. Many of the films listed here can be found on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Foxes (2012)
‘Foxes,’ despite being a short film, is nearly a carbon copy of ‘Vivavium.’ It’s perplexing, enthralling, and ultimately leaves you with a lot of unresolved questions. But, more importantly, it reflects the current status of our society. Its entire narrative has two layers, just like ‘Vivarium.’ On the surface, the story revolves around Ellen and James, a couple who relocate to a supposedly bleak suburban area. They are soon stalked by wolves who emerge from the woods around them at night.
Ellen has an odd infatuation with these wolves as a result of what happens afterwards. A closer examination of the film’s concept, maybe after a second viewing, reveals that it’s more of an allegory for the social contract to which many of us adhere and the freedom we experience when we disobey it.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
This film, more than any other, brilliantly depicts cosmic horror, or should I say Lovecraftian horror. ‘In the Mouth of Madness,’ directed by John Carpenter, follows insurance investigator John Trent as he investigates the disappearance of horror writer Sutter Cane. However, he quickly finds himself in a sinister village straight out of Sutter Cane’s colorful and horrific mind. The description of cosmic anxiety in ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ produces an immersive experience that is reminiscent of Lovecraft’s creeping terror and Kafka’s societal satire.