Chamber dramas often feel like there’s a ticking time bomb in the corner that could be unearthed by one person being the first one to make a wrong move. These stories rely heavily on strong characters and intelligent dialogue, with a taut central premise that drives conflict. Here are our picks for the best chamber drama movies of all time and why they stand out as must-watch examples of the genre.
5. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Quentin Tarantino found himself in prime form for this tense, claustrophobic thriller. One of his most unique films, The Hateful Eight follows the collision of eight strangers who all find themselves taking shelter from a blizzard in Wyoming, 1877. John Ruth, a bounty hunter, needs to bring in Daisy Domergue to hang for her crimes. They arrive at the inn and tensions are apparently high—nobody at the inn is telling the truth about their identities and they’re being strangely opaque about their intentions. Though the first part of this film takes place outside of the inn, the remainder of the story occurs within the confines of its walls. And what makes it such a tense watch is how Tarantino creates layers of conflict within the story: not only is there a murderer amongst them, but since the film takes place just after the American Civil War, there’s also tension between Union and Confederacy supporters. Tarantino breathed life into eight characters who all feel genuinely real, with fleshed-out histories, secrets, and stories that drive friction and apprehension in every scene. Though Tarantino plays with a non-linear structure, it doesn’t affect the value of this spectacular chamber drama.
4. Carnage (2011)
Few things can bring people together like children. But when the people you’re bringing together all have unsolved issues, both personal and marital? Well, the results can be rather explosive. This film by Roman Polanski follows the conversations (and inevitable fallout) between two sets of parents after one boy assaults another boy with a stick. The mediation begins cordially enough, but soon spirals out of control and overwhelms everyone involved. Carnage might be only 80 minutes long, but it feels much longer as the discomfort and tension are drawn out to their fullest, all while Polanski shows how shallow, prideful, and insecure these people really are. The fact that what should have been a civil conversation instead ends in tears, scotch, and a phone in a vase of flowers demonstrates that these people need to sort out their own issues before attempting to solve their children’s problems. What the film does so effectively is show how arguments can make any space feel small, tight, and claustrophobic. The film might also make you reflect upon how you handle conflict.
3. Perfect Strangers (2016)
One of the finest chamber dramas in recent years, Perfect Strangers forces us to take a look at both our personal and social lives. This Italian film—originally titled Perfetti Sconosciuti—follows a group of seven friends: three married couples and one single bachelor. As they share dinner one evening, one of them suggests that they all put their phones on the table and openly reveal all notifications they get and put every call on speaker. Some are more reluctant than others, but they eventually acquiesce… and the game begins. Perfect Strangers is the perfect execution of what a chamber drama should be: a central conflict that unfolds organically, layer by layer, through little more than conversation. There are multiple levels of conflict coming from several directions, and the lives, values, and struggles of each character are revealed through simple chit-chat, even as talks grow more tense throughout. There isn’t a single dull moment in the entirety of the film, and screenwriter Paolo Costella and director Paolo Genevese convey it all in a masterfully witty and clever way that hooks from start to finish.
2. Rope (1948)
Who’s the master of suspense, again? Alfred Hitchcock, that’s who! This legend of cinema made a slew of films that have earned him the moniker, but it was his 1948 chamber drama Rope that solidified him as one of the greatest to ever do it. Rope follows two young men who believe they can pull off the perfect murder. They strangle their classmate, hide his corpse in a box, then invite his friends and family over for lunch because they believe they’re too intelligent to be caught. Hitchcock’s decision to film the entire movie in seemingly one take (although, in actuality, there are ten cuts in the film) adds another layer of suspense to the film, making it feel as though something dramatic is about to happen at any moment. Rope is perhaps the most “chamber-y” of the chamber dramas on this list, given that it’s the only one that takes place in real-time from start to finish. Its 80 minutes of pure suspense are enough to leave you breathless, but one should expect nothing less from Hitchcock.
1. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Sidney Lumet’s masterpiece 12 Angry Men takes the cake as best chamber drama movie ever made. To this day, no other film has done the concept better than this classic film. Set in New York on the hottest day of the year, 12 Angry Men follows a dozen jurors who must rule on the guilt of a young boy who has been charged with murder. Eleven of the jurors believe he’s guilty, but one disagrees—and stands to make his point. Over the course of 90 minutes, we watch as these twelve men are confined to a single room, all while bickering caustically and throwing curses at each other. Tensions rise so high that what should be a civil conversation almost comes to physical blows. 12 Angry Men remains a legendary classic for three big reasons: Firstly, it shows how the judicial system can often be prejudicial. Nearly all of the jurors have decided on the boy’s guilt before they’ve even entered the deliberation room. Only one man has enough compassion to try and spare a young man the death penalty. Secondly, it highlights the varying reasons why people hold prejudice, including personal issues, logical errors, or even just practical concerns. Not all bigotry is equal, and there’s nuance from person to person. Thirdly, it forces you to think about what you would do in that position. Would you be swept up by mob mentality? Or would you have the courage to think for yourself and stand against overwhelming odds? 12 Angry Men reminds us of the sanctity of human life and why we should all try to see the best in people; and it does so within one single room across 90 nail-biting minutes. The finest chamber drama.
