A large ensemble cast in a film will always be a draw — putting as many popular names onto a single marquee as possible is sure to attract the attention of any moviegoer and get people in theater seats. Hollywood has always had a way to sensationalize the cast and make them larger than life, and, generally speaking,the more, the better.
But some of the best movies take a more reserved approach, focusing on but a few characters to craft more intimate and personal conflicts to be explored. Especially in the case of horror, a smaller cast makes for a tight and tense setting that allows for a few key roles to be explored fully. It is impressive what phenomenal cinema can be made with five or fewer characters. Here are the best 15 movies that thrive with a small cast, ranked.
15Bleed with Me (2020)
Bleed With Me
When three friends head to a cabin for a trip, suspicions arise after one of them begins to feel ill and has visions of one of the others hovering over them in their sleep. Rowan (Lee Marshall) suspects that her friend Emily (Lauren Beatty) is a vampire, and Emily’s boyfriend Brendan (Aris Tyros) gets caught in the middle of the odd situation. As Rowan begins to believe her life is threatened, the idyllic winter getaway becomes a nightmare.
Read Our Review:Bleed with Me Review: Shudder’s Original Is a Stiff, Sluggish Descent Into Bloodthirsty Madness
What Makes it Great
A refreshing take on the vampire genre,Bleed with Meis backed by solid performances from Lee Marshall and Lauren Beatty as two women at odds. With only three actors, the film is ideal for those who like atmospheric slow burns, as actual moments of terror take a seat to building up and exploring characters. The movie deserves mention on the list, and while it currently sits at a polarizing 82% critic and 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it will undoubtedly vibe and impress the right viewers.
Stream on AMC+
142LDK (2003)
Renting a 2LDK unit together (an apartment with two bedrooms and a living, dining, and kitchen area), two aspiring actors with vastly different personalities find themselves vying for the same role in an upcoming film. The night slowly becomes violent as their eccentricities start to irk one another, culminating in an intense and bloody fight.
Made as part of a competition between two directors, Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s2LDKwas restricted to a cast of two, a short window of time to film, and under the pretext that the film would present a single fight between two people. While there was no official winner, Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s chaotic battle between two aspiring actresses is undoubtedly the more entertaining of the two (though Ryûhei Kitamura’sAragamiis still worth a watch). There isa wonderfully dark comedic edgeto the entire production, and slowly building tension and violence keeps the movie gripping up to its final moments/punchline. It is the ultimate popcorn flick, one that can be watched repeatedly due to its simple premise and short run time — directors should do these kind of challenges more often.
Stream on Tubi
13Glorious (2022)
Finding himself at a remote rest stop in a stall opposite a cosmic entity, Wes (Ryan Kwanten) gets caught up in a conversation with an otherworldly being (voiced by J. K. Simmons). The figure exclaims that Wes is the only man who can save the entire human race from an invading elder god that is hellbent on destroying the whole world. However, hefty is the price of what he needs to give up to stop the apocalypse.
Read our Review:Glorious Review: J.K. Simmons and Ryan Kwanten Deliver the Horror Goods
An innovative and witty script makes the horror comedyGlorioussurprisingly entertaining despite the film being dialogue-heavy and mainly taking place in a single location. Though the film technically has 2 unnamed side characters, it mostly consists of 5 actors only, and mostly revolves around Kwanten and Simmons.Its nods to H.P. Lovecraftensure that the movie lands favorably for cosmic/metaphysical horror fans, which is seldom executed in a way that pays proper homage to the iconic author. In addition, there is an aptly absurd comedic edge to the entire production, wonderfully performed by actor Ryan Kwanten as he tries to come to terms with his task.
Stream on Shudder
12Pontypool (2008)
In a small Ontario town, shock jock turned local DJ Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) finds himself at the forefront of global news as a zombie breakout occurs in Pontypool. At the remote radio station, the only word of the outbreak comes from call-ins and listening in on other social media, as the skeleton crew is in shock about the accounts they are getting.
Theconcept of language spreading a virusis such a perfect allegory for the power of language and media to change social discourse that it is baffling no other film has taken this approach. Moreover,Pontypoolis frighteningly intense despite most chaos happening off-screen and coming through the airwaves. Though the cast is larger when taking into account the voice acting and small side roles, the film itself revolves only around the small crew running the radio station. Stephen McHattie performs fantastically as a washed-up DJ facing the most profound and shocking news from his booth. While slightly abstract, Canadian director Bruce McDonald crafts an accessible horror film worthy of a deep dive. Unfortunately, the planned sequel for the movie never came to fruition, which looked to expand on the first film and take amore traditional approach to the zombie genre.
11Alone With You (2021)
What starts as the sound of crying coming through the vents of a woman’s home turns into a night of horror as Charlie Crane (played by director/writer Emily Bennet) finds herself trapped in her apartment. Waiting in the hope that her girlfriend will soon return, Charlie’s audio and visual hallucinations begin to intensify, and the fear of being trapped forever becomes a nightmarish reality.
The Best Horror Movies About Nightmares, Ranked
When elements of horror seep into waking life through the avenues of dreams and nightmares, incredible storytelling can happen.
Alone With Youcombines themes of insecurity and toxic relationships with horrors that capture the unease brought on by dissociative states. Notably,the claustrophobic horror filmcaptures the sensation of sleep paralysis and night terrors with unsettling accuracy. And having only 5 named characters on screen makes that claustrophobic feeling even stronger. This is a true gem, deserving of a wider audience, especially those who can relate to the intense emotions and conditions depicted in the movie.Alone With Youis one of the best horror films of 2021 that you probably have not seen — but that can be changed!
10Long Weekend (1978)
A married couple struggling in their relationship decides to take a trip to a remote beach to unwind and try to reconnect. However, the trip does little to quell the tension between the two, and their selfish personalities have them constantly arguing while showing a general disregard for the surrounding landscape. That landscape seems to take notice, and the two find themselves inexplicably trapped on the beach while dealing with terrain and creatures that have turned on them.
A cautionary tale about respecting nature, 1978’sLong Weekendis just as relevant now as it was on release. However, beyond its perfectly constructed delivery of its messaging, the film works as an eerie and ominous thriller first. The sense of mystery and vagueness around what is causing nature to lash out at the couple is consistently engaging right up to the closing moments. The horror/thriller wasa cult hit in its native Australiaand was remade in 2008, though the remake was not nearly as impactful or well-received as the original 1978 film.
Stream on Kanopy
9Masking Threshold (2021)
Suffering from a form of tinnitus that causes him constant discomfort, an unnamed protagonist begins a series of experiments in his home to address his condition, which medical professionals have brushed off. He records his experiments while taking feverish notes of every revelation, both abstract and grounded in science. A neighbor visits him, and he slowly makes her part of his ongoing experiment with frightening results.
Johannes Grenzfurthner’sMasking Thresholdis a wholly unique experience in horror, relying heavily on monologue and innovative camera techniques, including microscopic cameras. The result is a shockingly intimate front-row seat to the mental decline of a troubled man.The sound design is remarkable, and the movie would (almost) work without any visual aid, given the detailed and descriptive words of the film’s protagonist.
Rent on Apple TV+
8Locke (2014)
Following family man and business owner Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) as he travels to make it to the birth of an illegitimate child, the entirety of this film takes place in a single-car ride. Locke takes several calls as he tries to navigate pressures from family and business while focusing on getting there for the birth of his child.
Boasting a more extensive cast than other films on this list,Lockestill stands out given its structure of focusing solely on Tom Hardy, with others appearing solely through phone conversations (including the iconic Olivia Colman) to push the plot forward. Unsurprisingly, the director/writer won Best Screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards, asLockecreates tension and intrigue through simple conversations. The movie will appeal to those with a strong sense of morality that leans on individual accountability; despite the affair, Tom Hardy’s character comes across as sincere and honorable in owning up to his responsibilities.
7Creep (2014)
Freelance video photographer Aaron finds a job that brings him to a remote cabin where Josef (Mark Duplass) asks him to film a video diary to leave behind before he dies of cancer. As the two get to know each other, Aaron realizes there is something peculiar about Josef, and he soon finds himself being tormented by the unhinged man.
The 15 All-Time Scariest Moments in Found Footage Horror Movies
The found footage subgenre has become one of the most popular in horror. Let’s look at the scariest moments in the subgenre.
Creepis one of the most well-scripted and acted films in the entirefound footage horror genre, with Mark Duplass giving a chilling performance as an unhinged killer who uses his disarming charisma to lure in his victims. Starring only the two main actors, with a third voice character, the quiet film is unnerving from the start, and every moment is aptly tense as the relationship between the two develops into something frightening. Critics also loved the film, withCreepsitting at a 91% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stream on Netflix
6We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2022)
We’re All Going to the World’s Fair
Casey, a lonely teenage girl who lives with her father, is growing up in an internet culture that makes her feel disconnected from the world. This is made worse when she gets involved in an online game that is alleged to draw the player deeper into a dark space. As Casey begins to feel overwhelmed, she finds an ally online who claims to be an expert on the force behind the game, but this relationship soon proves to have issues.
Director Jane Schoenbrun shows a deep understanding of internet culture and its role in the upbringing of many young people. This includes its many potential downfalls, whichWe’re All Going to the World’s Fairperfectly encapsulate through the troubled protagonist. The movie also has a shocking conclusion in how it frames the narratives of online victimhood and how anonymity allows people to write their own narratives at the cost of others.The coming-of-age horrorwill not be for everyone, with its rather abstract and nuanced approach to the genre. This is reflected in the conflicted Rotten Tomatoes score, which sees critics at 90% and audiences at 27%. However, immersing oneself entirely in Casey’s world will devastate those who resonate with her character.
