If you enjoyed the surreal and unsettling experience of Vivarium, you’re in for a treat. This mind-bending sci-fi thriller about a couple trapped in a bizarre suburban nightmare has left many viewers craving more films that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. Well, you’re in luck! I’ve compiled a list of the 15 best movies like Vivarium that will take you on similarly wild and disorienting journeys.
From suburban horror to existential sci-fi, these films all share Vivarium’s knack for creating an atmosphere of creeping dread and making you question everything you’re seeing. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare to have your mind thoroughly messed with. Let’s dive into the wonderfully weird world of movies like Vivarium!
1. The Stepford Wives (1975)
We’re kicking things off with a true classic of suburban horror. The Stepford Wives takes place in the seemingly idyllic town of Stepford, Connecticut, where newcomer Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) begins to suspect something very strange is going on with the eerily perfect housewives.
Much like Vivarium, this film uses its suburban setting to explore themes of conformity, loss of identity, and the dark underbelly of the American dream. The growing sense of unease as Joanna uncovers the truth behind Stepford’s perfect facade mirrors the creeping dread in Vivarium.
While it may lack Vivarium’s sci-fi elements, The Stepford Wives more than makes up for it with its biting social satire and genuinely chilling atmosphere. The film’s ending packs just as much of a punch today as it did in 1975. If you want more suburban horror with a dash of dark humor, this is a must-watch.
2. The Truman Show (1998)
The Truman Show takes the concept of a fabricated reality to the extreme, following Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) as he slowly realizes his entire life is actually an elaborate TV show. Like the protagonists in Vivarium, Truman finds himself trapped in a carefully constructed false world, desperately trying to break free.
While more lighthearted in tone than Vivarium, The Truman Show still manages to be deeply unsettling at times. The film raises similar questions about free will, the nature of reality, and the dark side of suburban perfection. Jim Carrey gives a career-best performance, perfectly capturing Truman’s growing paranoia and desperation.
If you found yourself captivated by Vivarium’s exploration of artificial environments and manufactured realities, The Truman Show offers a unique and thought-provoking take on similar themes. It’s a modern classic for good reason.
3. Coherence (2013)
For those who loved the mind-bending aspects of Vivarium, Coherence is sure to scratch that same itch. This low-budget indie gem follows a group of friends at a dinner party when a passing comet causes reality to fracture in increasingly bizarre ways.
Like Vivarium, Coherence creates an atmosphere of mounting dread and confusion as the characters (and audience) struggle to make sense of what’s happening. The film’s clever use of parallel realities and doppelgangers will leave you questioning everything you see.
While it may lack Vivarium’s slick visuals, Coherence more than makes up for it with its intricate plotting and genuinely shocking twists. If you’re in the mood for a cerebral sci-fi mindbender that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further.
4. The Endless (2017)
The Endless follows two brothers who return to the UFO death cult they escaped from as children, only to discover that there may be some truth to the cult’s otherworldly beliefs. Like Vivarium, the film creates a growing sense of unease as reality begins to warp in inexplicable ways.
Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead excel at crafting an atmosphere of cosmic dread on a limited budget. The Endless shares Vivarium’s knack for making the mundane feel deeply unsettling, with its remote camp setting becoming increasingly nightmarish as the film progresses.
If you enjoyed Vivarium’s blend of sci-fi and horror elements, The Endless offers a unique and compelling take on similar themes. It’s a mind-bending journey into the unknown that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
5. The Lobster (2015)
Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster takes place in a dystopian world where single people are given 45 days to find a romantic partner or be turned into an animal of their choosing. It’s every bit as weird and unsettling as it sounds.
While tonally quite different from Vivarium, The Lobster shares its knack for using an absurd premise to explore deeper themes about relationships and societal expectations. Both films create worlds that feel just a few degrees removed from our own reality.
Colin Farrell gives a wonderfully deadpan performance as a man navigating this bizarre world. If you’re in the mood for something truly unique that will make you laugh uncomfortably and question everything you know about love, The Lobster is a must-watch.
6. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut Synecdoche, New York follows a theater director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who attempts to create an ever-expanding, life-size replica of New York City as part of an ambitious play. Like Vivarium, the film blurs the lines between reality and artifice in increasingly mind-bending ways.
Synecdoche, New York shares Vivarium’s interest in the nature of identity and the ways we construct our own realities. As the protagonist’s replica of New York grows more and more elaborate, the distinction between the “real” world and his fabricated one becomes increasingly blurred.
Fair warning: this is not an easy watch. Synecdoche, New York is dense, surreal, and often deeply confusing. But for those willing to engage with its heady themes and intricate plotting, it offers a uniquely rewarding experience that will stay with you for days.
7. The Platform (2019)
Spanish sci-fi thriller The Platform takes place in a vertical prison where inmates on upper levels feast while those below starve. It’s a brutal and effective metaphor for income inequality that grows increasingly nightmarish as the film progresses.
Like Vivarium, The Platform uses its confined setting to explore larger themes about society and human nature. Both films create a palpable sense of claustrophobia and dread as their protagonists attempt to make sense of (and escape from) their bizarre circumstances.
While more overtly violent than Vivarium, The Platform offers a similarly thought-provoking take on social issues wrapped in a compelling sci-fi package. If you’re in the mood for something dark and cerebral that will make you think, this is well worth a watch.
8. Cube (1997)
Cube follows a group of strangers who wake up in a mysterious cubic structure filled with deadly traps. As they attempt to navigate this bizarre maze and figure out why they’ve been placed there, tensions rise and paranoia sets in.
Like Vivarium, Cube creates a sense of mounting dread as its characters find themselves trapped in an artificial environment for reasons they don’t understand. Both films excel at wringing maximum tension out of their confined settings.
While it may look a bit dated by today’s standards, Cube’s clever premise and tight plotting still hold up. If you enjoyed the “escape room from hell” aspects of Vivarium, Cube offers a gripping and often terrifying take on similar themes.
9. Vivarium (2019)
Okay, I know including Vivarium itself on a list of movies like Vivarium is a bit of a cheat. But hear me out! If you enjoyed this film, it’s absolutely worth revisiting with a critical eye. There are so many subtle details and hidden meanings that are easy to miss on a first viewing.
On repeat watches, you’ll likely pick up on new clues about the true nature of Yonder and its mysterious inhabitants. The film’s themes about suburban conformity and the anxieties of parenthood become even more apparent. And that ending hits even harder when you know what’s coming.
So if you’ve only seen Vivarium once, I highly recommend giving it another watch. You might be surprised by how much more you get out of it the second (or third, or fourth) time around.
10. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
At first glance, The Cabin in the Woods might not seem to have much in common with Vivarium. But bear with me! This clever deconstruction of horror movie tropes shares Vivarium’s interest in artificial environments and unseen forces manipulating events.
Like the protagonists in Vivarium, the characters in The Cabin in the Woods find themselves unwitting pawns in a larger game they don’t understand. Both films play with audience expectations in clever ways, subverting familiar tropes to create something truly unique.
While more overtly comedic than Vivarium, The Cabin in the Woods still manages to be genuinely unnerving at times. If you’re in the mood for a smart, self-aware horror film that will make you laugh and jump in equal measure, this is a great choice.
11. Coherence (2013)
I know we already covered Coherence earlier, but it’s so good it deserves a second mention! This mind-bending indie gem about a dinner party gone cosmically wrong shares Vivarium’s knack for creating mounting tension and confusion.
Like Vivarium, Coherence excels at making the familiar feel deeply unsettling. As reality begins to fracture, even simple interactions between characters take on a sinister edge. Both films leave you questioning everything you see on screen.
If you enjoyed the “what the hell is going on?” aspects of Vivarium, Coherence offers a similarly disorienting experience that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s a must-watch for fans of cerebral sci-fi.
12. Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut Get Out follows a young Black man who uncovers disturbing secrets when he visits his white girlfriend’s family. While tonally quite different from Vivarium, both films use seemingly idyllic settings to explore darker themes.
Like Vivarium, Get Out creates a growing sense of unease as its protagonist realizes something is very wrong with his surroundings. Both films offer incisive commentary on social issues wrapped in compelling genre packages.
Get Out’s blend of horror and social satire earned it widespread critical acclaim and an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. If you somehow haven’t seen it yet, it’s absolutely worth checking out for its clever plotting and genuinely shocking twists.
13. Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster’s folk horror masterpiece Midsommar follows a group of American students who travel to Sweden for a midsummer festival that turns increasingly sinister. Like Vivarium, the film uses its bright, sunlit setting to create an atmosphere of creeping dread.
Both Midsommar and Vivarium excel at making even mundane interactions feel deeply unsettling. As the true nature of the Swedish commune is revealed, the sense of inescapable doom mirrors the growing hopelessness in Vivarium.
Fair warning: Midsommar is not for the faint of heart. It features some truly disturbing imagery and themes. But for those who can stomach it, it offers a uniquely unsettling experience that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
14. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Yes, I know we already covered The Cabin in the Woods. But like Coherence, it’s so good it deserves a second mention! This clever deconstruction of horror tropes shares Vivarium’s interest in artificial environments and unseen manipulators.
Both films play with audience expectations in clever ways, subverting familiar tropes to create something truly unique. If you enjoyed Vivarium’s meta aspects and commentary on genre conventions, The Cabin in the Woods offers a similarly smart and self-aware take.
While more overtly comedic than Vivarium, The Cabin in the Woods still manages to be genuinely unnerving at times. It’s a must-watch for fans of intelligent, genre-bending horror.
15. American Beauty (1999)
Sam Mendes’s American Beauty might seem like an odd choice for this list, but hear me out! This Oscar-winning drama shares Vivarium’s interest in exposing the dark underbelly of suburban life.
Like Vivarium, American Beauty peels back the facade of picture-perfect suburbia to reveal the dysfunction and desperation lurking beneath. Both films offer biting commentary on the hollowness of the American dream.
While lacking Vivarium’s sci-fi elements, American Beauty creates a similarly surreal atmosphere at times, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. If you’re in the mood for a more grounded but equally incisive take on suburban malaise, this is well worth revisiting.
Conclusion
There you have it – 15 mind-bending movies like Vivarium that are sure to scratch that itch for surreal, thought-provoking cinema. From suburban horror to cosmic mindbenders, these films all share Vivarium’s knack for creating unsettling atmospheres and making you question everything you’re seeing.
Whether you’re in the mood for more sci-fi weirdness, incisive social commentary, or just good old-fashioned psychological horror, there’s something on this list for every fan of Vivarium. So dim the lights, grab some popcorn, and prepare to have your mind thoroughly messed with. Happy watching!
And remember, if you find yourself suddenly trapped in a bizarre, inescapable suburban hellscape… maybe don’t accept the strange child that shows up on your doorstep. Just a thought.
