The Ultimate Suburban Nightmare

Vivarium (2019) – A young couple looking to buy a home become trapped in a nightmare version of the perfect suburb.

Directed by Lorcan Finnigan

Starring – Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg

Why I Liked It: A cerebral, spine chilling kind of horror movie

This was a “It’s a snow day, so what movie can I watch?” selection. I’d never heard of the movie, or any of the cast outside of Jesse Eisenberg. Since I have liked a couple of things he’s done (“The Network”, “Zombieland”) if I see his name, I’ll at least take a look. Horror type films are not my first choice, but the descriptions seem to imply some science fiction aspects. “Vivarium” delivered on all points.

The basic story is simple. Gemma and Tom have been a couple long enough to be looking for a house together. So far, the search hasn’t turned up the house they want. Then they wander into a storefront office for a housing development called “Yonder”. Things are strange from the beginning. Martin, the sales rep, is odd and awkward, but strangely compelling. He convinces the couple to take a tour. Upon arrival, Tom and Gemma discover every house is exactly the same. So is every street. When Martin disappears, they discover that there’s a “Hotel California” aspect to Yonder. A “you can never leave” aspect. From there, the situation grows increasingly bizarre. A baby arrives in a box with a message that if they raise they baby, they’ll be released. With each twist, it becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems. As time passes, their mental health deteriorates.

I love that this movie doesn’t require jump scares, gallons of blood, or weapon wielding lunatics for the horror. Growing up in suburban developments, I can understand the cookie cutter nature of the homes built in them. I never had to ask where the bathroom was in my friends’ houses. It was always in the same basic place. The standard line for places like this is that they come in, bulldoze all the trees, build the same house 20/30/40 times and replant trees. Yonder is all of that to the nth degree.

Like Tom and Gemma, the viewer must face the sameness of life in Yonder. There are no upgrades, just days of sameness and strangeness. Once you enter, there is no obvious exit. “Vivarium” also lacks a “Hollywood Ending”, the ending that wraps up everything neatly. It wraps up everything, but leaves you with as many questions as answers.

If the movie doesn’t sound familiar to you, there’s a reason. It was never released widely in the United States. In fact, only a handful of countries ever saw it. That’s too bad because this is an interesting, thought-provoking movie that does a great job of creeping you out.

You can stream “Vivarium” on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Roku, YouTube, Google play, Apple TV, Fandango

Rating – **** Recommended