10 Movies and Shows Similar to Sam Was Here (2016)

Description: Both films feature protagonists moving through strange, alien landscapes (literal in this case, metaphorical in 'Sam Was Here'). The sense of isolation and otherness is strong in both, with minimalist storytelling that leaves much to interpretation. The visual style is similarly stark and unsettling.

Fact: Many scenes feature non-actors who didn't know they were being filmed. Scarlett Johansson wore a wig and prosthetic teeth. The score was created using unconventional instruments like a detuned piano.

Description: Both films explore grief and mental illness through horror tropes. The slow descent into madness and the blurring of reality are similar. Both use limited settings to create claustrophobia, and both feature protagonists struggling with traumatic pasts.

Fact: The monster was inspired by Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera. The child actor had never acted before. The book prop was hand-made by the director.

Description: This shares with 'Sam Was Here' a focus on identity and reality distortion. Both films trap their protagonists in increasingly bizarre situations that challenge their perceptions. The psychological tension and relationship dynamics are central to both stories.

Fact: Mark Duplass came up with the concept in just 15 minutes. The film's twist was kept secret from most of the crew. It was shot in just 15 days.

Description: Like 'Sam Was Here', 'Coherence' is a psychological thriller that plays with reality and perception. Both films feature protagonists who find themselves in increasingly surreal and unsettling situations, with a strong emphasis on tension and mystery. The low-budget, high-concept approach of 'Coherence' mirrors the indie feel of 'Sam Was Here'.

Fact: The film was shot in just five nights. Much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors. The director gave actors different instructions each night to create genuine confusion.

Description: This film shares with 'Sam Was Here' a sense of creeping dread and an exploration of isolation. Both movies deal with characters returning to a place from their past, only to find it changed in disturbing ways. The blending of psychological horror and sci-fi elements creates a similar unsettling atmosphere.

Fact: The directors also star as the two main characters. It's connected to their previous film 'Resolution' (2012). The film was made for less than $1 million.

Description: This shares with 'Sam Was Here' a focus on paranoia and the breakdown of trust in confined spaces. Both films use limited settings to create claustrophobia, and both leave the true nature of the threat ambiguous. The psychological horror elements are similarly subtle and disturbing.

Fact: The director wanted the disease to remain unexplained. The house set was built from scratch. The film was shot in just 28 days.

Description: Like 'Sam Was Here', this film creates an atmosphere of mounting dread through slow pacing and unsettling performances. Both deal with ordinary people facing inexplicable, supernatural-seeming threats. The clinical cinematography and detached tone create similar feelings of unease.

Fact: The title references the Greek myth of Iphigenia. Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman had to speak in monotone voices. The director banned smiling on set to maintain the mood.

Description: Both films deal with grief and family trauma manifesting in horrifying ways. The slow-building tension and shocking moments are similar, as is the focus on a protagonist descending into madness. The atmospheric horror and psychological elements create comparable feelings of dread.

Fact: Toni Collette's scream took days to recover from. The miniature houses were built by the director's father. The film was inspired by the director's own family trauma.

Description: Like 'Sam Was Here', this film traps its protagonists in an isolated location where reality begins to unravel. Both feature psychological breakdowns and ambiguous supernatural elements. The black-and-white cinematography creates a similarly stark, nightmarish atmosphere.

Fact: Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe ate only beans and coffee during filming. The lens used was from the 1920s. The actors had to learn authentic 1890s sailor slang.

Description: Like 'Sam Was Here', this film features protagonists trapped in an increasingly disturbing situation. Both use bright lighting (daylight here, desert in 'Sam') to create unsettling contrasts. The themes of isolation and psychological unraveling are similarly central.

Fact: The flower dress weighed over 40 pounds. The director based it on a bad breakup. Many extras were actual Swedish residents.