Stalker (2022) Review – A Claustrophobic Thriller That Stalls Out
Stalker: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A structurally shaky chamber piece that squanders a claustrophobic premise and a pair of committed performances. Stalker attempts to build tension through a slow-burn dialogue between two strangers trapped in a lift, but it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying payoff. While Stuart Brennan is genuinely unsettling as the socially awkward Daniel, the film is hampered by a messy final act that leans on confusing non-linear editing and heavy-handed exposition. The “nightmare fuel” concept of being trapped with a predator is a solid foundation, yet the script chooses to engage in circular rhetoric rather than genuine suspense. It is a 2 star effort that functions as a watchable enough mystery for those with a high tolerance for bottle movies, but it lacks the narrative bite or directorial flair needed to stand out. Glimpses of a better film are visible here, but the lacklustre execution means this is one thriller that never quite reaches its floor.
Details: Director: Steve Johnson | Cast: Sophie Skelton, Stuart Brennan, Bret Hart | Runtime: 1h 31m | Release Date: 2022
Best for: Fans of “bottle” movies who enjoy watching character-driven dialogue and wrestling enthusiasts curious to see Bret Hart’s performance.
Worth noting: Despite being marketed as a horror, the film leans significantly more into the mystery-thriller genre, focusing on psychological friction over visceral scares.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Tubi (Free), Vudu
Rating: 2/5 Stars
(Strong lead acting and a tense premise, but let down by a messy final act and lacklustre writing.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing British horror movie Stalker.
Table of Contents
An interesting horror premise
We’ve explained the ending to this one so if you need answers, click the link but be warned of spoilers – Stalker Ending Explained article.
Stalker follows the story of actor Rose. Rose was brought in to replace the original lead actor in a production after she mysteriously vanished. Staying at a lousy hotel, Rose is forced to use the freight elevator to reach her room. While entering, she is joined by a strange man. The pair begin chatting when the lift suddenly stops. It soon becomes clear that the man knows more about Rose than she realised. On top of this, she is trapped in the elevator with him with no way to escape.
This is a fairly interesting premise. The thought of being trapped in a broken lift with your stalker is nightmare fuel, especially for a vulnerable woman. Alone in an old, poorly maintained hotel, in a strange city. There’s definitely the opportunity for some serious tension, here. Tension that Stalker does occasionally deliver on. Still, this is a movie that isn’t entirely dedicated to its horror leanings.
Another chamber piece thriller movie
Stalker is one of those movies that is almost difficult to class as a horror. It is, at its core, more of a mystery thriller. Foregoing themes of action and scares, Stalker instead chooses to build its plot slowly. It’s like a chamber piece or a bottle movie for the majority of its length. Just two people talking in a tight location. It could be a stage play for the lack of excitement.
“Stalker is almost difficult to class as a horror. It is, at its core, more of a mystery thriller. It chooses to build its plot slowly, like a chamber piece or a bottle movie.”
It wants to keep the viewer guessing; exposing them to a slow drip feeding of information and attempting to keep them off base throughout. If you think of a board game that slowly unveils more secrets the further you get around the board, you are somewhat there. It’s almost impossible to piece together the ending because you simply don’t have enough information.
Writer Chris Watt never wants you to feel entirely comfortable or able to predict what will happen. He wants you to make assumptions purely so he can pull the rug out from underneath you. That keeps the element of surprise present throughout. It’s not satisfying, though. It doesn’t feel earned or all that clever. It feels like it’s giving you half the story and expecting you to make up the rest.
Doesn’t stick the landing
The problem is, Stalker really doesn’t stick the landing. Around halfway through, the movie begins to heavily telegraph certain upcoming twists. The, seemingly, once nuanced characters we have been watching are actually not that nuanced at all. They are exactly what you thought they were; no more and no less. It’s all a bit disappointing.
You are expecting a plot twist, you can see it coming almost from the very get-go. Despite this, when it comes it’s a bit lacklustre. Maybe I built myself up a little too much, here? I had this big grand finale planned and I was quite excited to see whether it came to fruition. It didn’t and that left me feeling a bit disappointed. I was only partly correct and the actual big plot twist was a lot less interesting.
This sounds like a bit of an unfair criticism but the thing is, the ending is just so lacklustre. It builds itself up and promises something fantastic; when it arrives, it doesn’t even come close to delivering. It is just so painfully obvious and lacking in care. The exposition dump in the final minutes is nauseating as well, and completely unneeded.
“The final twenty minutes or so suddenly switch to a non-linear timeline to keep the viewer off base. To say it is hard to follow would be an understatement.”
The final twenty minutes or so suddenly switch to a non-linear timeline to keep the viewer off base. The film flits back and forth between minutes into the future and far into the past. To say it is hard to follow would be an understatement. It simply doesn’t work due to how poorly it is edited. It is messy and disorganised with a serious lack of logic and some big continuity problems. Throw in a final scene that is a bit toe-curlingly awkward and you have the perfect ingredients for disappointment stew.
Fantastic acting
Acting is, generally, fantastic. Stuart Brennan, as Daniel, is excellent: completely convincing as a socially awkward, repressed individual. The little touches Brennan puts into his performance are what makes the difference. The tone of Daniel’s voice, the slight facial twitches and reluctance to make eye contact. It is fantastic stuff and utterly convincing.
Sophie Skelton, as Rose, is a little more mixed. She does an excellent job for the vast majority of the film. Perfectly convincing as an actor struggling with both her job and ego. It is only the latter parts that she seems to struggle a little. The story demands some things from her that she doesn’t quite nail. It’s nothing too dramatic but worthy of note; she does a great job for the most part, though. Bret Hart is a weird addition to the cast. I wasn’t expecting to see him. He is fine; I am sure wrestling fans will enjoy his performance.
“Stuart Brennan, as Daniel, is excellent: completely convincing as a socially awkward, repressed individual. The little touches Brennan puts into his performance are what makes the difference.”
Direction is mixed. Steve Johnson never manages to make much out of the extremely claustrophobic space. Pacing is awkward and frequently sags and he deserves serious criticism for the last 20 minutes or so which are a complete mess. The script is a big problem, as well, with the characters engaging in pointless rhetoric that feels like simple padding and a ton of heavy-handed, cumbersome dialogue.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Stuart Brennan: His performance is the highlight of the film, capturing the awkward twitches and vocal tones of a repressed individual with unsettling precision.
- Tense Premise: The “trapped in a lift” setup is inherently engaging and provides an immediate hook for fans of the thriller genre.
- Claustrophobic Setting: The use of a single, cramped location creates an effective sense of isolation for much of the runtime.
The Bad
- Messy Editing: The non-linear jumps in the final act are disorganized and lead to significant continuity issues and logic gaps.
- Weak Script: The dialogue often feels like padding, relying on circular arguments rather than advancing the story in a meaningful way.
- Ineffective Twist: After a long buildup, the central reveal feels unearned and significantly less interesting than the viewer might have hoped.
The Ugly: The Final Scene. An awkward and toe-curlingly clumsy conclusion that ensures the movie ends on its weakest possible note.
Should You Watch Stalker?
Probably not. It is a 2 star film that fails to capitalise on its strong foundation. While the acting from Brennan is fantastic, the disorganized direction and poor writing in the final act make it a frustrating experience. If you want a truly effective “trapped in a lift” thriller, you are better off looking elsewhere. This one is best left for those who have exhausted all other options.
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