Lion
A snowbound chalet becomes the stage for a child-centered nightmare of domestic helplessness and escalating terror.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- late night horror viewing
- short film showcase
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot confines a troubled family group to a chalet in a snowy forest, turning seclusion into the central source of menace.
The eight-year-old child is explicitly troubled and dark while the surrounding adults are impaired or unable to resist.
The silent night is broken by cries that initiate the film’s terrible nightmare and foreshadow worsening horror.
The chalet is surrounded by a snowy forest, emphasizing remoteness and a cold, threatening atmosphere.
Films like Lion, and why
The Shining
shared isolated setting, family menace, and claustrophobic psychological horror
The Lodge
shared snowy wilderness, domestic terror, and bleak supernatural atmosphere
The Babadook
shared child-centered dread, oppressive family dynamics, and nightmare imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Davide Melini
- Release Date
- 2017-10-28
- Runtime
- 12 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (6)
Cast
- Pedro Sánchez
- Michael Segal
- Tania Mercader
Common questions
- What is Lion about?
- A snowbound chalet becomes the stage for a child-centered nightmare of domestic helplessness and escalating terror.
- What is Lion like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lion as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Lion violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Lion as moderate.
- Which films are like Lion?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shining, The Lodge, and The Babadook.
- How long is Lion?
- Lion runs 12 minutes.
