Monday mornings in New York are rarely the stuff of nightmares—unless you count the F train’s inexplicable delays. But this season, a new wave of horror films is tapping into the city’s most familiar existential fear: being stuck in the same loop, over and over. “It Ends” and “Exit 8,” both screening at indie theaters across Manhattan and Brooklyn this month, skip the supernatural slashers in favor of something eerier: the terror of monotony.

In “Exit 8,” a commuter trapped in a subway station relives an endless sequence of missed trains and flickering lights. Director Lena Rodriguez, a Queens native, shot much of the film after hours in the Union Square station. “There’s something about the city’s routines that can start to feel uncanny,” Rodriguez said during a talkback at Metrograph last Friday. “You know you’re safe, but what if you can’t find a way out?”

Meanwhile, “It Ends” unfolds in a Lower East Side walk-up, where the protagonist’s ordinary life—morning coffee, work emails, corner bodega runs—slides almost imperceptibly into a claustrophobic nightmare. The film’s relentless repetition struck a chord with audiences who, after the last few years of upheaval, now find the city’s return to ‘normal’ strangely unsettling.

New Yorkers are no strangers to the grind. But these films sharpen the anxiety most city dwellers only half-register: the possibility that all forward motion is an illusion. At a packed midnight screening at Nitehawk Williamsburg on Saturday, viewers didn’t jump at ghosts—they shuddered at the sight of a MetroCard that never scans. “It’s the horror of being stuck,” said attendee Marsha Abramowitz, a Midtown office manager. “And in this city, that hits close to home.”

As the sun sets earlier and the routines of fall settle in, the city’s horror fans are finding that the most chilling stories may be the ones closest to reality: the everyday rituals that, once stripped of novelty, start to close in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new trend in horror films set in New York City?

A new trend in horror films focuses on the fear of monotonous routines and being stuck in repetitive loops, resonating with audiences post-pandemic.

What are ‘It Ends’ and ‘Exit 8’ about?

‘It Ends’ and ‘Exit 8’ are horror films that explore the anxiety of urban routines and the illusion of progress, with characters trapped in repetitive, unsettling cycles.

Who directed ‘Exit 8’ and where was it filmed?

‘Exit 8’ was directed by Lena Rodriguez and filmed in the Union Square subway station.

Where and when are ‘It Ends’ and ‘Exit 8’ being screened?

Both films are screening at indie theaters in Manhattan and Brooklyn this month, with recent events at Metrograph and Nitehawk Williamsburg.

Why do these films resonate with New Yorkers?

The films resonate because they tap into the familiar anxiety of being stuck in urban routines, a feeling heightened for many after the pandemic.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.