“Trapped beneath the water. Drowning in silence.”
12 Feet Deep (2017) is a claustrophobic psychological thriller based on true events, turning a seemingly safe public swimming pool into a watery prison. With minimal location, tight pacing, and emotional tension, this indie film proves that true terror doesn’t need monsters—just helplessness.
The story follows two sisters, Bree and Jonna, who become trapped beneath the fiberglass cover of an Olympic-sized public pool just as it closes for a holiday weekend. What starts as an unfortunate accident quickly spirals into a desperate fight for survival. With no one around and their cries unheard, the temperature drops and oxygen thins—every minute becomes a cruel countdown.
As the hours pass, long-buried emotional wounds between the sisters resurface. Secrets, regrets, and past trauma bubble up in the confined space, adding another layer of psychological stress. Their survival becomes not only a physical challenge but also a test of their fractured relationship.
Director Matt Eskandari masterfully builds suspense with simplicity. Using tight shots, underwater camera work, and a creeping sense of time running out, he creates an atmosphere of dread that never lets up. The presence of a malicious janitor—who discovers them and cruelly chooses not to help—adds a chilling human element to the horror.
The film isn’t just a survival story; it’s a tale of vulnerability, resilience, and the will to fight when the world has literally closed in. Without relying on elaborate sets or special effects, 12 Feet Deep taps into a primal fear: being trapped, unseen, and forgotten.
It’s a taut, intimate thriller that proves the scariest places aren’t always haunted—they can be perfectly ordinary until they turn against you.