Down(2001)
2001 · Dick Maas · 111 min
After the elevators at a New York City skyscraper begin inexplicably malfunctioning, putting its passengers at risk, mechanic Mark Newman and reporter Jennifer Evans begin separate investigations. Newman gets resistance from superiors at his company, which manufactured the elevator, while additional elevator incidents cause several gruesome deaths. The police get involved and suspect that terrorists are responsible, but a far stranger explanation looms.
Horror · Mystery · Thriller
5.1200 votes
TMDB score
3/5
Intensity
3/5
Gore
1/5
Stays with you
How Down scares
There's a strange, campy thrill to watching something as mundane as an elevator become a source of dread, and the movie leans into that absurdity rather than trying to be truly frightening. The pacing bounces between investigation scenes and sudden, over-the-top death sequences, so it plays more like a gruesome mystery-thriller with horror flourishes than a slow creep-fest. The threat stays hazy for most of the runtime, mixing conspiracy, machinery, and hints of something stranger, which keeps things unpredictable but never heavy or truly disturbing. It's a good pick if you want gory, silly fun rather than something that will stick with you afterward.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Down rates psychological 2/5, visceral 3/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 1/5, and overall intensity 3/5.
- Psychological: 2 of 5
- Visceral: 3 of 5
- Gore: 3 of 5
- Lingering: 1 of 5
- Intensity: 3 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 55 of 100 — balanced
Supernatural vs Real-world: 35 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 25 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A steady drip of unsettling incidents that builds in waves toward a chaotic, high-pressure finish.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5.
How scary is Down?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Down rates 3/5 — solidly scary, balancing creeping dread with well-placed shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be moderately gory and fun-first. The dread fades once the credits roll.
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