31

Five carnival workers wake up inside a derelict compound that feels like a hellish maze. They are abducted for a brutal game and forced to survive a twelve hour gauntlet while a ring of sadistic clowns watches and manipulates every move. The setting is a claustrophobic sprawl of grim corridors, flickering lights, and grimy rooms where traps and surprises keep the tension high. No one knows who arranged the match or why the players have been chosen, only that leaving the compound seems nearly impossible. The film keeps its focus on the players reactions, the escalating threats, and the relentless pace that makes the night feel endless. Its production design leans into neon lighting and gritty textures.

Directed by Rob Zombie, 31 was released in 2016 as an original screenplay by Zombie rather than an adaptation. The project suits his trademark grindhouse aesthetic and features Sheri Moon Zombie in a leading role, alongside a memorable supporting cast.

Box office performance was modest, with a worldwide gross of about 850,419 dollars against a 1.5 million budget. That result placed the film as a niche entry within Zombies catalog rather than a mainstream hit.

31 has earned a niche cult following among fans of Rob Zombie and extreme horror for its stark set pieces and the Doom-Head persona. The carnival game setup and aesthetic choices provoke ongoing conversations among genre watchers. That mixture keeps rewatch value for fans who notice the micro details.

Reception was mixed, with audiences rating the film roughly 5.45 out of 10 based on 843 votes. Critics split on its excess, praising the atmosphere, practical effects, and performances while complaining about pacing and repetitive setup. The movie turns a survival contest into a critique of cruelty as entertainment, foregrounding power struggles under stress and the way people react when consequences are blunt and immediate. The result is a controversial but unmistakably bold entry in Zombie's filmography.