Cobweb

Eight-year-old Peter is tormented by a relentless tapping that seems to come from inside his bedroom wall. His parents insist the sounds are only in his imagination, a game of nerves played by a child who hears things differently. As the tapping grows louder, Peter becomes convinced that his family is hiding a dangerous secret and that trust may be breaking down at home. The idea that the house itself might be watching, listening, and shaping what happens behind closed doors casts a pall over evenings spent cuddled on the sofa. The danger feels close, turning ordinary nights into a quiet countdown of fear. The tense acoustics and quiet intimate setting push the family toward a breaking point.

Released in 2023, Cobweb was directed by Samuel Bodin, with a screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin, adapting a claustrophobic premise into a tense family horror that blends practical effects, sharp sound design, and a tight focus on parent child dynamics.

The production carried a budget of about 13 million dollars and grossed roughly 10.1 million worldwide, marking a modest, mid-range performance for a horror title released in theaters. It performed best in certain markets and found life on streaming.

Cobweb has a keepsake memory in horror conversations for its knotting tension rather than flashy shocks. The central idea of a child uncovering a parent's secret resonated with audiences who value domestic dread over splatter. Lizzy Caplan and Woody Norman anchor the film with restrained, authentic performances while the claustrophobic setting remains memorable.

Critics praised the lean setup and how the film sustains suspense through sound and performance. The main themes center on trust, the fragility of family bonds, and the fear of what a safe space might conceal. Bodin favors implication over gore, letting viewers fill in the gaps as Caplan and Starr navigate a maze of private truths.