Haze

An unnamed man wakes up on the floor of a cramped, dirty crawlspace with no memory of how he got there. His gut is wounded and a haze of drugs dulls his senses as he inches through the narrow tunnel. Periodic lapses yank him away from the world around him, forcing him to feel every rough surface and to search by touch for an exit. Each shift Reduces the space further and raises the risk, turning simple movements into a grind of survival. The longer he presses forward, the tighter the environment becomes and the more the fear gnaws at his grip on reality, turning every breath into a small victory against the unseen threat.

Released in 2005, the film was directed by Shinya Tsukamoto and is based on an original screenplay by Tsukamoto. It displays his keen attention to physical space and a deliberate, claustrophobic tempo that keeps tension high without resorting to loud shocks.

Box office figures for Haze are not widely reported, reflecting its niche status within Tsukamoto’s filmography and limited international release. It circulated mainly through festivals and art house venues rather than broad box office campaigns, emphasizing atmosphere over wide commercial appeal.

Reception and themes: Critics note the relentless feeling of confinement and the way memory, pain and perception blur together. The film uses sparse dialogue along with stark visuals to heighten unease, inviting viewers to question what is real and what exists only as the mind struggles to survive the space it inhabits.