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100 Feet

100 Feet is a 2008 American supernatural horror thriller film written and directed by Eric Red.^[1] The story follows Marnie Watson, portrayed by Famke Janssen, who is sentenced to house arrest after killing her abusive police officer husband in self-defense; confined to a 100-foot radius around their Brooklyn home by an electronic ankle bracelet, she soon discovers the residence is haunted by her husband's enraged spirit seeking revenge.^[1] Produced by Voltage Pictures and distributed by The Asylum, the film blends elements of psychological tension and ghostly possession, emphasizing themes of domestic abuse and supernatural retribution. The supporting cast includes Bobby Cannavale as Detective Shanks, Mike's former partner, Ed Westwick as Joey, a young neighbor, and Michael Paré as the ghostly husband Mike Watson, with the narrative unfolding over a runtime of 105 minutes.^[1] Filmed primarily in Budapest, Hungary, with exteriors in New York to represent the setting, 100 Feet premiered internationally on July 24, 2008, in South Korea, followed by festival screenings and limited releases, before its U.S. DVD release on October 6, 2009.^[2] Eric Red, known for earlier works like The Hitcher (1986), crafted the screenplay to explore the protagonist's isolation and vulnerability, drawing on classic haunted house tropes while centering a female-led survival story.^[3] Critically, the film received mixed responses, with an audience score of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 469 ratings, reflecting divided opinions on its pacing and supernatural elements, though it has garnered a cult following for Janssen's intense performance.^[3] Available for free on Tubi and on Netflix, 100 Feet remains a notable entry in early 2000s direct-to-video horror, highlighting the era's interest in vengeful spirit narratives.^[4]^[5]

Production

Development

The development of 100 Feet originated from writer-director Eric Red's long-standing interest in crafting a classical ghost story, drawing inspiration from Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House and Japanese horror films such as Ringu and Ju-On, which prioritize atmospheric suspense and psychological tension over graphic violence.^[6] Red sought to create a narrative that evoked the gritty realism and emotional isolation found in these works, focusing on a protagonist confined to a single location.^[6] The film's core concept was sparked by real-life high-profile house arrest cases in the early 2000s, where electronic ankle bracelets restricted individuals to a 100-foot radius from their residence, providing a unique hook for a haunting tale of inescapable dread.^[6] Red penned the screenplay himself, structuring it as a traditional ghost story that integrates the supernatural with deeper emotional layers, particularly the protagonist's history of marital abuse and the ensuing psychological torment from her deceased husband's vengeful spirit.^[7]^[6] Pre-production was led by producers Sarah Ryan Black, Ed Elbert, and Jonathan Sanger of Grand Illusions Entertainment, in partnership with David Steiner of Steiner Studios, with principal photography slated to begin shortly after the project's announcement in April 2007.^[7] The film was positioned as a mid-tier horror project with an estimated budget of $10 million, allowing for practical effects and location shooting while maintaining an independent scale.^[1] Famke Janssen and Bobby Cannavale were attached early as the leads during this phase.^[7]

Filming

Principal photography for 100 Feet took place primarily in two locations to balance authenticity with production flexibility. Exterior scenes were filmed on location in New York City, specifically capturing the gritty atmosphere of a Brooklyn brownstone to ground the story in a realistic urban setting.^[6]^[8] Interior scenes were shot on a soundstage in Budapest, Hungary, where a breakaway set of the brownstone was constructed. This setup allowed for modifications such as flying walls, floors, and ceilings, enabling dynamic camera movements and practical effects integration essential to the film's confined narrative.^[6]^[8] The film was shot in the Super 35 format using Panavision cameras and lenses, providing a widescreen aspect ratio that amplified the sense of entrapment within the house. Cinematographer Ken Kelsch employed wide lenses to emphasize spatial constraints, complemented by a lighting design focused on candlelight in key sequences to create intimate, shadowy depth and heighten suspense.^[9]^[6] Production faced challenges in simulating the 100-foot radius restriction central to the plot, requiring precise set design to visually convey the protagonist's limited mobility without leaving the interior space. Coordinating practical effects for the ghost's manifestations, such as subtle movements and apparitions, demanded meticulous planning on the flexible soundstage to avoid disrupting the slow-building tension.^[6]^[8] Director Eric Red prioritized character-focused shots and long takes to foster gradual suspense, drawing from classic horror influences like The Innocents and Rosemary's Baby, while minimizing quick cuts to maintain a deliberate pace.^[6]

Cast

Lead performers

Famke Janssen leads the cast as Marnie Watson, the film's protagonist, a woman sentenced to house arrest after killing her abusive husband in self-defense, only to be tormented by his lingering spirit within the confines of their shared home. Janssen dominates the screen, appearing in nearly every scene to embody Marnie's escalating desperation and resilience amid supernatural threats and isolation.^[10] Her performance is praised for its raw physical and emotional intensity, carrying the narrative through prolonged sequences of solitude and confrontation.^[11] Michael Paré portrays Mike Watson, Marnie's late husband and a corrupt former police officer whose vengeful ghost remains bound to the house, perpetuating his cycle of abuse from beyond the grave. Paré's role demands a largely silent, spectral presence, relying on visceral physicality and subtle expressions to evoke the ghost's unrelenting rage and menace, enhanced by practical effects that heighten his otherworldly terror.^[10]^[12] Bobby Cannavale plays Detective Lou Shanks, Mike's loyal former partner on the force, tasked with overseeing Marnie's compliance during her house arrest while grappling with his own unresolved grief and suspicions. Initially positioned as an antagonistic overseer who harbors doubts about Marnie's innocence, Shanks' character evolves into a potential ally, injecting interpersonal tension into the supernatural horror through Cannavale's portrayal of conflicted authority and moral ambiguity.^[10]^[13]

Supporting performers

Ed Westwick portrays Joey, a young delivery boy working at a local Brooklyn market who lives nearby and gradually develops a romantic interest in Marnie Watson, the film's protagonist under house arrest. His character serves as a key external link for Marnie, delivering groceries and fostering tentative interactions that underscore her confinement within the 100-foot radius of her ankle monitor, while introducing elements of budding romance amid the horror.^[1]^[14]^[6] Patricia Charbonneau plays Frances, Marnie's sister, who makes a brief appearance to negotiate buying out Marnie's share of the haunted apartment, briefly heightening familial dynamics and the pressure on Marnie's restricted life.^[15]^[16] Additional minor supporting roles, such as police officers monitoring the house arrest and incidental neighbors, are depicted by actors including John Fallon as Jimmy—a detective involved in the oversight—and Kevin Geer as Father Pritchet, a local priest offering momentary counsel, each contributing subtle layers to the community backdrop without advancing the core supernatural conflict. These peripheral figures interact sparingly with the leads to reinforce the themes of isolation and surveillance.^[17]^[16]

Plot

Synopsis

Marnie Watson, portrayed by Famke Janssen, has been convicted of killing her abusive husband, Mike Watson, a violent New York City police officer, in self-defense after enduring years of domestic abuse.^[15] Following a prison sentence, she is released on house arrest and fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet that restricts her to a 100-foot radius around their Brooklyn brownstone, transforming the once-familiar home into an inescapable prison.^[3] As Marnie attempts to rebuild her life within these confines, she begins experiencing terrifying supernatural phenomena: the vengeful ghost of Mike manifests violently, haunting her exclusively within the bracelet's range and intensifying her isolation and fear.^[15] The spirit's relentless presence escalates the horror, turning everyday moments into threats and underscoring the irony of her limited freedom, as the house—meant to be her sanctuary—becomes a site of unrelenting torment.^[3] Tensions rise through Marnie's interactions with those just beyond her tether: her sympathetic neighbor, Joey (Ed Westwick), who runs errands and offers emotional support, and Detective Shanks (Bobby Cannavale), Mike's former partner on the force, who monitors her compliance with suspicion and lingering resentment over his colleague's death.^[17] These relationships heighten the psychological strain, drawing Marnie into a web of external scrutiny and budding alliances that complicate her desperate struggle against the ghostly intruder.^[16] The narrative builds to Marnie's direct confrontation with the supernatural force, forcing her to challenge the boundaries of her confinement in a bid for survival and liberation from both the legal restraint and the spectral curse.^[15]

Themes and analysis

The central theme of 100 Feet revolves around domestic abuse, depicted through the haunting of the protagonist by her deceased husband's vengeful spirit, serving as a metaphor for the inescapable trauma and unresolved violence of marital abuse.^[6]^[18] This supernatural element underscores the psychological repercussions of abuse, where the ghost embodies lingering patriarchal control and the victim's ongoing victimization even after the abuser's death.^[18]^[19] Confinement emerges as a dual motif in the film, representing both the literal restriction of house arrest—enforced by an ankle bracelet limiting the protagonist to a 100-foot radius—and the psychological imprisonment imposed by guilt, fear, and the persistent threat of the haunting.^[6]^[10] This setup intensifies the narrative's exploration of isolation, mirroring the entrapment experienced by survivors of abuse within their own homes.^[19] The film draws on classical ghost story tropes, prioritizing emotional suspense and character psychology to build tension rather than relying on jump scares or graphic gore.^[6] Director Eric Red employs slow-building dread through long takes and atmospheric sound design, evoking the subtle terror of literary influences like Shirley Jackson's works.^[6]^[18] The 100-foot radius functions as a key narrative device, confining the action to a single location and amplifying claustrophobia, much like the spatial limitations in J-horror films that heighten psychological horror.^[6]^[10] This restricted environment transforms the home into an oppressive prison, emphasizing the protagonist's vulnerability and the inescapability of her past.^[19]

Release

Broadcast and distribution

The film's first release was a limited theatrical run in South Korea on July 24, 2008.^[2] Its European premiere took place at the Hamburg Fantasy Filmfest on August 14, 2008, marking an early public screening following its completion.^[2] This event introduced the horror thriller to an international audience focused on genre cinema, setting the stage for further festival exposure.^[20] The U.S. premiere occurred at Screamfest in Los Angeles on October 11, 2008, where it was presented as a feature film in the festival's lineup.^[21] This screening highlighted the film's appeal within the American horror community, contributing to its limited theatrical elements through genre-specific events. Distribution for the initial rollout was overseen by Voltage Pictures, which handled worldwide rights and facilitated limited theatrical releases in select international markets (including the Philippines on September 17, 2008, and Spain on October 2, 2008), followed by festival circuit appearances and transition to television.^[2]^[22] The television broadcast premiere aired on the Syfy channel on April 26, 2009, styled as a made-for-TV release to reach a broader audience.^[23]

Home media

The film received its initial home media release on DVD in Region 1 on October 6, 2009, distributed by The Asylum.^[3] This edition included a trailer.^[19] A limited DVD release had occurred earlier on April 28, 2009, shortly after the film's premiere broadcast on Syfy on April 26, 2009, which served as a precursor to wider home availability.^[24] International DVD releases followed, including in the UK on March 2, 2009, and in Germany in 2009, aligning with the film's exposure on the 2008 festival circuit.^[25]^[26] A Blu-ray edition (unrated and uncut) was released in the United States on October 20, 2009, with minimal special features.^[27] In the 2010s, 100 Feet became available on various streaming platforms, such as Tubi and Amazon Prime Video. As of November 2025, it is available for free streaming on Tubi, with rental and purchase options on Amazon Prime Video and Google Play.^[5]^[28]

Reception

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its suspenseful moments and strong lead performance but criticized its predictable storyline and lack of originality. On Rotten Tomatoes, based on 1 critic review rated 3/5, with the critic noting "plenty of suspense and moments that kept me wondering what would happen." As of November 2025, the Tomatometer has no score due to insufficient reviews.^[3] Bloody Good Horror awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, commending Famke Janssen for an "admirable and capable performance" amid the confined house arrest setting, though faulting the scares for feeling too tangible and the plot for inconsistencies like scenes occurring beyond the 100-foot bracelet range.^[29] Dread Central rated the film 3.5 out of 5, describing it as a "surprisingly spooky" direct-to-video horror that effectively builds atmospheric tension through the protagonist's isolation and fear of the dark.^[19] The Hollywood Reporter highlighted director Eric Red's handling of the supernatural drama as competent but unoriginal, comparing the underutilized house arrest premise unfavorably to films like Disturbia and noting issues with the overall execution.^[30] Critics also expressed mixed opinions on the CGI ghost effects, with some finding the manifestations overly physical and less ethereal than typical hauntings.^[29]

Audience response

Audience members have given 100 Feet a mixed reception, reflected in its IMDb user rating of 5.4 out of 10 based on approximately 14,000 votes as of November 2025.^[1] Many viewers praised Famke Janssen's performance as Marnie Watson, noting her ability to convey fear and resilience effectively, with comments such as "Famke Janssen giving a strong performance" and "carries the movie well."^[11] However, frequent criticisms targeted the film's reliance on clichéd horror tropes, including predictable jump scares that "relies on tried and tested means... which unfortunately fail" to deliver genuine tension.^[11] On Letterboxd, the film holds an average rating of 2.6 out of 5 from 2,910 user logs as of November 2025, where it has garnered a niche cult following among enthusiasts of contained horror films like The Others.^[31] Fans appreciate the premise's clever subversion of the "why don't they leave?" cliché through the house arrest setup, describing it as a "unique angle for a ghost story" that builds suspense by trapping the protagonist in the haunted space.^[32] This gimmick is often highlighted in user discussions for creating effective scares, though complaints about dated visual effects persist, with reviewers calling out "poor special effects" and "over the top CGI" that feel subpar even for a 2008 release.^[11] Due to its limited theatrical rollout, 100 Feet generated approximately $1.4 million in worldwide box office earnings, with much of its viewership stemming from DVD and television distribution rather than cinemas.^[33] This home media focus has contributed to its enduring, if modest, audience engagement through streaming and physical copies, fostering ongoing fan appreciation for its atmospheric tension despite production shortcomings.^[10]

References

[1]
100 Feet (2008) - IMDb
Rating 5.4/10 (13,600) After Marnie Watson kills her abusive husband in self-defense, she is condemned to house arrest only to discover that the house is possessed.
[2]
100 Feet (2008) - Release info - IMDb
Release date: South Korea July 24, 2008, Germany August 14, 2008(Hamburg Fantasy Filmfest), Philippines September 17, 2008, Spain October 2, 2008.
[3]
100 Feet - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 31% (469) After 7 years in prison, Marnie is under house arrest with a 100-foot radius and discovers her husband's ghost seeks revenge.
[4]
Watch 100 Feet | Netflix
After killing her abusive husband, a woman under house arrest is terrorized by the man's vengeful ghost in this gripping supernatural thriller.
[5]
Watch 100 Feet (2008) - Free Movies | Tubi
Condemned to house arrest after killing her abusive husband in self-defense, Marnie discovers that the house is possessed by his enraged spirit.
[6]
Eric Red interview on 100 Feet and Nightlife - Eye For Film
Oct 22, 2007 · Eric Red talks about his latest, ghostly horror film and reveals how he plans to breathe life into the vampire genre.
[7]
Red to direct, write '100 Feet' - Variety
Apr 15, 2007 · Eric Red, the writer behind cult-horror classic "The Hitcher," has signed on to write and direct thriller "100 Feet" with Jonathan Sanger's ...
[8]
ICONS INTERVIEW: Writer / Director Eric Red - Robert V Galluzzo
May 10, 2008 · I insisted on shooting exteriors in New York in Brooklyn, for the outside of the house and all the shots through the windows. And then we built ...
[9]
100 Feet (2008) Technical Specifications - ShotOnWhat
Jun 15, 2019 · The movie 100 Feet, released in 2008 and directed by Eric Red, was shot on film using Panavision Cameras and Panavision Lenses with Ken Kelsch ...Missing: filming | Show results with:filming<|control11|><|separator|>
[10]
100 Feet: Eric Red film is the Best Horror Movie You Never Saw
May 23, 2024 · Red wrote and directed 100 Feet, which stars Famke Janssen as Marnie Watson, a woman who killed her abusive husband Mike in self defense.
[11]
100 Feet (2008) - User reviews - IMDb
Famke Janssen's performance in this movie was fantastic. The actual movie was average in execution and it had an ending that lessoned the film especially ...
[12]
100 Feet (2008) - Horror Movie A Day
Oct 11, 2008 · And you gotta give props to Michael Paré, playing the ghost of her ex-husband. The ghost design is super creepy (it's sort of J-horror inspired ...
[13]
Film Review: 100 Feet (2008) | HNN - Horrornews.net
Sep 7, 2010 · The movie opens up with Marnie, handcuffed, in the back seat of a car. We are treated to a credit Montague as she is driven through the urban ...
[14]
Ed Westwick Films and Shows - ‎Apple TV
He appeared in the 2008 horror film "100 Feet" as Joey, a handsome delivery boy who gets entangled in a dangerous love affair with a woman (Famke Janssen) who ...
[15]
100 Feet (2008) - Plot - IMDb
... 100 feet from the detector in the hallway. Shanks treats Marnie quite badly, telling her she will remain in the house until her sentence is up. He tells her ...
[16]
100 Feet | Cast and Crew - Rotten Tomatoes
Cast & Crew ; Eric Red ; Famke Janssen · Marnie Watson ; Bobby Cannavale · Shanks ; Ed Westwick · Joey ; Michael Paré · Mike Watson, The Ghost.
[17]
100 Feet (2008) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
100 Feet (2008) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses ... producer (as Sarah Ryan Black). Chris Bongirne · Chris Bongirne. line producer ...
[18]
100 FEET: Film Review - Scream Horror Magazine
Nov 5, 2014 · 100 Feet is a potent scare-show well worth its less than ten quid asking price. It's a pretty damn hard-hitting and thoughtful narrative.
[19]
100 Feet (DVD) - Dread Central
Jun 21, 2010 · Simply put, 100 Feet is an intense and at times scary little movie. ... claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in the inescapable home. It ...
[20]
[PDF] fantasy-filmfest-2008.pdf
Jan 17, 2023 · 100 FEET will make you believe in ghosts, but unlike the random unreasoning malevolence of the J-Film spirits, our ghost has a legitimate ...
[21]
100 Feet | SCREAMFEST
Oct 11, 2008 · Red. Director. Writer/director Eric Red was born as Eric Joseph ... " Eric's hobbies include film, books, comics, Cuban cigars, and gymnastics.
[22]
100 Feet (2008) - Blue Rider Pictures
Distributor(s) – Universum Film (Germany), Long Shong Entertainment (Taiwan) and Voltage Pictures (non-USA theatrical). Release Date – 2008. Synopsis – In ...Missing: company | Show results with:company
[23]
Eric Red Talks Exclusive '100 Feet' Blu-ray/DVD Release
Apr 24, 2009 · ... 2009. By. Brad Miska. While the film premieres on the Sci Fi Channel this Sunday, a new TV spot teasing the showing reveals that the DVD and ...
[24]
100 Feet Finds April Debut Date - ComingSoon.net
Feb 27, 2009 · Famke Janssen ain't afraid of no ghost 100 Feet, the latest directorial effort from Eric Red, is going to premiere on the Sci-Fi Channel on ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[25]
100 Feet [DVD] - Amazon UK
Rating 4.1 (391) Actors, ‎Bobby Cannavale, Ed Westwick, Famke Janssen, John Fallon, Michael Paré ; Studio, ‎DNC ; Release date, ‎2 Mar. 2009 ; ASIN, ‎B001N4KBEW.
[26]
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0899128/releaseinfo
[27]
100 Feet streaming: where to watch movie online? - JustWatch
Rating 45% (82) Find out how and where to watch "100 Feet" online on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ today – including 4K and free options.<|control11|><|separator|>
[28]
100 Feet Blu-ray (Unrated and Uncut)
Rating 6/10 · Review by Kenneth BrownJan 16, 2010 · The Blu-ray edition of 100 Feet obliterates its murky DVD counterpart with an unexpectedly capable, notably filmic 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer.
[29]
100 Feet | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes
Explore critic and audience reviews for 100 Feet on Rotten Tomatoes. Uncover scores, opinions, and ratings.Missing: 2008 | Show results with:2008
[30]
100 Feet (Movie Review) | Bloody Good Horror
Jan 11, 2010 · It was written and directed by Eric Red, a guy with some serious genre cred who not only directed the underappreciated Jeff-Fahey-with-a-killer- ...Missing: producers | Show results with:producers
[31]
100 Feet - The Hollywood Reporter
Oct 23, 2008 · Movie Reviews. 100 Feet. The “house arrest” thriller was done to vastly better effect in “Disturbia,” but an underutilized gimmick isn't the ...
[32]
100 Feet (2008) directed by Eric Red - Letterboxd
Rating 2.6 (2,909) In 100 Feet Famke Janssen plays a recently released woman who spent a while in prison for killing her brutal cop ex-husband. He's trying to kill her in their ...
[33]
Reviews of 100 Feet
### Summary of User Reviews for *100 Feet* on Letterboxd
[34]
100 Feet (2008) - Movie | Moviefone
Rating 57% (326) WriterEric Red ; Theatrical Release:July 24th, 2008 ; On DVD & Blu-ray:October 6th, 2009 - Buy DVD ; Movie Budget:$10,000,000 ; Movie Box Office Gross:$1,415,804 ( ...