10 Movies That Would Work Better As Horror
2. In Time
In Time takes place in a future where people stop aging at 25 but must earn, borrow, or steal time to stay alive. Time has effectively become currency, allowing the wealthy to live indefinitely, while the poor struggle to survive day by day.
Even though the cyberpunk blockbuster has an ingenious premise, it barely explores the abject terror which most people must endure every waking moment. Rather than focusing on car chases and brainless action, In Time could've made the story more personal and introspective, highlighting how this flawed system turns ordinary folk into thieves and murderers.
As the expiry date approaches, the person in question could experience unimaginable pain, driving them to perform criminal activities or lewd acts to stave off death for a few days.
Rather than dropping dead, the clock running out could trigger a horrific change in their body, such as rapid aging or an agonising demise. If In Time took this approach, watching a person's last few moments run out wouldn't just be tense, but genuinely frightening. But instead, the countdown is played as an action-thriller mechanic, nothing more.
In Time is relatively enjoyable, but it could've been so much better.