Crawlspace – When horror slips through the air ducts... and into your patience

Crawlspace is one of those movies that makes you eye every ventilation grate in your apartment with suspicion. Because yes, in this gem of claustrophobic horror, the real enemy isn’t some otherworldly monster—it’s your neighbor who’s decided to live in the walls (literally).

The film pulls off the impressive feat of turning an air duct system into a labyrinth of blood, paranoia, and highly questionable character choices. The protagonists move around as if trapped in an escape room designed by a homicidal interior decorator, and the killer… well, if you ever thought a serial killer couldn’t also be an HVAC expert, think again.

But the true star of the show is Klaus Kinski, who plays Dr. Gunther with his signature intensity—the kind that makes you wonder, “Genius or madman?” (Spoiler: both). Kinski, with his icy stare and feline, predatory movements, injects the film with a disturbing charisma that elevates it well above your average B-movie. Even when the script stumbles, he doesn’t—he crawls forward, scalpel and menace in hand.

From a technical standpoint, Crawlspace alternates between well-crafted tension and sequences where you start rooting for the killer, just to keep things moving. Clichés abound: damsels in distress, screams at all the wrong moments, and survival decisions that make Scooby-Doo look like a study in human psychology.

Yet in all its absurdity, Crawlspace has its charm: it’s a B-movie that knows exactly what it is, and leans into it with gusto. It doesn’t aim to reinvent the genre, just to entertain you while you wonder, “Am I really watching this?”

So, if you enjoy horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously—with a touch of grotesque flair and a Klaus Kinski performance that will haunt your air vents—Crawlspace is your movie.

Rating: 6.5 ducts out of 10. Plus 1 bonus point for every unsettling Kinski grimace.