ATM

ATM

Year: 2012

Runtime: 90 min

Language: Chinese

Director: David Brooks

ThrillerHorror

A late-night ATM run turns terrifying when David and Emily find themselves hunted by a ruthless and unpredictable stranger. Trapped in the automated machine, and with freezing temperatures dropping, they must use their wits to survive the night and escape their pursuer. As dawn approaches, the situation becomes increasingly desperate in this suspenseful and gripping thriller.

ATM (2012) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at ATM (2012) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the dead of night, a lone ATM kiosk glows against a relentless winter chill, its humming lights the only beacon in an otherwise empty street. The ordinary act of withdrawing cash becomes a precarious ritual when the surrounding darkness feels alive with unseen tension, turning a routine stop into the center of a silent, icy storm. The setting—an isolated, fluorescent‑lit box surrounded by frost‑bitten pavement—sets the stage for a claustrophobic night where every breath is visible and every second counts.

David is a dependable driver whose steady demeanor masks a lingering unease, while Emily carries a blend of confidence and vulnerability that hints at deeper inner conflicts. Their mutual friend, Corey, injects a restless energy, his impulsive humor clashing with the growing sense of dread. The trio’s casual camaraderie is tested as they navigate the cramped confines of the machine, each personality pushing against the others’ limits and revealing hidden layers of loyalty, fear, and determination.

The film’s tone is a cold‑swept thriller, balancing stark visual austerity with a pulse‑quickening sense of being watched. The relentless wind whistles through the surrounding alleys, the temperature drops to an almost unbearable low, and the flickering fluorescence casts long, unsettling shadows. As the night drags on, the characters must rely on wits and whispered collaboration, the environment itself becoming both an adversary and a crucible for survival.

Beyond the immediate chill, an unseen, unpredictable presence stalks the periphery, its motives as opaque as the darkness that envelopes the scene. The audience is left with a lingering question: how far will ordinary people go when the ordinary turns terrifying, and what secrets lie hidden in the frost‑covered silence of a seemingly simple midnight errand?

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 07:18

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Movies where characters are trapped in a single location like in ATM

Characters forced to fight for their lives in a confined, inescapable space.Explore movies similar to ATM where the core conflict revolves around a life-or-death struggle within a tightly confined space. If you liked the high-stakes, claustrophobic survival horror of ATM, you'll find similar tension in these single-location thrillers and horror films.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is defined by an immediate and inescapable confinement, stripping away external resources and forcing characters to rely solely on their wits. The story unfolds as a series of escalating threats and desperate attempts to escape the physical and psychological prison.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on the shared experience of intense, location-based claustrophobia. They share a high-tension, fast-paced narrative structure where the setting is a primary source of conflict, creating a consistent feeling of desperation and immediate peril.

Bleak horror movies with hopeless endings like ATM

Stories that build relentless dread only to end in devastating defeat.Discover horror and thriller films that share the grim, hopeless finale of ATM. If you appreciated the devastating conclusion where evil triumphs, these movies deliver similarly bleak and unsettling endings that subvert expectations of justice or survival.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative arc is a downward spiral of failure and loss. Hope is systematically dismantled throughout the story, leading to an ending that confirms the protagonists' powerlessness. The journey is defined by the inevitability of a negative outcome, often involving the death of main characters and the triumph of a chaotic or unstoppable evil.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their commitment to a profoundly bleak and nihilistic tone. They share a heavy emotional weight and a narrative structure designed to leave the viewer with a sense of dread and hopelessness, rather than resolution or relief.

Unlock the Full Story of ATM

Don't stop at just watching — explore ATM in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what ATM is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

ATM Summary

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ATM Summary

ATM Timeline

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ATM Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in ATM

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Characters, Settings & Themes in ATM

More About ATM

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