This Underrated Mexican Mystical Thriller Could Be the Most Mind-Blowing 'Black Mirror' Episode

Imagine being trapped in a stairwell where each step up or down brings you back to the same spot or imagine driving along an endless highway with no beginning or end.

This isn't a plotline from the new season of Black Mirror, it's The Incident, a 2014 Spanish sci-fi thriller that was a revelation for fans of complex science fiction.

First-time director Isaac Ezban created a movie that explores the limits of the human mind when confronted with a metaphysical anomaly.

What Is 'The Incident' About?

Two parallel stories unfold simultaneously. In the first, two criminal brothers and the detective pursuing them are trapped on an endless staircase. Any ascent or descent leads them back to the same landing.

Food and water renew themselves daily, and the characters spend 35 years in this confined space.

In the second story, a family of four drives aimlessly along an endless highway, unable to escape the loop – they too become stuck in a time loop for decades. A mysterious explosion triggers this terrifying paradox, and the characters have their entire lives to unravel its mystery.

'The Incident' Is All About Spatial Loops and Metaphysical Horror

The main strength of The Incident lies in its concept. Ezban demonstrates how it's possible to create a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last minute with minimal resources.

The first part of the movie is pure claustrophobia – the characters try to find a way out, but every step leads to a dead end. The second part evokes a sense of being on an endless road without landmarks or hope.

Over 35 years, the characters develop relationships and adapt to new conditions. But the question remains: why didn't they try to find a way out? And if this was their tragic fate, why did they even try to survive?

The Incident doesn't offer easy answers, but it's precisely this ambiguity that makes it so intriguing.

'The Incident' Is a Sophisticated Mystery That Will Please Fans of Smart Sci-Fi

The Incident could easily be an episode of Black Mirror – like the show, it explores the limits of the human mind when confronted with a technological or metaphysical anomaly.

The movie's ending will knock you off your feet as it reveals the intricacy of a design that seemed pointless at first glance. After watching it, you'll want to start over, making sure you don't miss anything this time.

Fans of inexplicable events and mysteries will be delighted – The Incident is an intellectual game in which viewers, along with the characters, try to solve the puzzle.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Incident'?

• The Incident has 83% from critics and 73% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Incident scored 3.3/5.0.