Shackled, directed and written by Joss Refauvelet, is a tense survival thriller set in the harsh expanse of the Californian desert. The film’s premise: a young woman wakes chained to the back of an abandoned pickup truck, struggling against dehydration, confusion, and psychological torment as she races to outwit her captor’s sinister plot before it’s too late
Released in May 2023, the film runs for approximately 86–87 minutes and is also known under the alternate title Aama Cast & Crew
Director / Writer: Joss Refauvelet
Lead Actress: Monique Rosario as the trapped woman (Aamal)
Supporting Cast: Tyler Cole, Dan Franklin, Christanna Rowader, Jennifer Ball, Gary Best, Melanie Jade
Plot & Themes
The film opens with the protagonist awakening, disoriented and shackled. Around her are cryptic items: a bottle of gin, a CB radio crackling faintly, and a revolver with only two bullets. As she fights mental and physical anguish, she pieces together the twisted intent behind her captivity—each revelation ratchets up the suspense as she fights for surviva
Reception & Reactions
IMDb scores the film at about 3.2–3.6 out of 10, based on over a thousand reviews, indicating a largely negative reception
However, not all opinions are negative:
“You have to watch ’til the end. … it all makes sense… mix of SAW and a real‑life escape room with supernatural elements” – thegranfinali (6/10)
Janice Summary & Verdict
Strengths: Unique one-location concept, committed central performance by Monique Rosario, intense and claustrophobic atmosphere.
Weaknesses: Limited cast and setting, slow pacing, plot ambiguity, and divisive ending.
Sample Introduction Paragraph
Released in May 2023 and directed by Joss Refauvelet, Shackled (also known as Aamal) is a minimalist thriller that throws one woman into a psychological survival ordeal. Waking shackled to a truck in California’s unforgiving desert, Monique Rosario delivers a compelling performance as she attempts to piece together clues—a bottle of gin, a gyrating CB radio, a gun with two bullets—to escape her cryptic captor’s game. Clocking in at 86 minutes, the film offers claustrophobic tension and inventive ideas, though critics largely condemned its pacing and coherence. With an IMDb rating in the low 3s, responses range from infuriated dismissal to cautious appreciation for its twisty structure and atmosphere. Whether its slow-burn approach works for you may hinge on patience and a taste for indie puzzle thrillers.