A time loop is a phenomenon where a period of time repeats itself, causing individuals to relive the same moments or events over and over again. Often explored in science fiction, psychological thrillers, and folklore, time loops can create a sense of entrapment, confusion, or even horror for those experiencing them. While fictional stories like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow popularize the idea in entertainment, real-life parallels can be found in recurring dreams, memory disorders, and psychological episodes where people feel stuck in repetitive cycles. Time loops often challenge our perception of reality, fate, and free will.

Similar concepts we found during research:

Déjà vu:

Déjà vu is the feeling that you have already experienced something that is actually happening for the first time. It creates a strange sense of familiarity in a completely new situation. And while researching further which led to some Reddit thread hence, Those narratives often describe repeating the same moments or days, leading to feelings of confusion and déjà vu.

Sleep paralysis:

Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up. It often comes with a feeling of pressure on the chest and vivid hallucinations.A compilation of personal stories from individuals who have experienced sleep paralysis, some of which involve sensations of being trapped in loops or encountering recurring entities.

To understand the basic concept of time loop a video by unveiled on YouTube title what if you were trapped in a time loop helped lot that what exactly is this and how the concept is executed in movies:

Similar movies related to the concept of time loop:

Happy death day (2017):

Tree Gelbman, a college student, finds herself trapped in a time loop, reliving the day of her murder over and over again. Each time she is killed, she wakes up on the same morning, forcing her to solve the mystery of her killer’s identity to break free and finally escape the cycle. As she confronts her past mistakes, Tree not only fights for her life but also for a second chance at becoming a better person.

Supernatural:

Supernatural is a TV series which is not entirely based on the concept of time loop but its episode 11 from season 3 titled the "mystery spot" showcases a similar concept as it's synopsis says

Sam and Dean investigate a series of mysterious deaths at a small town tourist attraction called the Mystery Spot. However, after Dean is killed during the case, Sam wakes up and realizes he's trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over with Dean dying in different ways each time. As Sam desperately tries to break the cycle, he uncovers that a powerful trickster is behind the twisted scenario.

Edge of tomorrow:

In a future where Earth is under attack by an alien race called Mimics, Major William Cage, an inexperienced officer, is forced into a deadly battle. Killed within minutes, Cage finds himself trapped in a time loop reliving the same brutal fight over and over. With each repeat, he grows stronger and teams up with skilled warrior Rita Vrataski to find a way to defeat the aliens and save humanity.

Real life time loop incident:

Interview with a time loop survival:

Interview Presentation

THE LOOPING NIGHTMARE

An interview with Zaid Khalid

Click anywhere to begin...

Interviewer

Thank you for joining us today. Can you start by telling us your name and a little about what you experienced?

Zaid Khalid

My name is Zaid Khalid. About two years ago, I went through something I still struggle to explain. It was like being trapped inside a nightmare that kept looping — only, it felt real.

Interviewer

Can you describe what you mean by "looping"?

Zaid Khalid

It started in a forest. I was hiking alone, and after losing my way, I stumbled upon an old house. Something drew me inside. Once I stepped in, everything changed. I would see a person tied to a chair... sometimes it was a stranger, sometimes it was me. I kept reliving a cycle of fear, aggression, and regret — over and over. No matter what I did, I ended up back at the door.

Interviewer

That sounds terrifying. Did you experience violence, like what you described seeing?

Zaid Khalid

Yes. At times, I would see myself harming another version of me. Other times, it was someone else. There was always a knife... always that choice. It felt symbolic, like a punishment for something I didn't even remember doing. Each time I "woke up," the roles reversed. I was the attacker, then the victim. It was endless.

Interviewer

How did you escape the loop?

Zaid Khalid

I'm not sure if I truly escaped. After what felt like days — or maybe minutes, time had no meaning — I refused to pick up the knife. I closed my eyes, sat still, and accepted whatever was coming. Then everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in the forest, alone. It was morning.

Interviewer

Some people might think this sounds like a dream, hallucination, or something psychological. What do you believe it was?

Zaid Khalid

It could have been in my mind. Maybe guilt, trauma, or fear created it. But part of me feels... I crossed into something real, a dimension of punishment or self-confrontation. Whatever it was, it changed me forever.

Interviewer

Note: the answer are revealed in a interview method as after a 2 - 3 sec interval

Another real life story like of Clive Wearing, a British musicologist, suffers from profound amnesia, causing him to feel as though he is constantly waking up for the first time. His condition creates a real-life experience akin to a time loop, where he cannot form new memories and perceives each moment as his first conscious experience.

Sometimes there are some movies scene which built's a connection with you, that inspire you a lot. the angles, camera movement or some beautifully taken shots or even the sound and the lighting gives the movie a new life. the movie scene that i were much look forward too,and used them in my short film are is as follows:

Micro Elements :

Camera angles and shots :

Commonly used shots/angles in psychological thriller:

In psychological thrillers, camera work is essential to creating tension, suspense, and an atmosphere of unease. Here are some common techniques:

1. Close-ups and Extreme Close-ups: Used to capture intense emotions,especially when they’re experiencing fear, anxiety, or deceit. Such as Joker (2019) Close-ups on Arthur Fleck’s face capture the evolution of his psychological breakdown, conveying nuanced emotions like rage, sadness, and delusion.

2. Point-of-View (POV) Shots: POV shots let the audience see through a character’s eyes, creating empathy or understanding of their mental state. for example Parasite (2019) Ki-woo’s POV when observing the wealthy Park family’s house for the first time conveys his aspirations and sense of discovery.

3. Handheld Camera Shots: Handheld shots add a sense of realism and instability. for example Uncut Gems (2019) The use of handheld cameras creates an anxious, chaotic feel, reflecting the protagonist’s high-stakes gambling and tumultuous lifestyle.

4. Dutch Angles: A tilted camera angle (Dutch Angle) suggests disorientation, confusion, or mental imbalance. like Inception (2010) Dutch angles are used during scenes where gravity is manipulated, heightening the sense of instability and dreamlike disorientation.

5. Over-the-Shoulder: These shots can restrict the viewer’s perspective, leaving them unable to see the full scene and creating suspense.Example: Zodiac (2007) Over-the-shoulder shots during the killer’s appearances obscure the full scene, keeping the audience as in the dark as the investigators.

Sounds:

Commonly used sounds in psychological thriller:

Commonly used sounds in psychological thriller movie are discordant sound,stings the use of these two types are namely in "THE DARK KNIGHT" (2008) sound effects they are added to increase the intensity of the scene to make the sound more prominent like in "THE DARK KNIGHT" (2008) when the joker blew the hospital, sound motif like when we have to introduce a character for example, sound used while the entering of the nun i the movie "THE NUN" and diegetic.