The Chalk Line (original Spanish title 'Jaula') is a 2022 Spanish horror-thriller that masterfully blends psychological tension with supernatural mystery. Directed by Ignacio Tatay, the film follows Paula and Simón, a couple who discover a young girl wandering alone on a highway. After taking her in temporarily, they notice her strange behavior—she refuses to cross any chalk lines drawn on the floor. As they investigate her traumatic past, they uncover disturbing secrets that threaten their own safety and sanity.

The film's strength lies in its atmospheric direction and strong performances, particularly from the young actress portraying the mysterious child. The cinematography creates a claustrophobic tension within the couple's home, transforming ordinary spaces into psychological battlegrounds. While the 6.1 IMDb rating suggests some narrative unevenness, the film delivers genuine suspense and thought-provoking themes about trauma, protection, and the boundaries we create—both real and psychological.

Viewers should watch The Chalk Line for its effective blend of mystery and horror elements, reminiscent of Spanish genre classics while offering fresh psychological depth. The 106-minute runtime maintains steady pacing, revealing clues about the girl's origins while developing the couple's increasingly desperate situation. This is a compelling watch for fans of international horror seeking more cerebral scares than typical jump-scare fare, exploring how childhood trauma manifests in supernatural ways and testing how far ordinary people will go to protect someone they barely know.