There's something inherently creepy about pure horror taking place on a hot, summer day. A time that's typically associated with beach visits and camping trips can be turned on its head by using the season as the backdrop for a horror film. While many people may choose a sleepy summertime comedy or drama to welcome the season, horror fans also have a selection of films to get them in a spooky mood, like the following ten.
Midsommar
Midsommar follows a group of friends attending a mid-summer festival at a Swedish commune, but what seems like a whimsical vacation devolves into abject terror. The friends are subjected to horrifying and violent traditions, as the members of the commune pick the outsiders off one by one. What is so unsettling about the film is that it takes place almost entirely in broad daylight, yet there are no shots in the theatrical cut of the film where the sun can actually be seen, adding a very unsettling element to the film.
Friday the 13th
The inaugural film in the iconic franchise is enough to ruin the idea of camping for many. Taking place at Camp Crystal Lake 21 years after the murder of two counsellors, the camp is being refurbished by a group of tenacious young adults, preparing to reopen the camp. Serial killer Jason Voorhees wreaks havoc on the counsellors in all the following films, taking each of them out in horrifically violent ways, but it is his mother in the first film who kicks it all off. The summer camp setting might bring back pleasant childhood memories for some viewers, but these are promptly squashed by the Voorhees family.
Cabin In The Woods
Known as one of the most meta horror films made, Cabin In The Woods breaks the boundaries between genres, as well as the relationship between the audience and the characters. It's also a perfect way to deter any group of friends from taking a road trip to a family cabin. The film follows a stereotypical group of horror characters as they retreat to a remote cabin. All hell breaks loose once the friends enter the basement, revealing the far more sinister nature of the cabin itself.
Mine Games
This hidden gem is another in the long list of summertime, cabin getaway, horror films, but with a sci-fi twist. A group of friends retreat to a mutual friend's cottage for a summer weekend. However, all the fun and games come to and end when the friends stumble upon a mysterious, hidden mine, unleashing a powerful supernatural force. The acting and writing can be a bit cheesy, and the characters are almost exactly what Cabin in the Woods pokes fun at; however, it's an entertaining film that reminds viewers not to explore any abandoned mines on their vacation.
Backcountry
This hyper-realistic survival film pits human against nature in the most horrifying way. A young couple decides to take a camping trip but are warned against it as the trails are predominantly closed. After travelling far too deep in the woods and getting lost, the couple find themselves fighting to survive in the wilderness. The film will terrify and intrigue any camping enthusiasts, and it will definitely teach viewers the simple lesson of bringing a map on a camping trip.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Known as one of the most iconic slasher films of the late 90s, I Know What You Did Last Summer is the ultimate cautionary tale. A group of high school seniors hit a pedestrian while driving around one night. Out of fear of getting caught, they dispose of the body and swear one another to secrecy. After they return from their first year of college, an unknown person starts terrorizing them, claiming to know their secret. The film is based on a novel of the same name, while also incorporating urban legends. I Know What You Did Last Summer certainly makes those hot summer nights a bit more terrifying.
Killing Ground
This Australian survival film is extremely disturbing, and it is in no way meant for the squeamish. The film follows a couple as they take a beach camping trip to celebrate New Year's Eve. They stumble upon an abandoned campsite and begin to wonder where the occupants are. Meanwhile, a group of very bad men are closing in on the campsite, looking to wreak havoc. The rural forest setting heightens the fear factor and increases the sense of panic, proving that an innocent beach trip can be extremely deadly.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Each installment of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is disturbing and terrifying, but this list will focus on the 2003 remake of the 1974 original film. The way this remake uses the heat to convey the rising terror and discomfort of the characters is exceptional. The film follows a group of young adults heading to a concert, but they encounter a mysterious hitchhiker. After the hitchhiker kills herself in their van, they phone the police, which begins a disturbing chain of events. The oppressive heat and sheer terror of the circumstances finds the characters sweating in a way that makes the audience uncomfortable.
A Perfect Getaway
This 2009 thriller is underrated but worth the watch. The film follows a couple on their honeymoon in a remote area of Hawaii. The romance is killed once they discover a pair of murderers are on the loose, targeting tourists. A Perfect Getaway takes the most stereotypical honeymoon setting and transforms it into a cat-and-mouse game between murderers and their victims. The cast is excellent, as is the writing, with a great twist ending, making this movie a summertime must-watch.
Funny Games
Any viewers who have ever spent time at a vacation home might find this film particularly disturbing, whether they're watching the original 1997 Austrian version or the 2007 nearly shot-for-shot American remake by the same director. A family retreats to their summer home for an idyllic weekend, until the strange neighbors invade their home and hold the family hostage. Funny Games is disturbingly realistic, using subtle film techniques with very little effects or score, transporting the viewer directly into the summertime house of horrors.