While the main characters always want to live until the end of a horror movie, there are some films that are more focused on survival than others. The Long Night sees a couple hoping for a nice weekend together who come across a cult, and in Watcher, a young woman thinks that someone is stalking her and watching her every move.
Whether characters find themselves lost in the woods and fighting the elements, or they come across a monster or killer, there are many great survival horror movies that Redditors recommend. The stakes are definitely high in these stories.
The Battery (2012)
Stream on Tubi
Redditor StarScream516 said, “If you enjoy indie horror at all, check out The Battery, it’s a very good, well made survival horror film.” The 2012 movie is about Mickey and Ben, who used to be athletes, who go on a road trip and find zombies.
It’s unsettling watching the characters try to survive these creatures and see if there’s a way to get out. Mickey and Ben are compelling as they learn lessons from each other about how to get by, and viewers see some real growth here.
Alien (1979)
Stream on Starz and DirecTV
Redditor JipJeepers posted that Alien is “the best horror survival movie IMHO.” One Redditor agreed, “I believe Alien counts since the film deals with extreme isolation, which is pretty much an necessity for survival horror films.”
One of the most beloved science-fiction/horror films, Alien sees Ellen Ripley and her team realizing that they’re in over their heads as they have to survive being in space with creatures they don’t want to get near. It will always be one of the greatest horror movies about aliens.
Kristy (2014)
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There are many horror movies set in schools and this is always a smart idea, especially if a character is all by themselves, assuming that they’re in a safe place. Redditor Octavious-Wrex recommended Kristy, describing the plot as, “a girl stays alone at her school over thanksgiving break, but on a short trip to get snacks she gets some unwanted attention.”
Justine comes across killers who are part of a cult, and it’s interesting watching a student try to survive in this environment since this is different from typical stories about making it through a night in the forest.
Alone (2020)
Stream on Hulu and Tubi
Alone was released in 2020 and follows Jessica Swanson, who has lost her partner and who is on a road trip to start a new life. That’s already an interesting way to begin a film, and then her trip becomes a total nightmare as a man begins stalking her. One Redditor called it “Very tense, smart protagonist, and incredibly satisfying ending.”
While it’s terrifying seeing characters fending for their lives out in nature, it’s also horrible seeing the man kidnap Jessica. The character is determined to escape, which makes audiences root for her. It’s one of the best 2020 horror movies.
Black Rock (2012)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor Taurusmon posted that “Black Rock is one I like to recommend, just don’t think it’s a masked killer on the loose. It’s more the same vibes of Hush.” Written by Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton, the film is about three friends who travel to Maine to have a fun weekend together and who end up fighting for their lives.
This is a smart premise as it’s everyone’s worst nightmare, and it’s terrifying to imagine being in the situation of having a vacation turn deadly. It’s the kind of horror film that is just as much about dynamics and emotions as it is about the terror at hand.
The Mist (2007)
Stream on Netflix
While The Mist isn’t always a beloved adaptation of a Stephen King book, Redditor fabriziobianchi suggested “Definitely The Mist” when horror fans are looking for characters trying to make it through something horrible.
The Mist excels at being a family story, as David Drayton and his wife and child live in a small town where a creepy mist is now everywhere. Similar to zombie movies, this film focuses on a family working through how they can survive or if it’s even possible. Horror fans remember The Mist for the conclusion, and saying that the story gets dark is an understatement.
Crawl (2019)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor Millhaven4687 called Crawl “pretty tense survival horror” and that’s the perfect description. The main character Haley Keller may be on the swim team at the University of Florida, but when she goes to her lake house before a hurricane and goes into the crawl space, she encounters an unimaginable horror.
This is a great example of the survivalist subgenre as Haley not only has to get out before the weather turns dangerous but she finds alligators there, too. Watching an entire movie about someone stuck in a house is definitely unnerving. Haley is a prime example of a strong character using the skills she has learned swimming to escape.
Rituals (1977)
Stream on Prime Video
One of the best Canadian horror movies, Rituals is set in the forest, which automatically makes it an entertaining tale about a fight to survive. One Redditor called it an “incredible film about a group of doctors on a camping trip being stalked out in the woods” and added, “Please watch it if you can.”
This is exactly what fans of this subgenre want to see, as surgeons who think that they’re having fun camping in Ontario are shocked to learn what they have to do to get through the trip. Watching the characters navigate their relationships with each other makes the movie even more fascinating, and the story does get pretty dark.
Wilderness (2006)
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A horror movie named Wilderness sounds like the perfect story of characters attempting to survive and beat the elements. Redditor ScorpionTDC wrote of this film, “Wilderness was a decent enough teen slasher that sort of leans into this setting (deserted island with a serial killer) that I haven’t seen mentioned yet.”
The characters are at a juvenile jail, including the protagonist Callum, and as they keep getting attacked, they have to find a way to survive. As the Redditor mentioned, the location feels chilling as the characters are in the middle of nowhere.
Frozen (2010)
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While it has the same title as the popular Disney movie, Frozen is an alarming story about friends who go on a ski trip and end up stuck in the chairlift. Redditor ActusPurus called it “Very, very intense and unsettling.” It will be tough to go skiing and not think about this story afterward.
Even the premise alone is full of terror, and watching Parker O’Neil, her boyfriend Dan Walker, and Dan’s pal Joe Lynch try not to fall off the chairlift while keeping an eye on the wolves watching them is a lot to take in. It’s the ultimate story of survival as the characters have to weigh their options and nothing is an appealing one.
