Top 10 Movie Vacations That Turned Deadly

Rest and relaxation and fun in the sun? Not likely! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Movie Vacations That Went Deadly.

For this list, we’ll be looking at various horror movies and thrillers that center around a trip or vacation, be it to a different country, or just a weekend away at a cottage. As for our ranking, we’ll be taking into account the scare factor, critical reception and, most importantly, the film’s influence and cultural impact. Warning: spoiler alert!

“Us” (2019)
Two bad vacations for the price of one! In this complex 2019 horror film from Jordan Peele, Santa Cruz, California serves as the site of a family trip from hell. Back in 1986, young Adelaide had a seemingly life changing experience when she encountered a doppelgänger in the boardwalk’s funhouse. Years later, now an adult and mother, she returns for a family vacation with her husband and children, only to discover that the horrors of her past have multiplied. Adelaide and her family soon find themselves being pursued by murderous duplicates of themselves. And that’s not all. There are doppelgangers of seemingly everyone else too! Boasting a staggering double performance from Lupita Nyong'o, “Us” is thoughtful, deeply atmospheric and surprisingly… a lot of fun.

“Hostel” (2005)
This film is really hard to watch; it’s a whole lot of torture. And rather than cutting away from the carnage and letting your imagination fill in the blanks, writer/director Eli Roth instead lingers on these images of gross bodily harm with voyeuristic obsession. A splatter film through and through, it has had a huge influence on the “torture porn” subgenre of horror. “Hostel” follows three friends on a European trip. Unfortunately, when they visit a hostel in Slovakia that was recommended to them, they become victims of an underground club that kidnaps, tortures and kills tourists for their sadistic pleasure. The sequels are an exercise in diminishing returns, but the first “Hostel” is well worth a watch… if you can stomach it.

“Deliverance” (1972)
This early ‘70s film boasts a stellar cast, including Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight, as well as (in their first feature film roles no less) Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty. The plot revolves around four friends who embark on what was envisioned as a fun canoe trip through rural Georgia. Unfortunately, their wilderness adventure soon devolves in a fight for survival. Not only do the elements give them trouble, but they find themselves terrorized and assaulted by local hillbillies. Director John Boorman makes the most of the beautiful setting and his talented cast to deliver a film that is both thrilling and terrifying. In 2008, it was added to the American National Film Registry.

“The Cabin in the Woods” (2012)
Planning a weekend getaway to a secluded cottage? This movie will make you reconsider, but not for the reasons you’d expect. From start to finish, this film introduces conventional horror tropes before completely undermining them; as co-writer and producer Joss Whedon described it, “The Cabin in the Woods” is “a very loving hate letter” to the genre. And for those who like a healthy dose of laughs to balance out the scares, it’s just about as perfect of a horror comedy as you could ask for. The plot is simple: five friends escape to a cabin for the weekend and wind up being terrorized by supernatural forces. There’s much more to this story than meets the eye, but we won’t spoil it all.

“The Descent” (2005)
Going spelunking in rural North Carolina? What could go wrong?! Caving is scary enough as it is (for some of us, anyway). Exploring caves is, for many people, in-and-of itself a disorienting and claustrophobic experience. Getting lost is enough to make it feel like a horror movie. But after a tunnel collapse, Sarah and her group of friends on their Appalachian adventure must contend with factors far worse than wrong turns and strained relationships. They discover that they aren’t alone in the caves, and unfortunately… these strange creatures are carnivorous. Suffice it to say, this isn’t the bonding experience they’d hoped for.

“The Hills Have Eyes” (1977)
Family vacations can be exhausting even under the best of circumstances. Throw in some cannibal hillbillies, however, and you’ve got a recipe for a trip that’s unforgettable for ALL the wrong reasons. Written and directed by horror icon Wes Craven, “The Hills Have Eyes” was released in 1977 and tells the story of the Carter family. On their way from Ohio to Los Angeles, they’re set upon by Papa Jupiter, Big Mama and their depraved brood. Considering how things play out for the Carters, the uneventful or even boring road trips of your childhood probably look a lot better in hindsight! In 2006, filmmaker Alexandre Aja gave the franchise a reboot, upping the brutality. The original is the superior film, but this is one horror remake worth checking out.

“Evil Dead II” (1987)
Sam Raimi might not have invented the “creepy secluded cabin” as a concept, but there’s no denying the massive influence that his franchise has had on the horror genre. Armed with a modest budget and a simple concept, he created a cult classic with his 1981 film, the original “Evil Dead”. Fans continue to debate as to which of the series is the superior film, but we’d argue that the sequel, which revisits events of the first movie before building upon them, feels like a more polished and ambitious (and funny) finished product. When a demonic incantation awakens a force of evil, Ash and Linda’s weekend getaway turns into a nightmare. It’s a wild ride, and is rightfully considered a horror classic - if not a very good vacation.

“An American Werewolf in London” (1981)
Called it dated if you want to, but this film is a masterclass in what can be accomplished with practical effects. Among the most influential horror comedies ever made, “An American Werewolf in London” tells the story of two young men from NYC who get attacked by a werewolf while backpacking through the English countryside. And sure enough, as tends to happen when you survive a werewolf attack, one of them becomes a werewolf in kind! The balance of horror and comedy is carefully maintained throughout the film, generating laughter and feelings of shock in equal measure. Somehow… it works! And after watching this movie, you’ll think twice about crossing the moor after dark.

“Midsommar” (2019)
Never has a horror film’s setting been more beautiful or inviting. The remote community in Hälsingland, Sweden to which Dani and her friends travel in this 2019 horror film is absolutely breathtaking. And the vibrant color palette employed by filmmaker Ari Aster only serves to heighten the contrast between the environment and the gruesome events that play out there. Looking to escape the tragic death of her family, Dani welcomes the opportunity to travel to this living postcard. But the community is into a lot more than just self-sufficiency. The midsummer celebration quickly takes a sinister turn, and paradise on earth becomes a place of ritualistic horrors, making for a film that shocks and disturbs in unique ways.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Honeymoon Horror
“A Perfect Getaway” (2009)

Rocky Adventure
“Wrong Turn” (2003)

Spring Broken
“Cabin Fever” (2002)

Temple of Doom
“The Ruins” (2008)

Fishy Situation
“Piranha 3D” (2010)

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, but director Tobe Hooper filmed this highly influential slasher on a tiny budget of only about $140,000. It follows Sally and Franklin Hardesty who, accompanied by a few friends, road trip to their grandfather's grave and the old Hardesty family home. Before long, however, they become prey for Leatherface and his family. The film might seem tame compared to slashers released since, but at the time, it was banned in many countries. There’s a real visceral brutality to it that cuts right to your core. “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is a classic for a reason; and, in no small part thanks to the heavily manufactured “true story” angle, is sure to make you rethink your road trip aspirations.