These Vacation Horror Movies Will Keep You Off The Road This Summer

With June coming to an end and July only right around the corner, most kids are out of school and families are planning their summer festivities, going to a wide variety of destinations. Some families prefer visiting foreign countries, others engage in rigorous activities, while others pack in the family car and just hit the open road.

If there’s one thing that horror movies have taught us, it’s that horror can be found in just about every corner of the globe, so it’s no surprise that exploring uncharted territory with family or friends could result in disaster. If you’re lucky, the only disasters you run into are squabbling amongst your companions or not having enough time to accomplish as much as you wished you had, but after watching any of these films, you’ll gladly accept the fate of spending too much money in a gift shop.

A group of people falling victims to any number of horrors is far from a unique scenario in the horror world, but what all of these films have in common is the protagonists attempted to accomplish nothing more than a respite from their daily lives, whether they be on a school vacation or just hoping to create some lasting family memories, only for all of their plans to go horribly wrong.

Check out the most deadly and disastrous vacation horror movies that will have you heavily considering a staycation this summer!

Hostel (2005)

When a brash group of Americans visits Eastern Europe, their main concerns are consuming as much drugs and alcohol as possible while also fulfilling their more carnal urges. It’s these desires that get the intrepid “heroes” into some dicey situations, as their pursuit of the fairer sex leads them to their capture, imprisonment, and eventual torture.

Hoping to have made the most out of their vacations, the heroes are instead auctioned off to the highest bidders who are on vacations of their own, but in the case of the tormentors, these are vacations of violence, where they can carry out any sick and sadistic desire they so please.

What makes Hostel so effective is the fact that no matter who you are, when you’re on vacation, you’ll be prone to take more risks and step outside your comfort zone, but the victims in this film wanted nothing more than to get back into that zone of comfort.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977/2006)

There’s an old adage that claims “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey,” meaning the ultimate goal isn’t the most important element of a venture, but rather the steps that one takes to get there that matter most.

With both the original film and the remake, The Hills Have Eyes shows the family road trip from hell. As a family is traveling through the desert in the southwestern United States, a chance encounter with a villainous gas station attendant leads them down a dangerous path, putting them on a crash course with a family full of mutated individuals, the result of years of nuclear testing nearby.

Both versions of the film show audiences that, even if you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B, it’s possible you’ll run into a family of mutated cannibals, reminding you that absolutely nowhere is safe and never ask anyone at a gas station for directions.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Sally and Franklin Hardesty have somehow convinced three of their friends to join them on a road trip to investigate reports of their grandfather’s tombstone being vandalized, because only the best friends come with you on graverobbing investigations.

Surprisingly, the group of friends who are acting as amateur detectives let their curiosity get the best of them, as they attempt to explore their old neighborhood, only to get lost and come across Leatherface and the rest of the Sawyer clan. 

It’s tough to chide the main characters for falling victim to a family of cannibalistic killers, but the story also serves as a warning to not let your curiosities get the best of you and to not investigate reports of grave robbing, even if your grandfather is the victim.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

In hopes of discovering some of America’s greatest roadside attractions, a group of explorers goes a little too far to get the best story. After stopping at “The Museum of Monsters & Madmen,” the writers explore the myth of local legend Dr. Satan and all of his terrible deeds, leading them down a deadly path that ends with the Firefly family.

Their adventurous spirit gets the best of them, as our heroes dig up some dirt that should never have been disturbed in the first place, falling victim to the sadistic whims and desires of the despicable family.

If you’re on a road trip and a roadside attraction sounds too good to be true, keep in mind that it probably is, and could end up being the last pit stop you ever make.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

With American Werewolf in London, two young backpackers traipse the British countryside in hopes of learning some culture. When the two stop by a local pub, they receive less than a warm welcome, in addition to some stern warnings about avoiding the moors, but as two inexperienced backpackers, it was a hard path for them to follow.

Under the full moon, the pair is attacked, kicking off a violent series of events as one of the two begins regularly transforming into a werewolf to terrorize the titular British city. 

What makes American Werewolf so effective is that there was nothing inherently wrong with what the main characters were doing, but just happened to get in a little over their heads and, rather than listen to the locals who told them to stay at the pub, let their paranoia about locals get the best of them, leaving them alone on the moors to get attacked.

The Descent (2006)

In hopes of reconnecting with one another after years of less and less contact, a group of female thrill-seekers heads to the remote wilderness of North Carolina in hopes of exploring an underground series of caves. They’re all quite experienced in the realm of underground exploration, but a few unforeseen factors come into play, like rockslides, slippery slopes, and underground monsters.

Compared to other victims of vacation violence, the women in this film are quite physically capable to handle the worst things that are thrown at them, but even if the odds might have been somewhat in their favor, that’s no match for mother nature throwing her absolute worst at you.

Escape from Tomorrow (2013)

With many of other entries on this list, you could potentially see the inherent danger of the situations, even if the main characters took all the necessary precautions. Escape from Tomorrow, on the other hand, explores just how quickly things can go wrong when visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth,” known by many as Disneyland.

When a father loses his job on the last day of his family trip to the theme park, the stress of his life starts to get to him and he begins to have a psychological snap. He believes he sees things, experiences hallucinations, and might have uncovered a big, dark secret about what really goes on at the family-friendly destination.

Making the experience all the more interesting is this film was made without the permission of the theme park, relying instead on clever editing, direction, and a few annual passes to have the actors pass for being a few of your average guests visiting the park.

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