When you are young, the travel bug is in full swing, and you want to get out there and see what the world has to offer. Whether visiting a local city for the first time or flying to the other side of the world, vacations can create some of your most cherished memories. Traveling can also be stressful, as you feel vulnerable in a place so far from home where local customs may differ entirely from what you are used to.
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Horror movies love to play on our fears, so when their characters go overseas, you know there will be fatal consequences. Whether it’s murderous villagers, monsters, or even Death itself, these films' travelers had their trips cut severely short. So book a flight, pack your suitcase, scope out a spot on the beach, and hope you return from the following holidays with most of your limbs still attached.
‘An American Werewolf in London’ (1981)
Agreat horror comedy,An American Werewolf in London,does for backpacking whatJawsdid for the ocean. When two American friends, David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), travel by foot through the English countryside, they are attacked by a werewolf. Jack is killed, and David wakes up in the hospital, noticing some concerning changes with his body.
WhileAn American Werewolf in Londonfeatures some genuinely frightening moments, it balances it all out with a good sense of humor. David remains upbeat despite his dire situation, and the romance he strikes up with Nurse Alex endears him to the audience as he tries to break the curse inflicted upon him.
An American Werewolf in Londonis available to stream onAmazon Prime VideoandAMC+.
‘Midsommar’ (2019)
Going overseas with your significant other can be an unforgettable experience, especially forMidsommar’s Dani (Florence Pugh). Reluctantly brought along with her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends as they travel to Sweden, the youths become participants in a terrifying local festival.
One ofA24’s best horror movies,Midsommarperfectly captures the essence of feeling like a stranger in a strange land, as the Americans are often left perplexed by the events occurring around them. As the village’s rituals become more sinister, Dani is drawn straight into the heart of their celebration.
Midsommaris available to stream on Showtime.
‘A Perfect Getaway’ (2009)
There is a lot to worry about when traveling overseas, whether keeping track of your local currency or making sure you don’t lose your passport. So when your relaxing holiday in Hawaii is interrupted by the news, there is a killer targeting tourists on the island; well, that’s extra stress you don’t need.
A Perfect Getawayis a solid thriller that starsSteve ZahnandMilla Jovovichas a couple on their honeymoon. After learning of the murders, they travel further into the wilderness, where they encounter two other couples. Suspicions begin to arise as the happy travelers start to suspect each other of the killings.Timothy Olyphantco-stars, whileChris Hemsworthfeatures in one of his first film roles.
A Perfect Getawayis available to stream onPeacock.
‘Hostel’ (2005)
Young Americans Paxton (Jay Hernandez), Josh (Derek Richardson), and their Icelandic friend Oli (Eyþór Guðjónsson) are backpacking through Europe, where they are spending their nights partying. Convinced by a local that they should travel to a hostel in Slovakia, promised it is filled with eager women, they instead find themselves journeying into a nightmare.
Arriving at the height of the “torture porn” movement,Hosteltakes joy in inflicting maximum punishment on its characters. As the men run afoul of an organization designed to sell people to the highest bidder to do with as they please, they witness the absolute worst that humanity has to offer.
Hostelis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video,Hulu, andHBO Max.
‘Turistas’ (2006)
An overlooked holiday horror from the mid-2000s,TuristasstarsJosh DuhamelandOlivia Wildeas siblings traveling through Brazil. Befriending other travelers, the group finds themselves stranded after a bus crash. Soon they are abducted by a group of organ harvesters who make a profit selling the organs on the black market.
Turistastaps into the fear of being stranded on your holiday lost in a land far from your own. The plot feels disturbingly real, as the prospect of tourists being exploited by locals is one that occurs regularly around the world.
Turistasis available to stream onStarz.
‘The Green Inferno’ (2013)
You do not wantEli Rothas part of your tourism board, as the filmmaker followed upHosteland its sequel with this equally gruesome shocker.The Green Infernofollows a group of student activists who travel to Peru to protest the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.
On the way home, their plane crashes into a remote area of the forest, and a tribe of locals comes to their aid. Unfortunately, the natives are cannibals, and they take the survivors back to their village for dinner.The Green Infernois one of Roth’s best films and a gory throwback to the exploitation movies of yesteryear.
The Green Infernois available to stream onNetflix.
‘The Ruins’ (2008)
A terrifyinghorror movie about nature fighting back,The Ruinsfinds a group of friends fighting to survive in Mexico. Discovering an ancient Mayan temple, they are attacked by locals who force them to stay on the ruins. There they encounter flesh-eating vines that wish to add them to their growing pile of bones.
A horror movie that will literally get under your skin,The Ruinsis a grim watch as the characters' situation becomes more and more hopeless with each passing moment. Despite its ridiculous premise, the film is played completely straight, resulting in a dark horror movie that will make you throw away your houseplants.
The Ruinsis available to stream on HBO Max.
‘Severance’ (2006)
A gem of a horror-comedy from England,Severancefollows the employees of a British weapons company. Forced to participate in a team-building retreat in Hungary, the employees arrive at their less-than-ideal lodgings deep in the woods. Despite trying to make the best of their weekend, the murderous locals ruin their pre-determined activities.
Severance offers plenty of laughs alongside its gory kills by striking the right balance between humor and horror. The cast of workers is excellent, from bumbling stoner Steve to pacifist Jill, and it all comes together to create one of thebest British horror movies of the 21st century.
Severanceis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.
‘Final Destination’ (2000)
While they never actually leave the country inFinal Destination, its opening plane crash is enough to stop people from booking a flight anytime soon. After narrowly surviving the disaster due to high-schooler Alex having a premonition of their demise and getting them kicked off the plane, the survivors are hunted down by Death itself.
A series known for itscreative death scenes, the firstFinal Destinationdoes not disappoint as it sets the rules that the following four films follow. A long-awaited sixth movie is in production, with the directors receiving the gig thanks to arather dramatic Zoom call.
Final Destinationis available to stream on HBO Max.
‘The Descent’ (2005)
After losing her husband and daughter in a car accident, grieving Sarah is convinced by her friends to take part in an adventure holiday in the Appalachian mountains. Home to an uncharted cave system, the six women explore the harsh terrain and run afoul of a pack of bloodthirsty creatures.
The Descentwas highly acclaimed at release and remains one of thebest horror movies set underground. With such a suffocatingly claustrophobic setting, the movie easily captures a tight sense of dread as the characters are trapped in a situation where escape seems impossible.
The Descentis available to stream on Shudder, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+.
