Summertime is here, which means swimming, BBQs, picnics, and staying indoors binging horror films to escape the sun. (Perhaps more of the latter than we dare to admit.) In the spirit of the festivities, here are 13 horror films to help kick off summer!
Friday the 13th (1980)
What summer horror film list would be complete without Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th? Set at Camp Crystal Lake, a group of camp counselors are stalked by one angry mama (spoiler alert) wanting revenge for the neglectful drowning of her son–Jason Voorhees. Of course, the film spawned a healthy franchise with ten sequels, a 2009 remake, video games, books, and comics.
After watching your favorites from the franchise, hop into Friday the 13th: The Game and play as Jason himself, or survive as a counselor!
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Cousins Ricky and Angela spend their summer at Camp Arawak. Soon after arriving, a brutal killer makes their way through the camp, leading to one hell of a surprise. During the ’80s, the film was followed by Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988) and Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (1989), and despite the change of casting with the lead role Angela, you can’t go wrong with any of the films.
The Burning (1981)
Inspired by the Cropsey urban legend, The Burning follows a camp counselor named Cropsy who gets bloody revenge after suffering burns while getting pranked. While many saw The Burning as a rip-off of Friday the 13th, the film holds its own with excellent special FX by Tom Savini and a memorable villain.
Jaws (1975)
Considered one of the best and most influential films ever made, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws kicked off a whole sub-genre of killer animal movies, including three sequels. The films gave many people serious anxiety about going in the water. Set on Amity Island, a great white shark terrorizes beach-goers, prompting a shark hunter, a police chief, and an oceanographer to try and stop the beast.
The Evil Dead (1981)
One of the most iconic horror movies ever made also happens to be a perfect summertime viewing. Unlikely hero Ash Williams vacations in a remote cabin with his girlfriend, sister, and friends. Their fun is quickly cut short when a demon-summoning incantation is played from the Necronomicon or Book of the Dead. The film is the first of a trilogy and gave way to video games, comics, and a TV series (which is dearly missed).
Piranha 3D (2010)
Directed by Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes remake), this loose remake of Joe Dante’s 1978 Piranha takes place during spring break but will bring the summer feels regardless. While college kids flock to a lake for vacation, swarms of prehistoric piranhas are unleashed following an underwater earthquake. The film is campy, gory, and a whole lot of fun.
Club Dread (2004)
From the comedy troupe Broken Lizard, who also brought such gems as Super Troopers (2001) and Beerfest (2006), this slasher-comedy takes place on the tropical Pleasure Island, owned by musician Coconut Pete (played by the late Bill Paxton). A slasher begins making their way through the young people partying on the island and seems inspired by Coconut Pete’s music. It’s truly one of the funniest slashers you could hope for.
Wolf Creek (2005)
Inspired by the true events of Australia’s “backpack murders” carried out by serial killer Ivan Milat, Wolf Creek introduces us to the sadistic Mick Taylor. As three backpackers venture into Wolf Creek National Park, they encounter Taylor after having some car trouble. The meeting results in a brutal fight for their lives. The film spawned a sequel, a worthy follow-up to the first, and a TV series.
Summer of ’84 (2018)
As the newest horror film on this list, Summer of ’84 rides the ’80s nostalgia wave and follows a group of teens who believe their neighbor is a serial killer. The film is a treat for fans of Stranger Things and any of the teen/kid squad films from the 1980s. However, don’t assume this is more of a family-friendly film, as it is surprisingly dark and twisted.
Burnt Offerings (1976)
A family escapes the city for a summer, renting an old, deteriorating mansion on Long Island, agreeing to allow the renter’s elderly mother to stay on the property due to the low price. As they stay on the grounds, something sinister begins to overtake and feed off them, determined to see the house restored to its former glory.
Zombeavers (2014)
Yet further proof that toxic waste and animals just don’t mix. After a toxic chemical spill at a dam, the local beavers go on a murderous rampage against college students staying in a nearby cabin. The film is just as ridiculous and over-the-top as it sounds, with fully animatronic beavers instead of CGI.
Cabin Fever (2002)
In this Eli Roth-directed film, a group of friends stay a remote cabin on vacation, but have a deadly accident involving a local man. As if that weren’t bad enough, the man has a highly contagious flesh-eating virus, which starts to spread to friends and beyond. There is no shortage of horrifying gross-out scenes, so beware if you have a weak stomach.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
As the last entry on this list, I think there is a valid argument to be made that not vacationing in a remote cabin should be added to the rules of surviving a horror film. It never seems to end well. On that note, Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a horror-comedy featuring two dim-witted friends staying in their dilapidated “dream” cabin. They get mistaken for backwoods killers by a group of college kids who have seen too many movies and must go on the defense.
The dialogue is hilarious, the kills are creative, and it is a must-watch for summertime.