10 Survival Horror Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen
These survivors deserve way more credit.
While horror is a broad and varied genre, one theme that regularly plays a part is survival. Whether characters are facing a monster, an alien, or a masked maniac, the one thought running through their mind is whether they'll live to see another day.
Sometimes, the protagonist won't be squaring off against a physical adversary but rather the natural elements. Getting stuck in the jungle or trapped in a blizzard can be more terrifying than being hounded by a hundred psychopaths.
Even if there's no immediate danger, being lost in an unknown area while running out of food would be alarming for anyone. And if nobody knows where the person in question is or are aware they're missing, their chances of making it out alive are slim to none.
There are a slew of features that have nailed the survivor vibe, including Ravenous, The Descent, and A Quiet Place. However, there are a couple of films in this area of horror that never really got their due, regardless of their innovation and creativity.
Even if you're a big fan of survival horror, there are bound to be a few entries on this list you haven't gotten around to watching yet.
10. Long Weekend
1978's Long Weekend (not to be mistaken with the half-dozen other movies with the same title) centres around Peter and Marcia, a frustrated couple who go camping to forget about their troubles.
Not only do the pair find themselves endlessly bickering, but they're relentlessly attacked by the local wildlife. Possums, birds, bugs, and the couple's own dog grow increasingly hostile, almost like they're attracted to Peter and Marcia's toxicity.
Though it's custom for Mother Nature to be perceived as the villain in a natural horror flick, that isn't the case here. Peter and Marcia are needlessly selfish, to the point where it's challenging to root for them. Considering the two are stealing nest eggs, dumping litter, crashing into kangaroos, chopping down trees, and killing dugongs, it feels like poetic justice when nature fights back.
It's also worth mentioning Long Weekend is a great example of "show, don't tell". Rather than relying on exposition dumps, there are large stretches where the story is told visually, especially the final half-hour which is almost dialogue-free.
Despite the fact wildlife attacks should be petrifying, Long Weekend is more entertaining than scary, since these unlikeable characters get everything they deserve.