10 Scariest Horror Movies Set In Motels

During the 1970s and 1980s, slashers like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street were dominating the box office. However, audiences quickly tired of the genre, arguing that the films were becoming too formulaic and predictable.

So, when Motel Hell came out in 1980, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The film revolves around a farmer and his sister luring people into their lodge so they can kill them and turn them into sausages. The premise may be a little bit nuts but Motel Hell's comedic tone prevented it from coming across as another forgettable horror flick.

Interestingly, Motel Hell was never intended to be funny. It was going to be an outright horror but the director thought the bad practical effects were too phoney to be scary, so he revised the film into a satire. This last-minute decision worked out since critics like Roger Ebert praised the movie's ability to balance humour and horror.

However, Motel Hell can't be accused of being a full-on comedy since it does have moments that are genuinely horrifying and gut-wrenching.