30 Best Hidden Gem Horror Movies Perfect For Halloween

American tourists taking a holiday that ends in grisly terror was wearing thin as a concept in the mid-2000s, but Turistas is an underrated take on the premise that has a few visceral tricks up its sleeve.

A group of young (and naive) backpackers head into the gorgeous rural parts of Brazil. Among them are the protective brother played by Josh Duhamel, Olivia Wilde as his headstrong sister, and Melissa George as an adventurous Australian traveler. Their fun takes a turn for the worse when a bus crash strands them in a dark region, making them the targets of a sadistic local doctor and an organ trafficking underworld.

While the “holiday from hell” formula is followed to a tee, what makes this one more memorable is its likeable cast of people you actually want to survive, not just one-note fodder. George’s resourceful backpacker stands out, and the story leans into believable real-world fears. For example, how many times have we read about tourists taking the scenic route in these regions and never being heard from again? 

Turistas lands on a more primal level than the over-the-top gore of other films from the era. The major highlight, though, is the fantastic third act. Journeyman director John Stockwell has one trademark ace up his sleeve, in that he’s an expert diver in real life, and he always brings his keen eye for underwater photography when he can. Here, in a tense final chase through caves and rivers, he doesn’t disappoint, delivering some stunning and nail-biting aquatic set pieces in a survival horror that deserves a second look.