Summer isn’t just a time for s’mores and sunshine, you know? It also happens to be the perfect time for flesh-hungry sharks and machete-wielding maniacs. Welcome to Summerween, the perfect halfway point to your favourite season! And while there are a few obvious picks for your summer horror movie marathon, finding the right vibe for the season can be hard. Worry not! I’ve narrowed down some of the best summer themes and offered up two fantastic options.
Ready? Slap on your sunscreen and grab your towel, because we’re celebrating Summerween in style!
Camping Horror Movies
There’s something inherently terrifying about being so isolated. And as much as humans are meant to be in nature, being stalked through the woods by a monster might be a little too much nature. Still not convinced camping is the ultimate horror movie setting? Let me prove it:
Popular Pick: The Ritual (2017)
The Ritual is a Netflix film based on the book by Adam L. G. Nevill. Four friends go on a hiking trip in Sweden, only to end up lost in a forest that’s home to an ancient entity. It’s tense. It’s atmospheric. It’s a stark examination of the relationships we carry throughout life (and the ones that maybe we should have left behind — looking at you, Dom). If it’s not on your list already, you’ve got to check this one out this summer!
Hidden Gem: Calibre (2018)
Calibre is a ‘boys hunting trip gone wrong’ that definitely fits that woodsy vibe. Two lifelong friends set off for a boys trip to the Scottish Highlands for the weekend. And while their spirits aren’t too dashed by the hostility of a small town, a horrific hunting accident puts a damper on things. This psychological horror is a slow-burn that’s worth the wait. Filled with dread and atmosphere, Calibre is the perfect vibe for your summer movie bucket list.
Tropical Vacation Horror Movies
No summer vacation is complete without sun, sand, and screams. We spend all year long thinking about how we need a getaway from our nightmare day jobs. In these movies, the vacation is a nightmare.
Popular Pick: The Ruins (2008)
Another fantastic horror movie based on an even better book! The Ruins is a 2008 film about tourists who decide to visit an ancient Mayan ruin. And while it sounds like the perfect getaway, carnivorous vines have a way of throwing a bit of a hitch in the whole relaxing plan. This one is just the right amount of gore and picture-perfect scenery. And a great reminder to never, ever, go off the trail.
Hidden Gem: The Resort (2021)
The Resort knows how to capitalize on those gorgeous vacation vibes. The film follows four friends who travel to an abandoned resort in Hawaii. They plan to catch sight of the rumoured half-face girl and get more than they bargained for. This has all those abandoned town vibes. It’s the perfect Summerween option for Silent Hill fans.
Beach Horror Movies
Beaches are meditative. They’re a place to go to connect with nature or contemplate life. They also happen to house some of the bloodiest, messiest, man-eatingest horrors known to man, and that’s important too. Looking to add some beachy horror to your Summerween movie marathon?
Popular Pick: Jaws (1975)
Celebrating 50 years this summer, Jaws is the ultimate beach horror movie. When a giant great white shark begins terrorizing a beach town, it’ll take a police officer, a marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter to stop it. This movie is one of the most influential horror movies of all time, and it makes an easy pick for this year’s Summerween celebrations.
Hidden Gem: Harpoon (2019)
I am not usually one for horror comedies, but Harpoon won me over. Three dysfunctional friends get trapped on a yacht in the middle of the ocean, and things quickly devolve into a bloody and brutal mess. These people don’t like each other, let alone trust each other, and while there’s no man-eating shark in the water, human nature is just as deadly. It’s funny, it’s dark, and it’ll leave you thankful for clean drinking water. A complete win in my book.
Nostalgic Summer Horror
Summer scares always make me think of ghost stories told around campfires and hiding in my sleeping bag as a kid. It’s the perfect season for a heavy helping of nostalgia, and these movies always give me goosebumps (pun definitely intended).
Popular Pick: Fear Street Part One (2015)
Obviously, an R.L. Stine pick had to make the list. The man lives and breathes horror nostalgia, and the Fear Street series on Netflix will remind you of all the Goosebumps you had as a kid. Set in a cursed small town, a group of kids uncover an ancient evil responsible for a string of brutal murders. If you grew up renting spooky VHS tapes on a Friday night, this is a must-see.
Hidden Gem: Super Dark Times (2017)
While I think this one is technically more a psychological thriller than it is a horror, it has haunted me since the day I saw it. That has to be worth something. Super Dark Times is a slow-burn set in the ’90s. After a violent accident, paranoia and guilt turns a group of young boys against each other. This one is dark, bloody, and disturbing. Oh, and there’s a katana.
Summer Camp Horror Movies
Summer camp is a rite of passage in both childhood and the horror community. Some of the greatest, most defining films of the industry are set in summer camps, and for good reason! They’re isolated, they’re creepy, and your survival is in the hands of teenagers. Horrifying indeed.
Popular Pick: Sleepaway Camp (1983)
There’s no avoiding Sleepaway Camp. This one is a classic for a reason, especially if you’re looking for a solid ’80s slasher. It’s low-budget, it’s fun, and it’s a summer staple for all horror movie lovers.
Hidden Gem: You Might Be the Killer (2018)
I know I already said I’m not a horror comedy fan, but there’s no way I could leave You Might Be The Killer off the list. For Christ’s sake, Alyson Hannigan is in this one! When a camp counsellor finds himself in the middle of a summer camp massacre, he calls his horror-obsessed friend to help him through it. This one genuinely had me laughing out loud, and is a must for a summer movie marathon!
Make Summerween a Tradition
And there you have it! The hot weather doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying some of the best sun-drenched horror there is. Light up some citronella candles, make some Bloody Marys, and plan your next horror movie marathon on me. Bonus points if you get a chance to watch these under the stars.
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