Hi all!
Today I want to share with you five fantastic survival horror movies. These films are all about…survival! They could be from the elements, a person, a beast, a structure or more. The options are endless. I hope you like my recommendations. I tried to include a good variety. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1.) A Quiet Place
I think you are all familiar with A Quiet Place by now. In a post-apocalyptic world, a family must protect their children against blind, yet sound-sensitive creatures. The slightest whisper or footstep can bring death, making this film the ultimate survival story. I definitely preferred the first movie over the sequel. It was an excellent tension builder, especially in the scenes where the characters accidentally made noise, luring the beasts towards their home. Not to mention, Evelyn Abbott (played by Emily Blunt) is forced to give birth without making a peep. Can you imagine? The concept worked perfectly in the horror genre. Unfortunately, I did not love Bird Box (which is basically A Quiet Place but focuses on sight instead of sound) so it will not feature on this list.
2.) Circle
Circle is very underrated and not talked about enough. Fifty people wake up in a dark room, only to learn that one of them will be killed every two minutes or if they attempt to leave. They soon realise they can control who is sacrificed next, causing strong philosophical debate and chaos. As you can imagine, some of the victims try to vote based on their personal values. The others do their best to manipulate the room for their own gain and survival. I love the pacing and tension in this film. The ending is mind-blowing. It really does a good job highlighting how self-serving humanity can be. Check it out on Netflix!
3.) Ready or Not
Ready or Not is definitely my favourite film on this list. I highly recommend it. On her wedding night, Grace (played by Samara Weaving) is warned by her new husband that his family have a unique tradition when somebody marries into the clan. She has to let them hunt her and stay hidden until dawn or be sacrificed to the devil. Her will to survive is strong and I loved every moment of it. FYI, this is a horror comedy. It is laugh-out-loud hilarious but also gory as hell. There are a lot of deaths, blood and squeamish moments. You will have a great experience watching it. Please check it out!
4.) Underwater
My husband and I watched Underwater recently and really enjoyed it. It was released in 2020 and follows Norah (played by Kristen Stewart) who, along with her fellow crew of underwater researchers, must scramble to safety after an earthquake devastates their deep-sea laboratory. Pretty soon they realise there is more to fear in the ocean depths than just a natural disaster. This movie is not for the claustrophobic. There are a lot of tight spaces, pitch-black darkness and lack of oxygen. You will feel uncomfortable but it’s worth the journey. A short film but one with plenty of impact.
5.) The Descent
Similar to Underwater, The Descent is not for the claustrophobic. It follows a group of six women that reunite after a tragedy to go spelunking in a cave. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for their lives against grotesque, humanoid creatures in the fathoms below. I love the twists in this film and the feminist edge. All of the female characters are strong, independent and courageous. However, they are not all morally sound. This film is quite popular from the early 2000’s. Highly recommend.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post. What are some of your favourite survival horror movies?
Peace & Love