Summer Horror Movie Watch List (20+ Films)
It's officially summer and to celebrate, I've created a GIANT list of Horror films that put you in the mode of Summer! Some are well known of course, while others are hidden gems. Hope you find something you've never seen, or you can just watch em all summer long. Without further due, lets get in to this!
1. Friday the 13th Franchise
You can't make a summer horror list without starting with this franchise. We all know about Fridaty the 13th so there's really no need for a synopsis. While they all take place at a camp, Part 1 (1980), Part 2 (1981), Part 3 (1982), & the Remake (2009) really scream summer the most. Kids partying and Jason there to kill at every turn. Classic Summer movies.
2. Sleep Away Camp Franchise
When a kid dies at Camp by irresponsible teens and vile kids, someone gets their revenge years later! That's all I'm going to give you for the 1st film and once you've seen that, it set up the rest. I will say that the first entry in the franchise (1980) is VERY different than the ones that follow it. This first film takes itself a lot more serious, presents some really uncomfortable themes, and the ending is bizarre AF. However, the 4 sequels are more in line with the Friday the 13th franchise. All worth a watch!
3. The Burning (1981)
A care taker is burned and mutilated when a prank goes wrong, thanks to some dumbass kids at camp. Naturally, he returns years later for revenge on those who inhabit the campgrounds now. Pretty much another good rip off of Friday the 13th with over the top unrealistic kills and gore that's worth watching. Something to note, this is Jason Alexander's debut role lol
4. Southbound (2015)
An anthology horror movie set somewhere in the desert that follows multiple people as they travel for different reasons. Vague I know but the less you know, the better because this is a crazy one. The cool thing about this movie is that the short stories are all woven together in seamless way that is either a pass of the baton, or you don't realize the intertwining's until later in other sequences. The stories range from supernatural fears to real life horrors that will make stomach turn.
5. Super 8 (2011)
In the Summer of 79' a group of kids set out to make a horror movie, only for their lives to turn into one when a train crashes releasing sheer terror to their town. This is a nice blockbuster film to watch with people who aren't huge horror lovers. You can definitely see JJ Abrams' Spielberg influence in this film form the way it's shot, to that larger than life score. It's a thrilling movie that's sure to provide a lot of fun for everyone.
6. Camp Fire Tales (1997)
Some teenagers are stranded on a highway awaiting help from the authorities, so they past the time by telling ghost stories. This is late 90's goodness in an anthology film format that puts you in the perspective of each person as they tell their story. Think Are you Afraid of the Dark but more adult and violent.
7-8. I Know What you did Last Summer (1997) & I Still Know what you did Last Summer (1998)
Some high school kids, who look like their obviously to old to be in high school, hit a guy and dump his body but revenge follows them for 2 whole ass movies. These are 2 of my favorite horror flicks of all time and if you're on this post, you've seen them. I couldn't make a list without mentioning these. There's also a 3rd movie called, I'll Always know what you did Last Summer," that fits in the, 'so bad it's good,' category if you can stomach that genre.
9. Husk (2010)
A group of young adults crash their car on the way to a lake for the weekend. The road they're stranded on just so happens to be next to a cornfield, & where's there's a cornfield, there has to be some sort of house to farm the crops.... right? With that in mind, they're search for help leads them down a deadly path. This one has some creepy stuff in it and some jump cuts to make you dizzy, but still a good time and worth a watch.
10. Summer of 84 (2018)
Some neighborhood kids suspect a cop living on their street is a kidnapping and killing people so they do the dumbest thing kids can do, and search for evidence. This isn't new territory in the genre but this take on it is executed extremely well. Shot beautifully, great score, good performances, and a haunting ending that'll leave an impact on you.
11. Children of the Corn Franchise
The kids of Gatlin, IN decide to kill all the adults in order to serve their new Lord and retain youth. Unfortunately for a young couple on a road trip, they stop at this town to be good Samaritans and end up paying for it. The first film is no secret to most people and is a definite Summer classic to watch! What I don't hear about, are the sequels that follow the events of this first film that are just as entertaining. 2 (1992) takes place in Gatlin years later, 3 (1995) takes the fun to the big city of Chicago, 4 (1996) & 5 (1998) brings it back to Gatlin in some interesting ways. There are more after these but I don't recommend them lol.
12. Scarecrows (2017)
Some horny (you'll see why that's pointed out) kids travel to a secret lagoon for a day on the water, only to cross path's with an unspeakable evil. This is another movie that fits into the, "so bad it's good," territory and is a lot more fun after drinking a few. Nothing to take too serious but a good watch on a tipsy night nonetheless.
13. Tremors (1990)
A small desert town of literally 14 people, are trapped by the arrival of underground alien worm like creatures. A cult classic and a sure fire good time every watch. The practical creature design is legendary and definitely something you don't see anymore. Everything about this movie is over the top from the creature concept, ridiculous dialogue, guns blazing, and ability to run so fast in stiff skinny jeans.
14. Headcount (2018)
Some kids rent a house in the desert and unknowingly let loose an entity that can shapeshift. You can imagine how crazy things get when you add a shapeshifter to a group of alcohol/drug induced intimacies seeking kids.
15 -16. Anaconda (1997) & Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)
Some people go searching for something they shouldn't, in some of the most dangerous places in the world. One of those dangers happens to be big ass snakes. Everyone has seen at least the first film, so the second is pretty much the same but not as good. Nothing about these films really says, "Summer," but they're in hot and sweaty jungles and they personally put me in the mood so I had to include them.
18. Jurassic Park Franchise
Figured this would be a good time to add Jurassic Park to the list because this franchise rings true to what I mentioned in the last entry. The Park is hot, sweaty, and also in the jungle. Can you blame me for associating these movies with summer??
19. The Wretched (2019)
A kid visits his dad for the summer and starts noticing some really strange things happening to some of the locals. Once this secret is revealed, he does his best to try keeping others safe but the person he forgets about among the madness is himself. This film is spectacular & that's about all I wanna give away. Great effects, beautiful cinematography, excellent atmosphere, real scares, good story/script, and some unexpected twists. This is a must watch.
20-22. It Chapters 1 (1990) (2017) & 2 (2019)
Every 27 years, Pennywise comes to Derry to feast on fear, or what I call killing mfers. A group of kids, The Loser's Club, take him on in both child & adulthood. You've seen this movie, we all have and these definitely bring the feeling of summer. The OG part 1 (1990) is pretty subtle but the remakes from 2017 & 2019, dive all the way into summer in a number of ways. My favorite of which being the festival, carnival, and baseball game. What says summer more than that?
23. Lake Placid (1999)
A lakefront in the Aroostook County, Maine is being terrorized by a giant alligator and law enforcement most face off against the creature. This is another one that doesn't necessarily shout SUMMER but it puts me in the mind set due to the setting. They camp out near the water & party between trying to tame the beast.... Sounds like summer to me. Plus, it's a classic that every horror fan should watch!
24. The Mothman (2010)
Some Kids accidently kill a kid when a prank goes wrong involving the legend of the mothman and they vow to never talk about it. 10 years later they conveniently return back to town for the Mothman Summer Festival and they get picked off one by one. This is a SyFy original so you already know the quality lol It's a fun watch if you can stomach these types of movies.
25. The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014)
This is a continuation of the first film that released in 1978. The Phantom Killer was never apprehended for his killing of so many in the city of the Texarkana. & in this film, the Killer returns to continue his onslaught on the city. This killer is terrifying to me personally because he doesn't just stick to hand to hand weapons, he has no limits to what he'll use. It's something frightening about seeing a masked killer gun someone down. The film spans over about a year but it focuses most on when it's summer and with it being in Texas-Arkansas, they frame it in a way to feel that heat.
26. Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Every 27th spring, this creature returns to feed on humans and a sister/brother get caught in it's crosshairs on the way home from College. Now, I know it says "Spring," but the setting feels more like Summer in my opinion. The open country road, the constant fields of corn and other vegetation, the small city diner, the police station filled with sweaty ass people, & the sound of cicadas equates to summer in my eyes. That aside, this movie is a horror classic (It's still f*** the director & I do not support him as a person) and one of my all time favorites. Great story, performances, actually scary, and God tier character design.
27-28. Wrong Turn (2003) & Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
A group of hikers are attacked by cannibals in the first installment. This another horror staple in the community and always says summer to me. I mean, it has to be hot to hike in shorts and short sleeve shirts right? Now the sequel (2007), is about a group of people who join a reality tv show set in the same forest as the original. The sequel takes what the original did and amplifies it in an over the top way that will keep you entertained.
29. Midsommar (2019)
A girl who lost her family, decides to go on a trip with her boyfriend for what they all think is a foreign festival but they soon learn it is far from what they expected. This is an obvious pick since it set the film world on fire upon it's release. It's more along the lines of disturbing than scary and this isn't gonna be everyone's cup of tea, but still worth the watch!
30. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
A group of scientist attempt to create a cure for Alzheimer's and their test subjects just happen to be Sharks (bad idea from the start). This ends up making the sharks smarter and that's bad news for the humans. Some might consider this to be bad but I love this movie lol. It's a fun watch and the water filled world your brought into speaks to summer. Not to mention, it has one of the greatest death scenes ever!
31. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise
Can't have a Summer film list without the Sawyers/Hewitt's to wreak havoc on some unsuspected kids who just want a good time. You can feel the heat of the old country in the original classic from 74'. My temperature raises just watching it and I'm sure many would agree. Surprisingly, the only mention I heard of these movies are the OG & the 2 remakes (03' & 06') so I wanted to definitely point out Parts 2 (1986), 3 (1990), & 4 (1994) as films worth a watch. I also like the 2013 version that is pegged as terrible but it's that, "So bad, it's good," type of movie and follows the same parameters of any fun trip gone wrong story. How can't you get enjoyment out of that?
32. Venom (2005)
33. Summer Camp (2015)
I know, I know. Super original title but DO NOT let that fool you. This film is kinda insane and takes the zombie/infection concept, a new direction I've never seen. A group of summer camp councilors arrive to camp early to get things in order for the kids but something is causing people in the area to go CRAZY. I'm going to leave it at that. Go watch it!
So there you go! A lot of summer horror to check out and I KNOW you'll find something you'll like. If you have some that I didn't mention, feel free to comment below!
Thanks for reading!
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