Snowy, frigid scenery acts as the backdrop for a surprising number ofhorrorfilms, making them essential viewing during winter. The degree to which the frosty weather plays a crucial part in the horrors of a film varies. For horror movies likeFrozenandThe Last Winter,the cold weather is a constant reminder of what life-or-death obstacles lie in front of the film’s protagonists. On the other hand, the icy location in a film likeLet the Right One Inhelps drive home essential themes of isolation and desperation.
The contrast between winter weather and horror film events is also highlighted in certain films.The near-silence that accompanies the snowfall and the blank, white canvas of freshly laid snow is strikingly opposite to the screams of panicked protagonists and the bright red bloodshed. From classichorror films likeThe ShiningandThe Thingto newer ones like Werewolves Within, there are plenty of hair-raising movies to watch on a chilly, winter night.
The Abominable Snowman
Cast
The Abominable Snowman, directed by Val Guest in 1957, follows an English botanist and an American promoter as they embark on an expedition in the Himalayas. Their mission is to uncover the truth behind the legend of the fabled Yeti.
Nigel Kneale acts as the screenwriter forThe Abominable Snowman, which is based on his 1955 television play. Though the play earned mixed reviews from critics, Kneale was determined to bring the story to life on the big screen. From Hammer Films,The Abominable Snowmansees a British scientist tag along on an American expedition searching for the famous Yeti creatures. Unlike many of the other films listed,The Abominable Snowmanutilizes a lot of constructed sets and artificial snow.
10 Frozen Horror Movies That Are Perfect For A Chilly Winter Night
The contrast between horror events and a chilly location makes for a unique combination and is an essential viewing for a cozy night in.
While this, and the film’s slow pace, risks turning audiences away, a well-crafted suspense keeps them hooked. There’s an overwhelmingly eerie atmosphere lingering until the end of the film, which is largely in part due to the creative depiction of the Yeti. The creatures are kept off of the screen for much of the film to build tension and keep audiences guessing what their true motives are.
The Last Winter
The Last Winter is a horror film directed by Larry Fessenden, set in the Arctic wilderness where an oil company’s drilling expedition leads to unforeseen and supernatural consequences. The isolation and harsh climate intensify the dynamics among the team members, resulting in a chilling atmosphere filled with tension and dread. The film stars Ron Perlman and James Le Gros, delivering a haunting exploration of humanity’s impact on the environment.
Social and environmental commentary in horror moviesis one of the best ways to add depth and reasoning behind a series of murders or acts of violence that can otherwise be overkill. InThe Last Winter, a group of environmentalists and corporate oil workers face nature’s wrath when building an ice road in the Arctic.The Last Winterhas a low budget and was originally going to be set in an area with more trees.
The Last Winter, as a result of its solid script and impressive cast, tells a story with an effective amount of tension and thrills.
Such scenery would provide the film with a claustrophobic feel, butthe vast, flat landscape that was used instead draws attention to how alone and isolated the film’s characters are from the rest of the world.The Last Winter, as a result of its solid script and impressive cast, tells a story with an effective amount of tension and thrills.
30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night is a 2007 horror film centering on an Alaskan town that is invaded by a group of violent vampires. Josh Hartnett leads the cast in the David Slade-directed film along with Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior, and Mark Rendall.
30 Days of Nighttakes place in an Alaskan town experiencing a 30-day polar night. In the film, Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) works with the town’s remaining residents to keep safe from an emerging group of vampires hoping to take advantage of the phenomenon. Compared to most vampire films,30 Days of Nighthas a relatively fresh premise with vampire antagonists who are unique in their abilities and terrifying design.
The vampires in30 Days of Nightcommunicate through high-pitched shrieking and clicks and are endowed with soulless black eyes and razor-sharp teeth.These vampires make for a challenging opponent for Eben and the others,and the film doesn’t shy away from the gory aftermath of their confrontations. The bloodied mess all through30 Days of Nightis a stark contrast to the bright, white background provided by the Alaskan town.
The Grey
The Grey follows a group of oil workers who fend off a pack of hungry wolves in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash leaves them stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. The cast includes Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Nonso Anozie, and Joe Anderson.
Though it’s not strictly categorized as a horror movie,The Grey, starring Liam Neeson, certainly has its moments of pure terror. The film follows a group of oil workers who must survive against a pack of grey wolves after their plane has crashed.The harsh winter weather, combined with the threat of the dangerous animals, leads to a fight for survival that is tenseuntil the last scene of the film.
The Grey’s John Ottway isone of Neeson’s best action charactersas he is determined and willing to do whatever it takes to stay safe.
Combined withThe Grey’s heart-pounding action scenes are quieter moments where audiences get familiar with the film’s core group of characters.These moments allow audiences to make connections and get invested, ensuring the tense life-or-death scenes hit that much harder.
Easily one of the most well-known film adaptations of Stephen King’s work,The Shiningfollows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) during winter as he takes care of the Overlook Hotel in the snowy Colorado Mountains alongside his wife (Shelley Duvall) and son (Danny Lloyd).Many ofThe Shining’s most memorable scenes take place inside the famous hotel,but it’s the wintry weather outside that keeps its characters trapped indoors, which has grave effects on their minds.
ThoughKing has been vocal in his criticismsof Stanley Kubrick’s interpretations,the film still presents an enduring tale about isolation and the destructive behaviors that arise as a result. The film boasts some impressive, career-defining performances from actors like Nicholson and Duvall.The Shining’s iconic quotes, both chilling and grimly humorous, and its use of scares have allowed the film to become a favorite among horror fans.
Werewolves Within
Forest ranger Finn Wheeler arrives in Beaverfield, a town divided over a proposed pipeline. Amidst colorful locals like mail carrier Cecily and couple Trisha and Pete, a blizzard strikes, plunging the town into chaos. When mysterious deaths occur, tensions escalate, and suspicions rise. As the situation spirals out of control, Finn uncovers hidden agendas and a deadly secret lurking within Beaverfield. With danger lurking around every corner, Finn must navigate the treacherous landscape to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Among all the famous creatures associated with the horror genre, werewolves are least likely to have a film about them.Therefore, whena werewolf moviedoes get made, and it’s good, it’s a big deal. One of the recent successful werewolf movies is the horror comedy hybridWerewolves Within, which takes place in a small, snowy Vermont town. The film is based on a video game of the same name and is one ofthe best horror movies of 2021.
Though the characters are humorous and not meant to be taken seriously,Werewolves Withinstill has a solid number of scares and emotional beats.
The film’s premise is simple and follows a group of people trapped in a snowstorm and suspicious that one of them is a werewolf.The chaos that ensues next is equal parts hilarious and horrifying. Though the characters are humorous and not meant to be taken seriously,Werewolves Withinstill has a solid number of scares and emotional beats.
Frozen
Frozen is a thriller film about three skiers stranded on a chairlift at a New England ski resort that has closed for the week. They must confront life-threatening challenges as they decide whether to attempt escaping or face the dangers of the frigid wilderness environment.
Not to be confused with the animated Disney film of the same name, Adam Green’s thrilling horror filmFrozenis one of the simplest yetmost effective horror movies in recent years. The film sees three friends make their way onto a chairlift one last time before the ski resort closes for a week in response to an incoming severe weather alert. Stuck on the chairlift with no hope of getting down,Frozenexplores the range of scattered behavior and emotional reactions to their life-threatening circumstance.
If it’s not the hungry pack of wolves waiting for them on the ground that’ll kill them, it’s the relentlessly bitter weather conditions that will. Despite its lack of CGI, menacing serial killers, or any other location aside from the chairlift,Frozenis still highly effective at giving horror fans a good chill down their spine.The realistic scenario and plausible reactions from the stranded individuals allow audiences to picture themselves in the same situation.
Let the Right One In
Based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s 2004 novel, Let the Right One In is a romance horror/drama that follows Oskar, a kindly young boy who is bullied relentlessly upon moving to a new Swedish neighborhood with his mother. Oskar’s fortunes begin to change when he befriends the dour but enchanting Eli, despite her dark and deadly supernatural secret.
The chilly climate in the Swedish filmLet the Right One Inacts as the perfect backdrop for a tale about isolation. Working as both a romance and a horror film,Let the Right One Intells the story of two young children, Oskar and Eli, who live next door to one another and form an unlikely bond.The scares throughout the film are effective but restrainedand are consciously placed throughout the film to show the progression of Oskar and Eli’s deadly actions.
At the center of the film, despite the bloody imagery and unsettling behavior of the film’s lead characters, is a story about connection and acting on assured methods of survival.When making the film, the screenwriter and author of the book on which the film is based,John Ajvide Lindqvist, stripped the story of much of its supporting elements, focusing primarily on Oskar and Eli’s growing relationship.
Misery
Based on the Stephen King novel, Misery is a 1990 horror movie centered around fictional writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who gets trapped by his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who tortures him until he rewrites the finale of his famous novels.
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name,Miseryis a fascinating horror tale about obsession.The film lays out the events that take place after author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) gets into a car crash and is held captive by an obsessive fan, Annie Wilkes, until a blizzard passes through the area. However, Annie’s intentions with Paul change when she discovers he’s killing off her favorite character in his next novel.
The character of Annie is magnificently brought to life by Kathy Bates inan Oscar-winning performance that sees the character move swiftly between a nurturing caregiver and a dangerously infatuated captor. Bates makes for one of the most chillingfemale villains in horror moviesdue to her unpredictable behavior, includingone ofMisery’s most brutal scenesinvolving a sledgehammer. ThoughMiseryis more concerned with the confines of Annie’s remote home than the snowy outdoors, the cold weather is the reason she crosses paths with Paul in the first place.
The Thing
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
One of John Carpenter’s best,The Thingisa horror film that never gets old. The film tells the story of a research team in Antarctica who are confronted by the titular antagonist.The infamous Thing is an extraterrestrial creature with shapeshifting abilities that inflicts a strong sense of paranoia within the members of the research team.The concern is whether any of the researchers could be the Thing, which results in brutal action scenes and an overall nihilistic tone throughout the movie.
The cynicism and graphic special effects were panned by critics upon initial release, butThe Thinghas luckily evolved into a cult classic, earning retrospective reviews that are more appreciative of such elements. Whilethe vast landscape surrounding the research station draws attention to how isolated the crew is from others, much ofThe Thingfeels claustrophobic. This feeling, accompanied by the reminder of the frigid weather outside, adds layers of stakes to the character’s fight for survival.
