Wrong Turn is not about ghosts and supernatural stuff. The movie puts a few people in wrong places , far from help, facing the kind of danger you can’t talk your way out of. Soon these innocent being realize that they are not alone in the woods, and there's no one around to help them.
The original Wrong Turn from 2003, directed by Rob Schmidt, brings the creepiest slasher movie to the screens. Eliza Dushku and Desmond Harrington play characters who just take a detour, thinking they’ll get to their destination faster. Instead, they cross paths with inbred cannibals living deep in the mountains. The movie doesn’t waste time, and once it starts, it keeps getting darker. And if you liked Wrong Turn, here are seven more films that offer the same kind of terrifying ride.
The Hills Have Eyes:
Directed by Alexandre Aja, this remake of the 1977 Wes Craven classic takes fear to the next level. A family’s RV breaks down in the middle of a desert, right near an old nuclear testing area. Turns out, they’re not alone. A group of mutated people have been living out there, and they’re not friendly. The cast includes Aaron Stanford and Emilie de Ravin, and the critics praised it for being raw and bold. It doesn’t hold back, and if you liked the tension in Wrong Turn, you’ll feel it here too.
Eden Lake:
This British horror film hits hard. A couple, played by Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender, heads to a quiet lake for a weekend getaway. Everything’s peaceful until they run into a group of teenagers. At first it’s just annoying behavior, but it quickly becomes something more dangerous. The movie builds slowly, and before you know it, you’re holding your breath. There are no monsters or ghosts, just people being cruel, and that can be even scarier.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre:
Leatherface is a name most horror fans know. This remake, directed by Marcus Nispel, brings back the nightmare. A group of young friends is driving through Texas and picks up a strange hitchhiker. That’s the start of a horrifying detour. The house, the heat, the silence before something awful happens, adds up to the tension. There’s a scene where a steel door slams shut, cutting off the outside world, and the characters feel completely trapped. Scenes like these give it a true Wrong Turn feel.
The Descent:
The Descent feels like a claustrophobic nightmare. A group of women goes cave exploring, an soon find themselves trapped with vicious, humanoid creatures, perfect for Wrong Turn fans who love movies with creepy being following. One of the best scenes is when the creatures first appear, attacking in complete darkness with only flashlight beams cutting through the shadows. If you enjoy horror movies where the setting itself is terrifying, The Descent is a must-watch.
Backcountry:
Less known but definitely worth your time, Backcountry is inspired by a true story. A couple goes camping in the Canadian wilderness and ends up lost. That’s already enough to make most people uneasy, but things get worse when a massive black bear starts stalking them. The tension builds slowly, and when things finally explode, it’s terrifying in a way that feels way too real. Missy Peregrym gives a standout performance here, and the direction keeps everything grounded. All in all, it's definitely worth a watch if you love Wrong Turn.
Wolf Creek:
If Wrong Turn gave you trust issues about backroads, Wolf Creek will make you rethink asking anyone for help. Set in the vast, empty Australian outback, this movie follows three travelers whose car breaks down. They’re rescued by a friendly-seeming local named Mick Taylor. And that’s where things go downhill. John Jarratt plays Mick with a terrifying calmness that turns into pure evil. The scariest part? This one’s loosely based on real crimes. The sense of isolation and helplessness is intense, and the violence feels sudden and realistic.