As the temperatures climb and the days grow longer and hotter, it’s a struggle to stay comfortable in the brutal summer heat. When you get tired of all the teen vacation and summer camp flicks, it’s the perfect time to watch all your favorite winter horror stories to stay cool on even the most sweltering days.
From the isolated snowscapes of Antarctica to the depths of the Colorado mountains and everywhere in between, here are a few of the best winter-themed horror films to transport you and help keep you cool while you’re safe inside in the comfort of your AC!
(Note: No directly holiday themed movies are on this list, only seasonal stories! We’ll save Black Christmas, Gremlins, and Krampus for another day. )
The Thing (1982)
By the time John Carpenter directed 1982's The Thing, he was well established as a horror director, so audiences weren't surprised when this sci-fi masterpiece was one of the scariest movies of all time. The Thing features some of the best tension building of any horror movie, and the resulting payoff is incredible. With knockout performances from Kurt Russell and Keith David, among others, the film transports viewers to their icy, isolated world.
The setup is simple and effective: when a group of researchers in Antarctica encounters a shapeshifting alien at their base, isolation and paranoia sets in for one of the best intergalactic showdowns in history. The alien could be any one of them, and viewers see how quickly the team's bonds and trust disintegrates as suspicion and fear overtake them.
The film features disgustingly-cool practical effects from Rob Bottin and an iconic score from master film composer Ennio Morricone. It's well-made, well-acted, and downright terrifying. The Thing will chill you to your core and stay with you through next winter and beyond.
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s masterful adaptation of Stephen King’s hit novel is one of the most iconic horror movies to highlight the isolation and intensity of a snowed-in winter. When writer Jack Torrance agrees to become the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado mountains with his wife and young son, he is unaware of the hotel’s sordid past and the horror of what’s to come.
Jack Nicholson delivers one of the most unhinged performances in movie history, he’s so good as the unraveling protagonist that it’s one of the scariest films ever made. Shelley Duvall is equally amazing as tortured wife-turned-hero Wendy, as she struggles to protect their young son from her husband’s deteriorating mental state and escape out of the snow.
It features striking visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and one of the best horror film climaxes of all time. It cannot be overstated how great this film is, even if Stephen King was reportedly unhappy with the changes to the source material.
Ravenous (1999)
A different kind of horror movie than the others on this list, Antonia Bird's Ravenous was met with mixed reviews upon its release, but has since developed a cult following. It features a stacked cast (led by Guy Pearce) as a group of soldiers who end up lost in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the 1840s Mexican-American war.
The desperation and hunger depicted in the film is heightened by the killer soundtrack and grotesque visuals, and the brutal mountain winter setting provides a stark contrast to the gore of the film’s conflict. It may not be for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach, but ravenous delivers an unforgettably bloody viewing experience that’ll have you feeling grateful for the summer heat.
30 Days of Night (2007)
Josh Hartnett has become a horror legend over his decades-long career as a leading man. From his early work in The Faculty and Halloween: H20 to his recent turn as an evil dad in M. Night Shyamalan's campy Trap, he’s proved himself as an icon in the genre. 30 Days of Night is another great example.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, the film uses the icy cold setting of the month-long polar night in Alaska to tell a not-so-average vampire story. Produced by genre vet Sam Raimi, the film's use of polar night proves extremely effective in cultivating its gritty atmosphere and matching the tone of the source material. While it was met with mixed reviews upon its release, the film holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans.
The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)
Before Osgood Perkins broke the internet with his 2024 horror hit Longlegs, he directed the sleeper horror hit The Blackcoat's Daughter starring Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, and Lucy Boynton as young women staying at a boarding school campus ahead of winter vacation.
The film builds tension in an eerie, unsettling slow burn that’s heightened by the winter weather of its dreary February timeline. It’s a classic setting: idyllic winter at an exclusive New England boarding school. More psychological thriller than outright horror, The Blackcoat's Daughter is an impressive debut from Hollywood royalty Osgood Perkins, son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins.
Misery (1990)
The second Stephen King adaptation on our list, Misery is a powerful allegory for King’s substance abuse, focusing on an obsessed fan and the extreme lengths she goes for her favorite author. Famous for that scene involving a foot and a sledge hammer, Misery takes the claustrophobic feelings of being snowed in to the next level. Kathy Bates’ ice cold portrayal of Annie Wilkes will go down in history as one of the most chilling villains of all time, which is saying something in Stephen King’s body of work.
James Caan and Bates both deliver fantastic performances in a psychological terror film that forces audiences to confront their ideas of fandom and the line between appreciation and exploitation. And when it’s over, you’re free to walk around in the summer sun and feel grateful for your feet.
Crimson Peak (2015)
Crimson Peak saw the veteran horror director Guillermo del Toro return to the genre with the best Victorian-gothic horror movie in years. The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain, all offering spooky performances that play against type. The film uses several classic gothic tropes, including its haunted rural estate setting, unsettling family secrets, and even literal ghosts.
Wasikowska’s Edith, a budding writer, is curious about her new home and becomes inspired by the hidden secrets it holds. The visuals are striking and stick with viewers in a way Del Toro has mastered over the years: think red blood on white snow, dimly lit corridors and glowing candlelight. It all adds up to an ethereal and spooky viewing experience.