Winter is a beautiful season full of rich scents and festive holidays, but it can also be dark, depressing, and sometimes downright dangerous. Not being prepared to trek amid a blizzard is a potential recipe for disaster. The horror genre loves to make dire circumstances even worse.
Many classic horror movies have been set during the dead of winter or at least had titular scenes take place amid the snow, like in The Shining, Misery, and The Thing. But there are several other lesser-known titles that are equally scary and take place in the winter months.
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
A retired detective (Christian Bale) is called in to assist with the investigation into the hanging of a military cadet. He enlists the assistance of a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling), with the pair deducing that the cadet was actually murdered in a particularly gruesome fashion and that his death might have a connection to occult rituals.
The Pale Blue Eye is based on the novel of the same name by Louis Bayard, and the film, which Netflix distributed, was praised for its strong central performances. Considering the movie is set in the fall of the 1800s, it does a great job of creating a suitably gloomy atmosphere, complete with a picturesque snowy landscape.
The Lodge (2019)
Richard (Richard Armitage) is preparing to marry his new fiancée, Grace (Riley Keough), a woman raised in an extremist cult still grappling with her traumatic childhood. However, the change Richard implements in the lives of his two children is sudden, especially given that they are still grieving their late mother, making them hesitant to connect with someone new.
This is further complicated when the kids learn about Grace's disturbing past. Thinking that spending time alone will help them bond, Richard orchestrates a Christmas vacation for Grace and the kids in a rural lodge. Unfortunately, the trip quickly becomes a nightmare when the trio finds themselves trapped inside due to the inclement winter weather.
The Terror season 1
While not a film, this acclaimed AMC anthology series has a near-perfect first season, particularly for anyone looking to watch something wintery. Based on Dan Simmons' best-selling novel, The Terror is a fictional account of Captain Sir John Franklin's lost expedition to explore the Arctic in 1845.
The show uses the names of the two real Royal Navy ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Attempting to seek passage through the Arctic, the expedition is lost, last seen by a pair of whalers in a nearby bay. Season 1 chronicles the ships' crews as they do whatever it takes to survive in the brutal cold, where the ice never thaws, while simultaneously being stalked by a monstrous supernatural creature. Season 2 takes place during WWII, and a third season is in the works.
30 Days of Night (2007)
Want to watch a horror movie with genuinely terrifying vampires? Look no further than this 2007 gem about an Alaskan town plagued by these insidious creatures of the night during a 30-day polar night (a period when the sun doesn't rise). What starts as an ominous night already due to the chill and the arrival of a mysterious stranger quickly turns into mayhem when a band of vampires attacks and begins slaughtering the townsfolk.
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Wind Chill (2007)
A little-known horror film starring Emily Blunt, Wind Chill follows a college student (Blunt) who accepts a rideshare home from a classmate for Christmas break. Not long into their drive, a reckless driver causes them to veer off the road, stranding them in the snow on a remote highway in the middle of the night. As the temperature drops and a deep chill sets in, the pair begin to see things in the dark and wonder if they'll leave this dire situation alive.
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Frozen (2010)
As you can likely tell by this list, one of my favorite subgenres is when people are trapped in a single location, especially fitting for a winter-set horror movie when snow and ice are real threats to travel. In this 2010 film, three friends find themselves stranded in the chairlift dangling above a mountainside after a day of skiing.
No Exit (2022)
Bottoms' star Havana Rose Liu plays recovering addict Darby, who stumbles into a dangerous situation when she tries to help a kidnapping victim and realizes their captor is inside the rest stop she's in and that all of them are now trapped together during a blizzard.
The film is based on Taylor Adams' thriller novel and received a Hulu release. Despite receiving mixed reviews, most agree No Exit is a decently entertaining flick, especially if you're seeking the claustrophobic "snowed-in" movie vibe.
The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)
If you loved this year's hit horror film, Longlegs, you should watch director Oz Perkins' previous film, The Blackcoat's Daughter. Because the movie takes place in the winter, before an extended winter break, it was almost titled February, indicating the overall snowy vibe of the film.
The Blackcoat's Daughter is set at a Catholic school and the story revolves around the complicated relationship between two students, Rose (Lucy Boynton) and Kat (Kiernan Shipka), who have to stay at the school when their parents don't arrive to pick them up. With no one else around, Rose and Kat start spending more time together, but Rose suspects something is wrong with Kat. Emma Roberts also stars as a seemingly lost young woman assisted by a friendly couple who take pity on her after finding her alone in the inclement weather.
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