18 of the best 'cabin in the woods' horror movies

When you're far from civilization, with no cell phone service, things are bound to get scary...

By
Dana Schwartz
Dana Schwartz

Dana Schwartz's favorite things include romantic comedies, British TV, and reading the Wikipedia pages for horror movies.

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Updated on July 8, 2022 11:22AM EDT
Cabin in the woods movies
Bruce Campbell in 'Evil Dead II'; Chris Hemsworth in 'The Cabin in the Woods'; Kip Weeks in 'The Strangers'. Photo:

Everett Collection; Diyah Pera/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection; Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

The cabin in the woods setting for horror movies is a trope for a reason. The protagonist is typically away from home, modern communication technology is usually limited, and the cabin is often stuck in a remote location where any number of strangers could be lurking outside the door. Such films became so commonplace after a while that it was cleverly poked fun at in 2012's The Cabin in the Woods, which, as the best satires and parodies do, also ironically stands alongside its predecessors.

Here are our picks for the best horror movies that center the action in a cabin in the woods.

01 of 18

What Keeps You Alive (2018)

WhatKeepsYouAlive_MezzFile_R1_NY762671+01294418
IFC Midnight

What's scarier than being away from civilization with no one to call for help and limited cell phone service? In What Keeps You Alive, a couple celebrates their anniversary at — you guessed it — an isolated cabin, where a woman discovers her wife isn't exactly who she thought she was.

02 of 18

The Strangers (2008)

THE STRANGERS, facing camera: Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis, back to camera: Liv Tyler, Scot
Everett Collection

Three masked strangers break into a remote summer home and torture the couple vacationing there in this slasher flick starring Liv Tyler.

03 of 18

Funny Games (2007)

FUNNY GAMES U.S., (aka FUNNY GAMES), Michael Pitt, Naomi Watts, Brady Corbet, 2007. ©Warner Independ
Everett Collection

Naomi Watts stars in the remake of an Austrian horror movie of the same name, about strangers who visit — and violently take hostage — a family at their lake house.

04 of 18

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth, and Anna Hutchison in 'The Cabin in the Woods'
Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth, and Anna Hutchison in 'The Cabin in the Woods'. Everett Collection

The tongue-in-cheek parody of the genre's tropes still managed to pack a scary punch. Plus: Chris Hemsworth!

05 of 18

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

FRIDAY THE 13TH: A NEW BEGINNING, (aka FRIDAY THE 13TH PART V), Dick Wieand, 1985, ©
Everett Collection

A new killer in a hockey mask racks up victims in the woods in this attempted revival of the horror franchise.

06 of 18

Cabin Fever (2002)

CABIN FEVER, Cerina Vincent, 2002
Everett Collection

Recent college grads fall prey to a flesh-eating virus while renting a cabin in Eli Roth's directorial debut.

07 of 18

The Ritual (2017)

DSC_9719.NEF
Vlad Cioplea/Netflix

Four friends decide to go on a hiking trip to honor a friend who was killed. If you can believe it, things don't go exactly according to plan.

08 of 18

The Hallow (2015)

The Hallow Official Trailer #1 (2015) - (screen grab) CR: IFC Midnight
IFC Midnight

A husband, wife, and baby deal with the mysterious surrounding woods when they move out to a remote village.

09 of 18

Deliverance (1972)

Deliverance - 1972
Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Not quite a horror movie, but plenty horrifying all the same. You'll never hear "Dueling Banjos" the same after watching this classic film about a canoeing trip gone wrong.

10 of 18

Antichrist (2009)

ANTICHRIST, Willem Dafoe, 2009. ©IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

In Lars von Trier's thriller, a couple descends into sadomasochist madness after the death of their child. Of course, they thought a trip out to a cabin would help.

11 of 18

Eden Lake (2008)

EDEN LAKE, from left: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, 2008. ©Weinstein Company/courtesy Everett Co
Everett Collection

Michael Fassbender stars as a man who goes with his girlfriend out to a remote English lake terrorized by murderous teens.

12 of 18

Backcountry (2015)

Backcountry
IFC Midnight

Loosely based on a true story, this survivalist horror movie follows a couple stranded in Canada who must face off against a man-eating bear.

13 of 18

The Evil Dead (1981)

THE EVIL DEAD, Bruce Campbell, 1981
Everett Collection

Take five college kids, a cabin vacation, and a legion of demonic spirits, and you've got a cult classic.

14 of 18

Evil Dead II (1987)

THE EVIL DEAD 2
Everett Collection

Sam Raimi's horror trilogy continued with a film often characterized as a "parody sequel," picking up right where the first left off.

15 of 18

Secret Window (2004)

SECRET WINDOW, Johnny Depp, John Turturro, 2004, (c) Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

Johnny Depp plays a novelist suffering from writer's block in an adaptation of a Stephen King story.

16 of 18

Always Shine (2016)

ALWAYS SHINE, Mackenzie Davis, 2016. © Oscilloscope / courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

Two actresses attempt to repair their friendship while on vacation at a cottage in Big Sur. Their hope for reconnection ultimately turns deadly.

17 of 18

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2009)

TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL, from left: Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine, 2009. ph: Dan Power/©Maple Pictures/Co
Everett Collection

Hillbillies are accidentally mistaken for murderers in a comedy-horror send-up of the genre.

18 of 18

Misery (1990)

Kathy Bates in 'Misery'
Kathy Bates in 'Misery'. Everett Collection

"I'm your number one fan." Kathy Bates stunned audiences with her terrifying portrayal of an obsessive fan willing to do anything to keep an author (James Caan) hostage in her isolated home.