10 Horror Films Set in the Savanna

Description: Set on a remote Scottish island, the film's themes of paganism and sacrifice could be paralleled with the isolation and primal fears one might encounter in the savanna.

Fact: The film's ending was so shocking that it reportedly caused some viewers to faint when it was first released.

Description: This film, while set in the American desert, captures the terror of being stranded in a hostile environment, much like the savanna, where the landscape itself becomes a character in the horror.

Fact: The film was inspired by the legend of Sawney Bean, a Scottish cannibal who lived in a cave with his family, preying on travelers.

Description: This film, while not strictly a horror movie, features two man-eating lions that terrorize workers on a railway bridge in Tsavo, Kenya, creating a suspenseful and terrifying atmosphere. The savanna setting enhances the feeling of isolation and vulnerability.

Fact: The film is based on real events, and the lions, known as the Tsavo maneaters, are now on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Description: This found footage horror film, set in the woods of Maryland, captures the essence of isolation and fear that could be felt in the savanna, where the unknown lurks in every shadow.

Fact: The film was made on a budget of less than $60,000 but grossed over $248 million worldwide.

Description: While primarily set in Louisiana, the film's climax involves a ritual in a savanna-like setting, where the protagonist confronts supernatural forces. The vast, open space adds to the eerie feeling of being watched.

Fact: The film uses Hoodoo folklore, which adds an authentic cultural element to the horror.

Description: This film, set in the Appalachian Mountains, features a group of women exploring a cave system, but the claustrophobic terror they experience mirrors the isolation one might feel in the savanna.

Fact: The film was shot in a real cave system in Scotland, adding to its gritty realism.

Description: Set in the Yucatán Peninsula, this film involves tourists trapped by a malevolent force in an isolated area, which could be likened to the savanna's vastness and the feeling of being cut off from civilization.

Fact: The film's ending was changed for the theatrical release to be less bleak, but the director's cut provides a more intense and true-to-novel conclusion.

Description: Although set in 17th-century New England, the film's use of nature's isolation and the wilderness as a backdrop for horror can be compared to the savanna's vast, untamed landscapes.

Fact: The film was shot entirely on location in a forest, using natural light to enhance the eerie atmosphere.

Description: Although not set in a traditional savanna, this film features a group of friends hiking through the Swedish wilderness, encountering a terrifying ancient evil. The isolation and natural beauty of the setting parallel the savanna's vastness.

Fact: The film is based on the novel by Adam Nevill, and its eerie atmosphere was inspired by real-life accounts of strange occurrences in remote areas.

Description: In this lesser-known horror film, a group of tourists on a safari in the African savanna encounter a mysterious and deadly creature that seems to be part lion, part something else entirely, leading to a fight for survival.

Fact: The film was shot on location in South Africa, using real wildlife to enhance the authenticity of the setting.