Horror Vacations: 10 Scary Resort Films

Description: Jack Torrance becomes the winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel, where he, his wife Wendy, and their son Danny slowly unravel as the hotel's dark history begins to haunt them. The film's setting in a remote resort hotel makes it a chilling addition to this list.

Fact: Stanley Kubrick famously feuded with Stephen King over the adaptation, leading King to disown the film. The hedge maze was added by Kubrick and is not in the original novel.

Description: Richard, a young backpacker, finds a secret beach paradise in Thailand, but the idyllic setting soon turns into a nightmarish trap. While not strictly a horror film, its themes of isolation and paranoia fit the theme.

Fact: The film was shot on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh in Thailand, which became a tourist hotspot after the movie's release. The book by Alex Garland was inspired by his own travels.

Description: College friends rent a cabin in the woods for a vacation, only to encounter a flesh-eating virus. The cabin setting, though not a traditional resort, captures the essence of a getaway gone wrong.

Fact: Eli Roth, the director, used real blood in many scenes to achieve a more authentic look. The film was inspired by Roth's own experiences with cabin fever during a trip.

Description: A group of women go on a caving trip in the Appalachian Mountains, where they encounter terrifying creatures. The cave setting, while not a resort, captures the essence of being trapped in a vacation gone awry.

Fact: The film features two different endings, one for the UK and one for the US, due to differing audience preferences for horror movie resolutions.

Description: A couple staying at a secluded vacation home is terrorized by masked strangers with no apparent motive. The film's setting in a remote house adds to the horror of being cut off from civilization.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life events, including the Manson Family murders. The masks worn by the strangers were custom-made for the film.

Description: A group of friends on vacation in Mexico stumbles upon an ancient Mayan temple, where they are trapped by locals and face a deadly, vine-like plant. The film's setting in a remote jungle resort area adds to the horror of isolation.

Fact: The film was based on a novel by Scott Smith, who also wrote the screenplay. The vines in the movie were created using a combination of practical effects and CGI.

Description: A couple's romantic getaway to a remote lake turns into a fight for survival when they clash with a group of violent teenagers. The film's setting in a secluded lake area adds to the horror of isolation.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life incidents of youth violence in the UK. It was shot in the UK, with the lake scenes filmed at a real location.

Description: After their boat capsizes, a group of friends must swim to a nearby island, only to face a deadly shark. The film's setting in the ocean, while not a resort, captures the terror of a vacation turned deadly.

Fact: The film was shot in the open ocean, with real sharks used for many scenes. The director, Andrew Traucki, is known for his work in survival horror films.

Description: A father and son, both coroners, perform an autopsy on an unidentified woman, uncovering supernatural horrors. While not set in a resort, the film's theme of discovering horror in an unexpected place fits the list.

Fact: The film was shot in a real morgue, adding to the authenticity of the setting. The character of Jane Doe was inspired by real-life cases of unidentified bodies.

Description: Four friends on a hiking trip in Sweden to honor a deceased friend encounter an ancient evil in the forest. The film's setting in a remote wilderness area captures the essence of a vacation turned into a nightmare.

Fact: The film is based on a novel by Adam Nevill. The creature in the film was designed to be both ancient and terrifying, drawing from various mythologies.