The vast, open plains can be both beautiful and terrifying, offering a perfect backdrop for horror. This collection of films explores the eerie and often unsettling atmosphere of the plains, where isolation and the unknown can turn a serene landscape into a nightmare. Whether it's the whispering winds or the lurking shadows, these movies will make you think twice about venturing into the wide open spaces.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Description: A family traveling through the desert plains of Nevada encounters a group of cannibalistic mutants. The desolate landscape adds to the film's tension and horror.
Fact: The film was inspired by the legend of Sawney Bean, a 16th-century Scottish cannibal. It was remade in 2006, maintaining the original's setting.


The Descent (2005)
Description: While not set on plains, the film's opening scenes feature a car crash in the Appalachian Mountains, which could be considered a transition from plains to underground horror. It's included for its thematic connection to isolation and the unknown.
Fact: The film was shot in a real cave system in the UK, adding to the claustrophobic feel, despite its initial setting.


The Strangers (2008)
Description: Although not set on plains, the film's rural setting and the isolation of the house evoke a similar feeling of vulnerability. It's included for its thematic resonance with the theme of isolation.
Fact: The film was inspired by true events, including the Manson Family murders and a personal experience of the director.


The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
Description: This film tells the story of siblings returning to their family farm where their father is dying, only to encounter a malevolent force. The bleak, desolate farm setting adds to the film's oppressive atmosphere.
Fact: The film was shot in a real farmhouse in Texas, enhancing the authenticity of the setting. It was also praised for its minimal use of jump scares, relying instead on a slow-building dread.


The Babadook (2014)
Description: Although set in a suburban home, the film's themes of isolation and the unknown resonate with the plains setting. The vast, empty spaces around the house contribute to the film's atmosphere.
Fact: The film was shot in Adelaide, Australia, and uses the surrounding landscape to enhance the feeling of being cut off from the world.


The Invitation (2015)
Description: While primarily set in a house, the film's opening scenes show the characters driving through the plains of California, setting the stage for the psychological horror that unfolds.
Fact: The film was shot in Los Angeles, but the director used the vastness of the surrounding areas to create a sense of isolation.


The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Description: While not directly set on plains, the film's setting in a small-town morgue surrounded by rural landscapes evokes a similar sense of isolation and dread.
Fact: The film was shot in the UK, but its setting and themes align with the eerie isolation of the plains.


The Witch (2015)
Description: Set in 1630s New England, this film explores the horror of a family living on the edge of a vast, untamed wilderness. The isolation of their farm on the plains contributes to the film's eerie atmosphere.
Fact: The film uses natural light and authentic period costumes to create a realistic and unsettling environment. It was also shot in a remote location in Canada.


The Wind (2018)
Description: Set in the 1800s, "The Wind" follows a woman living in a remote homestead on the American plains who begins to experience supernatural occurrences after her neighbor's death. The film captures the psychological horror of isolation and the haunting presence of the plains.
Fact: The film was shot in Utah to replicate the vast, empty landscapes of the Great Plains. The director, Emma Tammi, aimed to evoke a sense of claustrophobia in an open environment.


The Plains (2016)
Description: A group of friends camping in the Australian outback find themselves hunted by an unseen force. The film uses the vast, empty landscape to create a sense of vulnerability and fear.
Fact: The film was shot in the Flinders Ranges, known for its stark beauty and isolation, which perfectly complements the horror elements.
