It may not officially be winter just yet, but a winterlike chill is already setting in for many as the holiday season is here. That means the perfect excuse to cozy up with more horror!
Okay, so anything is a good excuse for horror. But there’s just something about horror set in icy, snowy conditions that compounds the dread. It’s so much harder to escape from masked maniacs, zombie outbreaks, aliens, and more when the weather conditions threaten your life, too.
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to terror in extreme winter weather conditions and the isolation that causes. Here’s where you can stream them…
Cold Prey – AMC+
A group of five friends snowboarding in a secluded area of the mountains in Jotunheimen are forced to find shelter when one breaks their leg. They take refuge in a deserted lodge, wholly abandoned save for the homicidal maniac dubbed the Mountain Man. Cold Prey is a fantastic modern slasher with a stunning snowy backdrop that contributes to the group’s fight for survival. Suspenseful, brutal, and with one of horror’s most underrated final girls in Jannicke.
Curtains – Tubi, Vudu
Six young actresses spend their weekend at a remote mansion enduring what may be the most eccentric audition for a movie role. Naturally, it’s the perfect setting for a masked killer to start picking them off one by one, and it just so happens to be winter. There aren’t too many slashers set in icy weather, and Curtains takes full advantage of its winter setting. The most memorable kills involve the creepy masked killer using the weather against the victims, including the film’s best death sequence set on a frozen pond. Sickles and ice skating equal bad news.
The Lodge – Hulu, Kanopy
Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s follow-up to Goodnight Mommy carries over the theme of children misbehaving. A holiday trip to the remote family lodge becomes a harrowing voyage into potential madness when soon-to-be stepmom Grace (Riley Keough) is left alone to take care of siblings Aidan (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh). When the children seem to be making peace with Grace, a blizzard knocks the power out, trapping them all with Grace’s dark past. Moody and atmospheric, The Lodge is bleak horror. It’s isolating, chilling, and depressing. Bring extra blankets for comfort.
Pontypool – AMC+
Stephen McHattie is a commanding presence in this atypical outbreak horror movie. The actor plays shock jock DJ Grant Mazzy piecing together an outbreak in Pontypool, Ontario, from his radio station booth as events play out in real-time on air. That means much of the action happens via audio, with reports and town residents calling into the station. Yet, none of that detracts from the suspense. It’s an unusual yet effective take on an outbreak, and winter serves as an excuse to keep its main character trapped inside and feeling secluded.
The Thing – Starz
John Carpenter’s paranoia-laden masterpiece is a pinnacle of practical effects. Its snowy Antarctic setting plays a pivotal role in isolation, paranoia, and fight for survival. Fleeing from the shape-shifted alien that’s infiltrated the ranks of a research team isn’t easy, thanks to its ability to assimilate the humans and the storm raging outside. This classic keeps getting better and better with every rewatch, too.