road trip film horreur

45 Road Trip Horror Movies

What all scary movies about road trips have in common is that they are about the fear of the unknown.

Table of Contents

There are a few different kinds of road trip horror movies. There are films such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) that begin with the characters on a road trip, but the bulk of the horror in the film comes from the dark place they have discovered. In other road trip horror movies such as The Hitcher (1986), the horror comes directly from the open road. There are also films such as Hostel (2005) and An American Werewolf In London (1981) that fall into other categories such as travel horror and hotel horror movies . This list will discuss both types of road trip horror movies and where possible will note how much of an impact the road trip setting has on the film as a whole.

What all scary movies about road trips have in common is that they are about the fear of the unknown. This is in contrast to other films horror movie fans love such as The Exorcist (1973), Halloween (1978), and Scream (1996), where a demon or serial killer stalks a familiar suburb. Those movies play on insecurities about danger lurking in “safe” surroundings. We expect to encounter danger when we travel, and many people even plan ahead or take precautions so they aren’t stranded in a sundown town or targeted by predators looking for women traveling alone.

Classic/Old Road Trip Horror Movies

The hitch-hiker (1953).

A crime film noir by the most prominent female filmmaker of the 1950s, Ida Lupino. The Hitch-Hiker follows Roy and Gilbert as they set off from southern California toward a fishing trip in Mexico. Along the way they pick up a hitchhiker who then takes out a gun and holds the two friends hostage. The hitchhiker savagely forces one of the friends to shoot a tin can out of the other’s hand and tortures the men, even forcing them to continue with him on foot when their vehicle breaks down.

Psycho (1960)

Psycho begins with Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stealing $40,000 from her employer and driving from Phoenix to California. Along the way she stops at a roadside motel called the Bates Motel, where she meets the proprietor Norman Bates. It is at the Bates Motel where Marion is murdered in the famous shower scene.

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead starts off with a sibling road trip to a rural cemetery in Evans City, Pennsylvania. Johnny and Barbara plan to visit their father’s grave but instead encounter a zombie that kills Johnny. Barbara flees the cemetery and takes shelter in a nearby farmhouse, where she is joined by other survivors including Ben, who takes the lead in securing the farmhouse against the zombies.

Duel (1971)

This is an action thriller that was Steven Spielberg’s feature debut. It follows David Mann (Dennis Weaver), a salesman driving through the desolation of the Mojave Desert. He encounters a tanker truck that begins to dangerously antagonize him on the open road.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

A classic road-trip-gone-wrong horror movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre begins with a group of friends driving their van through Texas to check on the grave of Sally and Franklin Hardesty’s grandfather, which is said to have been vandalized. Along the way they pick up a frightening hitchhiker who leads the group to his “whole family of vampires.” Bookending this road-trip horror movie is the famous final scene of TCM in which Sally becomes a hitchhiker and rides away in the back of a truck, screaming.

Race With the Devil (1975)

Race With the Devil is an action horror movie about two couples traveling from San Antonio, TX to Aspen, CO in an RV for a ski vacation. While camping along the way in Texas, the group witnesses a Satanic sacrifice. The Satanists then chase them down as the group struggles to make it to Amarillo to get help and report the crime.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Written and directed by horror master Wes Craven , The Hills Have Eyes follows the Carter family as they take a road trip to Los Angeles. In Nevada, the family crashes and their dog runs off and is found mutilated. The group learns that there is a family of cannibalistic psychopaths who live in the hills and cannibalize travelers as they pass through the area.

Tourist Trap (1979)

A group of friends traveling through the desert get stranded at a malevolent tourist trap in this supernatural slasher movie. While the proprietor “helps” the gang with one of their vehicles, the group explores a waxwork museum and one of the girls is strangled by an unseen entity and turned into a mannequin. The rest of the group tries to outsmart a masked killer and mannequins that come alive to find their way back to the highway and survive.

Motel Hell (1980)

Motel Hell is a low-budget horror comedy about a sadistic family of cannibals who operate “Motel Hello.” Farmer Vincent Smith and his sister Ida trap motorists to harvest them and sell human meat at their motel. When Farmer Vincent kills a woman’s boyfriend, she recovers at the hotel and eventually agrees to marry him.

Road Games (1981)

Pat Quaid (Stacy Keach) is a truck driver in the Australian outback who is suspicious of a van driver he encounters and believes they may be the serial killer who has been preying on hitchhikers. Quaid picks up a hitchhiker named Pamela (Jamie Lee Curtis), and the two discuss the serial killer. When the two are separated, the truck driver isn’t sure if Pamela got another ride willingly or if she is the killer’s latest victim.

Death Valley (1982)

A woman, her new boyfriend, and her son Billy are driving through Death Valley on their way to Arizona. Billy takes a frog pendant when he stumbles across a camper that belongs to cowboy serial killer twins while stretching his legs. The killers then chase the family through the desert.

Children Of The Corn (1984)

Vicky and Burt are driving through Nebraska on their way to Seattle when they hit a child who has run into the road; they seek help in a town called Gatlin. They find that the town has been abandoned for three years and is now run by a cult of creepy children . Led by a boy named Isaac, the children worship a corn god they call He Who Walks Behind the Rows.

The Hitcher (1986)

The Hitcher is a road thriller and a cult classic about a man named Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) who is driving a car from Chicago to San Diego. Bored on the long road trip, he picks up a hitchhiker in West Texas. The hitcher (Rutger Hauer) says his name is John Ryder and pulls out a knife before threatening Jim in a very memorable scene. Jim is able to force the hitcher out of his car, and a cat-and-mouse game ensues. The Hitcher was remade in 2007.

Near Dark (1987)

A young vampire turns a small town-boy named Caleb into a vampire at the end of a steamy date. She belongs to a drifter coven of vampires led by the violent Severin (Bill Paxton). Caleb must prove that he can belong, or the coven will kill him.

Cohen and Tate (1988)

A nine-year-old boy named Travis Knight has to turn his kidnappers (Cohen and Tate, the title characters) against each other as they hold him hostage on a road trip. Travis is in the Witness Protection Program after witnessing a mob hit. His kidnappers murder his parents before driving him from Oklahoma to their boss in Texas.

The Vanishing (1988)

A woman disappears at a gas station during a road trip with her boyfriend. For three years he searches relentlessly for her, even appearing on TV to appeal to her kidnapper. Finally the kidnapper makes contact and says he will reveal the missing woman’s fate, but only if her boyfriend will agree to experience the answer firsthand.

Midnight Ride (1990)

An action thriller about a housewife named Lara (Savina Gersak) who leaves her cop husband, Lawson (Michael Dudikoff). One the road to a friend’s house, Lara takes pity on a hitchhiker named Justin (Mark Hamill) and picks him up. It turns out Justin is a seriously disturbed man in the midst of a murder spree. The misogynistic moral of Midnight Ride is that Lara was safer at home in an unhappy marriage than as an autonomous woman out in the world.

Highway To Hell (1991)

Highway to Hell is a B-movie horror comedy about a young couple, Charlie Sykes (Chad Lowe) and Rachel Clark (Kristy Swanson), who take a road trip to elope in Las Vegas. While taking a back road, Rachel is kidnapped and taken to hell to be the bride of Satan. A gas station attendant gives Charlie a special gun and car so that he can go to hell and rescue his fiancée.

Kalifornia (1993)

A road thriller with an all-star cast of Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, and Michelle Forbes. Duchovny plays a journalist on the road with his girlfriend (Forbes) to research serial killers. The couple pick up a pair of hitchhikers (Pitt and Lewis), who turn out to be pretty demented.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Another cult classic with George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino playing fugitive brothers on the run from the law. They kidnap a family traveling in an RV and force them to smuggle the brothers into Mexico. There, they stumble upon a strip club run by vampires led by everyone’s favorite female horror villain , Salma Hayek as Santanico Pandemonium.

Breakdown (1997)

Jeff (Kurt Russell) and Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) are on a cross-country road trip from Boston to San Diego when they almost get in an accident with another driver. Road rage ensues at a nearby gas station and after getting back on the road, their car breaks down. Jeff realizes their vehicle was tampered with, but not before Amy disappears.

New Road Trip Horror Movies

Jeepers creepers (2001).

Inspired by a true story shown on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries , Trish and Darry Jenner are a brother and sister traveling home from college on a road trip when they have a creepy encounter with the driver of a dilapidated old truck. Later, they happen upon the driver and it looks like he is disposing bodies into a pipe. The siblings decide to investigate and learn that they have indeed stumbled upon a supernatural killer. Unfortunately, the killer notices the two poking around and becomes intent on chasing them down.

Joy Ride (2001)

Brothers Lewis (Paul Walker) and Fuller (Steve Zahn) Thomas are driving from Salt Lake City home to their parents. To make the road trip more interesting, Fuller installs a CB radio in the car, and the two play a cruel prank on a trucker who goes by the name “Rusty Nail” before picking up Lewis’s crush, Venna (Leelee Sobieski), in Colorado. The brothers learn that they messed with the wrong trucker when Rusty Nail comes after them and reveals he has kidnapped Venna’s friend Charlotte.

Say Yes (2001)

A South Korean thriller about a married couple who pick up a hitchhiker. When the hitchhiker turns violent, a cat-and-mouse game ensues. Eventually the hitchhiker forces the couple to choose between safety and each other.

Dead End (2003)

A horror movie about a family driving together on Christmas Eve who take a shortcut through the woods. The shortcut takes them on a never-ending road. They meet a woman in white with a baby and attempt to give her a ride to a nearby house. It’s not until the family separates that she reveals the baby she is carrying is actually dead.

High Tension (2003)

Marie and Alex are best friends who take a road trip to visit Alex’s parents at their rural farm. When a mysterious stranger arrives and kills Alex’s family, Marie evades the killer by making it it seem like the guest bedroom was empty. The intruder then kidnaps Alex, and Marie gives chase and tries to rescue her friend.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

A group of friends take a road trip on Halloween eve hoping to write a book about creepy roadside attractions. The gang is lured to the Firefly residence by Baby Firefly posing as a hitchhiker. They are treated to a Halloween show by the family before the real show begins.

Final Destination 2 (2003)

The main premonition in Final Destination 2 takes place at the beginning of a road trip undertaken by Kimberly Corman and her friends on spring break. When Kimberly is meant to pull onto the highway, she has a premonition of a gruesome multi-car wreck and instead exits her vehicle, blocking those behind her from being involved in the accident. As in the first Final Destination film, Death then comes back around for the survivors of the would-be pileup.

Wrong Turn (2003)

Wrong Turn is a slasher film following two groups of people who were on a road trip and end up stranded on a West Virginia back road. Medical student Chris Flynn (Desmond Harrington) and a group of friends including Jessie Burlingame (Eliza Dushku) figure out that they’ve been sabotaged and are being hunted down by a group of inbred mountain people. Together the group tries to outsmart the skilled hunters and make it back to civilization. Wrong Turn is very loosely based on the “true story” Sawney Bean.

Wolf Creek (2005)

Based on a true story, Wolf Creek follows three travelers on a road trip across the Australian Outback. After stopping at the Wolf Creek Crater, the site of an ancient meteorite impact, the trio returns to their car to find the battery dead. A local stranger appears in the darkness to offer his free help, and it turns out he is a sadistic psychopath who drugs and tortures his prey.

Rest Stop (2006)

A direct-to-video horror movie about a couple, Jesse (Joey Mendicino) and Nicole (Jaimie Alexander), on a road trip. When Nicole goes inside a rest stop she comes out to find Jesse has disappeared. Nicole and a truck driver play a game of cat and mouse as he terrorizes Nicole at the rest stop and taunts her with evidence of Jesse being tortured.

Death Proof (2007)

Quentin Tarantino’s exploitation slasher film follows a stunt man who murders women with his “death proof” cars. Kurt Russell stars as the killer and Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Zoë Bell are his prey. Death Proof was originally part of the exploitation thriller Grind House (2007) but was released for horror fans as its own film.

The Hitcher (2007)

A remake of the 1986 movie, this version follows a couple of college students, Jim Halsey (Zachary Knighton) and Grace Andrews (Sophia Bush), driving in New Mexico on their way to spring break. They pick up a hitchhiker (Sean Bean) who turns out to be a sadistic murderer who hunts the duo down, even after they are able to literally kick him out of their car. Deciding to continue with their trip, the couple then finds the hitchhiker in a family’s vehicle they pass, knowing he plans for the family to be his next targets.

Vacancy (2007)

A bickering couple, David (Luke Wilson) and Amy Fox (Kate Beckinsale), on a road trip to a family party experience car trouble and decide to pull into a roadside motel for the night. Once inside, they discover snuff films in the hotel room’s VHS collection that appear to have been made in that very room. When the couple tries to escape, masked men appear outside and the couple realizes that they are trapped in a snuff film of their own.

Windchill (2007)

Two college students (Ashton Holmes and Emily Blunt) share a ride home from school on a holiday break. When car breaks down in a snowy and isolated area, the students worry about their safety. However, the appearance of other spirits who have lost their lives on the road appear and make the situation much more terrifying.

Splinter (2008)

Seth Belzer and Polly Watt are on their way to a romantic camping trip in Oklahoma when they are carjacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend. At a gas station, the convict’s girlfriend discovers the body of the attendant after an attack from a splinter-covered animal who then appears and attacks her. The girlfriend becomes a reanimated splinter creature herself and attacks her friends.

The Human Centipede (2009)

The Human Centipede is a hellish nightmare about the absolute worst-case scenario of a road trip. Two American tourists in Germany, Lindsay and Jenny, get a flat tire and seek help at a nearby home. The house happens to be owned by a demented German surgeon named Josef Heiter who drugs them. When they wake up, Lindsay and Jenny enter a horrifying waking nightmare where they are transformed, with another victim, into a human centipede.

The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

The Cabin in the Woods begins as a college road trip movie with a group of friends on their way to a remote cabin. When they discover the cabin is in the middle of zombie-infested woods, the friends return to their RV and unsuccessfully attempt to outrun the zombie villains . The climax of the film takes place in an underground office building/warehouse for monsters.

Crowsnest (2012)

A particularly scary found footage film about a group of five friends on a road trip who stumble across an RV filled with nomadic cannibals. When they realize they are in over their heads, the friends try to escape. Unfortunately the RV dwellers seem to be all-knowing and remain one step ahead of the friends as they try to get back to civilization.

Chernobyl Diaries (2012)

A disaster horror movie that follows three Americans traveling through Europe. While visiting a family member in Ukraine, the group is convinced to take a detour to visit Pripyat, a ghost town that was made uninhabitable by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Alone with a tour guide and another couple, the group gets stranded overnight and discover they are not alone in the abandoned village.

The Houses October Built (2014)

Another found-footage horror movie about a group of friends traveling the country in search of the ultimate haunted house attraction, “Blue Skeleton.” When they ask too many questions about underground haunts, the group begins to be stalked. The group isn’t sure if they’ve found what they are looking for or if they are in serious peril.

Road Games (2015)

Road Games is a scary and violent British-French mystery thriller about a British hitchhiker named Jack who meets a French hitchhiker named Véronique. The two decide to travel together for safety as there is a serial killer on the loose in the area. A man named Grizard stops and offers the two a ride and upon learning Jack is English, invites them to dinner to meet his English wife. After dinner, Grizard is reluctant to let the couple go and insists they spend the night.

Southbound (2015)

Southbound is a horror anthology that takes place mostly on the open desert road. The five interwoven stories deal with men on the run from the law (and supernatural monsters), traveling musicians, a brother searching for his missing sister, and a family on vacation. Viewers have compared the anthology to old pulp horror like episodes of Tales from the Crypt .

The Strangers: Prey At Night (2018)

The long-awaited sequel to The Strangers (2008) takes place in a mostly empty mobile home park during the off season. This is a fun twist on the home invasion subgenre where the characters don’t have a fortress-like home to retreat to. Instead, the targeted family run through mobile homes, cars, and open parks as they are chased by The Strangers.

Alone (2020)

Jessica is a single woman traveling alone, trying to deal with her husband’s recent death by suicide. On the road, she keeps encountering a strange man whose attention she rebuffs. When Jessica is in a car accident (due to her vehicle being sabotaged), the man abducts her and holds her hostage at his cabin where he reveals she is not the first woman he has abducted.

No Exit (2022)

Darby Thorne runs away from rehab to drive to Salt Lake City and see her mother, who is on her deathbed. While en route, she is warned that a massive winter storm is imminent and she must take cover at a nearby rest stop. Inside, she meets two men and a married couple who are also waiting out the storm. Outside, she finds a kidnapped girl in a van who says her kidnapper is inside the building.

Bones and All (2022)

Bones and All is a romantic horror road film about a young cannibal, Maren (Taylor Russell), who is abandoned by her father. On the road she meets another cannibal, Lee (Timothée Chalamet), and the two fall in love as they cross the country and attempt to figure out what a life together could look like.

Meet The Author

Chrissy Stockton

Chrissy is the co-founder of Creepy Catalog. She has over 10 years of experience writing about horror, a degree in philosophy and Reiki level II certification.

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The Best Road-Horror Movies of All Time

Almost 800 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best road-horror movies ever made. From cult classics like The Hitcher and Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses to more recent films like the 2020 Russell Crow movie Unhinged , these titles represent some of the most beloved road killing movies that will have you rethinking your next road trip.

What exactly is a road horror movie? It could be a horror movie about a road trip, like 2001's Jeepers Creepers . Although it received more bad reviews than good ones, it's now considered somewhat of a classic, especially for early 2000s horror. These films don't necessarily have to be driving horror movies either - as long as the characters end up in a location as the result of a long drive, like in the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example, they qualify to be ranked here.

Whether you're looking for intense action sequences or an offbeat blend of humor and terror, there is surely something here for everyone. Have your say by voting up your favorites from this ranked list, and maybe one day yours will become everyone else's top pick!

A group of friends on a road trip takes an unexpected detour, leading them into a deadly encounter with a clan of murderous cannibals lurking in the West Virginia woods. As the friends struggle to survive, they uncover the terrifying secrets of their adversaries and become entangled in a brutal fight for survival. This gruesome tale of isolation and inhumanity creates an atmosphere of dread as it plays on the fear of being lost and hunted.

• # 60 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 21 of 27 on Plot Holes That'll Ruin Your Favorite Horror Movies
• # 1 of 56 on The Best Vacation Horror Movies, Ranked By Fans

A seemingly innocent prank turns into a nightmare when two brothers and a friend become the targets of a homicidal trucker known only as "Rusty Nail." As Rusty's acts of violence escalate, the trio is drawn deeper and deeper into a twisted game of cat and mouse with the relentless menace. With its unpredictable twists and unsettling characterization of its villain, Joy Ride offers a tense and thrilling ride through the dark underbelly of American highways.

• # 177 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 48 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001
• # 44 of 168 on The 160+ Scariest Psychological Thrillers

Jeepers Creepers

Two siblings traveling home from college find themselves pursued by an ancient creature known as "The Creeper," who emerges from hibernation every twenty-third spring to feast on human flesh for twenty-three days. As the siblings battle to stay alive, they come to realize the horrifying truth behind the Creeper's origin and its relentless hunger. Combining elements of folklore with spine-chilling visuals, this film crafts a harrowing experience of supernatural terror.

• # 30 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 26 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001
• # 26 of 77 on The 75+ Best Horror Franchises, Ranked By Scary Movie Fans

The Hitcher

In this chilling psychological thriller, a young man named Jim Halsey inadvertently picks up a sadistic hitchhiker, John Ryder, who not only torments Halsey but leaves a trail of grisly murder in his wake. Halsey's journey to escape the clutches of the homicidal hitchhiker begins an intense game of cat and mouse, as he attempts to maintain his sanity while evading the law. The film expertly weaves a web of psychological manipulation while exploring the sinister terrain of an unstable mind.

• # 108 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 220 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 38 of 80 on The Best Teen Horror Movies Of All Time

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

In this all-time classic horror masterpiece, a group of friends embarks on a road trip to rural Texas and soon finds themselves terrorized by a family of deranged and sadistic cannibals, led by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. The horrifying events that unfold take viewers through a visceral journey, rich with tension, gore, and suspense. Directed by Tobe Hooper, the film's brutal realism and unrelenting atmosphere of terror have made it one of the most influential pieces of horror cinema in history.

• # 43 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 13 of 64 on The Best Horror Movie Remakes Of All Time
• # 14 of 16 on Horror Movie Franchises, Ranked By The Quality Of Their Sequels

The Hills Have Eyes

Wes Craven's original cult classic follows the Carter family, who find themselves stranded in a remote desert region populated by a bloodthirsty clan of mutated cannibals. As they struggle to fend off their attackers, the family is pushed to the breaking point, blurring the line between morality and survival. The film's gritty atmosphere, disturbing imagery, and relentless tension make it a cornerstone in the annals of horror cinema.

• # 62 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 11 of 57 on The Best Horror Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked
• # 10 of 13 on Horror Villains Who Actually Deserve Our Sympathy

Steven Spielberg's feature directorial debut, this suspenseful thriller follows an average man named David Mann who finds himself in a high-speed duel with a mysterious and malevolent tanker truck driver. The film's masterful pacing and palpable sense of tension create a nail-biting experience that forces viewers to confront their own fears of being pursued and powerless on the open road. Duel' s expert blend of psychological horror and vehicular action laid the groundwork for Spielberg's illustrious career in filmmaking.

• # 139 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 301 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 116 of 191 on The Best Movies For Men

Inspired by true events, this Australian horror film follows three backpackers who become stranded in the remote outback and fall prey to a sadistic bushman named Mick Taylor. With unrelenting brutality and a chilling sense of realism, the film captures the sheer desperation and terror of its protagonists as they face unimaginable horrors at the hands of their captor. The raw and visceral nature of Wolf Creek creates an intense experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

• # 231 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 7 of 35 on The Best Movies Based on Real Murders
• # 33 of 57 on The Best Horror Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked

En route to a family Christmas gathering, a man mistakenly takes a shortcut and winds up on a seemingly never-ending road that spirals into madness. As bizarre and horrifying events unfold, the family is forced to confront their own secrets and unravel the eerie mystery of the road. Featuring surreal visuals, chilling twists, and an unsettling atmosphere, Dead End deftly explores the darker side of family dynamics, making for a haunting road trip into the unknown.

This gritty and brutal remake of Wes Craven's 1977 cult classic amplifies the tension and terror of the original, delivering a pulse-pounding experience with modern visuals and effects. Like its predecessor, the film centers on a family stranded in a desolate desert region, facing off against a clan of mutated cannibals with a taste for bloodshed. Its relentless pacing, gruesome scenes, and unflinching brutality make it a worthy successor to Craven's iconic film.

• Dig Deeper... The Best Characters in The Hills Have Eyes Series, Ranked
• # 45 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 8 of 64 on The Best Horror Movie Remakes Of All Time

The Descent

A group of friends embarks on a caving expedition that takes a horrific turn when they become trapped underground and hunted by a race of flesh-eating subterranean creatures. As the group struggles both against the creatures and their own psychological demons, they are thrust into a disorienting nightmare where trust is scarce, and survival is uncertain. This claustrophobic and visceral horror film offers a tense exploration of the depths of human fear and resilience.

• Dig Deeper... A Look Behind The Scenes Of 'The Descent,' The Classic Claustrophobic Nightmare Film
• # 33 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 31 of 143 on The Best Movies of 2005

Jeepers Creepers 2

The ancient creature known as the Creeper continues its bloodthirsty rampage in this sequel, setting its sights on a busload of high school athletes stranded on a desolate highway. As the teenagers band together to fight off the monstrous foe, they unveil further chilling revelations about the nature and motivations of their supernatural adversary. Maintaining the same sense of dread as its predecessor, Jeepers Creepers 2 creates a harrowing vision of nightmarish pursuit.

• # 156 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 33 of 118 on The Best Horror Movie Sequels
• # 115 of 164 on The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made

In this heart-pounding thriller, a husband and wife find themselves stranded in the desert after their car breaks down, only for the wife to be abducted by a seemingly helpful trucker. Desperate to find his wife and unravel the truth behind her disappearance, the husband is plunged into a dangerous game of cat and mouse that blurs the line between friend and foe. With its relentless pacing and a gripping plot, Breakdown delivers a taut and tense tale of paranoia and survival.

• # 246 of 379 on The Best Movies Of The 1990s
• # 20 of 95 on The 100+ Best Movies Of 1997
• # 13 of 17 on The Most Underrated Action Movies Of The 1990s

Also known as "The Road Warrior," this iconic post-apocalyptic action-horror film combines high-octane vehicular combat with a desolate, dystopian setting. Following the adventures of the stoic and resourceful survivor Max, this sequel sees him forging unlikely alliances and facing off against a host of vicious marauders led by the ruthless Lord Humungus. A seminal influence on the entire post-apocalyptic genre, Mad Max 2 remains a thrilling and groundbreaking piece of cinema.

• # 510 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 10 of 166 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
• # 43 of 191 on The Best Movies For Men

House of 1000 Corpses

Directed by musician-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie, this twisted homage to 1970s exploitation films follows two couples who stumble upon the nightmarish domain of a sadistic backwoods family led by the enigmatic Captain Spaulding. As the group delves deeper into the family's macabre world, they are subjected to unspeakable acts of depravity and horror. With its vibrant visuals, perverse sense of humor, and unapologetic gore, House of 1000 Corpses offers a unique and unsettling take on the classic road trip-gone-wrong storyline.

• Dig Deeper... Making ‘House Of 1,000 Corpses’ Was Almost As Surreal A Nightmare As The Film Itself
• And Deeper... Which 'House Of 1000 Corpses' Or 'Devil's Rejects' Character Are You According To Your Zodiac Sign?
• # 112 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time

A tense and chilling supernatural thriller, Wind Chill follows two college students who become stranded in a snowstorm and are besieged by the vengeful spirit of a motorist who died decades earlier. As their situation grows more dire, the pair is forced to confront both the eerie ghostly presence and their own personal demons. The film effectively combines psychological terror with supernatural dread to create a haunting and visceral experience.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

A prequel to the 1974 original, this film delves into the origins of the monstrous Leatherface and his twisted family, the Hewitts, as they terrorize a group of friends traveling through rural Texas. As the friends attempt to escape the clutches of the murderous clan, they find themselves ensnared in the Hewitts' web of brutality, which stretches back generations. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning offers both a terrifying expansion on the franchise's mythology and a disturbing portrait of the making of a monster.

• # 52 of 118 on The Best Horror Movie Sequels
• # 3 of 15 on Movies That Added Unnecessary Origin Stories To Famous Characters
• # 14 of 23 on The Best Horror Movies About Chainsaw Maniacs

High Tension

In this harrowing French thriller, two female friends on a road trip find themselves brutally attacked and pursued by a ruthless serial killer who begins a vicious cat-and-mouse game with them. As the story unfolds, it takes several unexpected twists that force viewers to question the nature of reality and the depths of human depravity. High Tension 's relentless pace, graphic violence, and shocking conclusion make it a standout in the horror landscape.

• # 90 of 168 on The 160+ Scariest Psychological Thrillers
• # 14 of 15 on Pretty Good Horror Movies Where One Of The 'Victims' Is The Villain
• # 6 of 27 on Plot Holes That'll Ruin Your Favorite Horror Movies

Brad Pitt delivers a chilling performance as Early Grayce, a charismatic but violently unstable ex-convict who, along with his naive girlfriend Adele, embarks on a cross-country journey with an unsuspecting writer and photographer researching serial killers. As the trip unfolds, secrets are revealed, and tensions rise, culminating in a brutal confrontation between sanity and madness. Kalifornia skillfully blends elements of road trip drama and psychological horror to create a uniquely disturbing experience.

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Following a chance encounter, a newly widowed woman becomes the target of a disturbed man's obsession, resulting in a terrifying road trip filled with tension, suspense, and brutal violence. As the woman struggles to stay one step ahead of her unhinged pursuer, she must also confront her own deep-seated fears and insecurities. Unhinged offers an intense and gripping exploration of the dark side of human nature and the lengths one will go to in the name of obsession.

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This atmospheric and moody vampire film adds a unique twist to the genre by blending horror with elements of the American Western. A young man named Caleb is initiated into a mysterious group of nomadic vampires after being bitten by the enigmatic Mae, and he is soon torn between his need for blood and his desire for a normal life. Its stylish visuals, intense performances, and unique concept make Near Dark a cult classic that stands out among horror films.

• # 303 of 397 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
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In this Hitchcockian thriller, a truck driver named Quid becomes obsessed with the idea that a mysterious fellow traveler may be a serial killer on a murderous spree through the Australian outback. As Quid's paranoia and determination to uncover the truth intensify, he becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse. With its rich atmosphere, engaging characters, and suspenseful plot, Roadgames presents a uniquely engrossing and thrilling take on the road horror genre.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

Tobe Hooper returns to direct this offbeat and darkly humorous sequel, which sees the twisted chainsaw-wielding Leatherface and his cannibalistic family pursued by a vengeful former Texas Ranger and a radio DJ who becomes entangled in the ordeal. With its gory visuals and macabre sense of humor, the film stands as a campy, satirical take on the classic horror tropes established in its groundbreaking predecessor. While deviating from the original's gritty tone, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 still delivers its fair share of terror and carnage.

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Death Proof

Directed by Quentin Tarantino and originally part of the double-feature film "Grindhouse," Death Proof follows a psychopathic stuntman named Mike who terrorizes and murders women with his seemingly indestructible car. The film expertly balances intense vehicular carnage with unsettling suspense, all while showcasing Tarantino's distinct dialogue and style. Death Proof offers a thrilling and stylish ride through a twisted, Tarantino-esque landscape.

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In this disturbing supernatural thriller, a young woman named Nicole finds herself stranded at an abandoned rest stop while searching for her missing boyfriend. As she struggles to stay alive, Nicole encounters a series of seemingly otherworldly occurrences and a brutal killer with a penchant for torture. Combining elements of slasher films and the supernatural, Rest Stop offers a tense and unnerving journey into the unknown.

A group of young travelers is stranded at a deserted motel when they begin experiencing bizarre, unpleasant smells and are hunted by an unseen entity. As they struggle to survive and uncover the truth behind their predicament, they begin to question their own sanity and the boundaries of reality. Blending gruesome imagery with a mysterious and mind-bending narrative, Reeker delivers a haunting and unique take on the road horror subgenre.

In this debut film of the iconic post-apocalyptic series, George Miller introduces viewers to Max Rockatansky, a cop-turned-vigilante in a dystopian future where lawlessness reigns supreme. After suffering a brutal tragedy at the hands of a ruthless biker gang, Max embarks on a quest for vengeance, setting the stage for his transformation into the legendary "Road Warrior." With its thrilling car chases and unapologetic violence, Mad Max established a new benchmark in action-horror cinema.

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This anthology film weaves together five interconnected tales of terror that take place on a desolate stretch of desert highway, where travelers are confronted by their worst nightmares and darkest secrets. Featuring sinister cults, vengeful spirits, and monstrous creatures, Southbound offers a diverse array of scares while maintaining a cohesive and haunting atmosphere. The film serves as a chilling testament to the power and versatility of the road horror genre.

The Hitch-Hiker

A groundbreaking noir thriller from 1953, The Hitch-Hiker follows two friends who pick up a seemingly harmless hitchhiker named Emmett Myers, only to discover he is a dangerous psychopath wanted for multiple murders. As the trio becomes trapped together in a tense, claustrophobic journey across the Mexican desert, the friends must come up with a plan to escape Myers' clutches alive. Pioneering for its time, The Hitch-Hiker delivers a suspenseful and nail-biting exploration of fear, trust, and survival in the face of unspeakable danger.

• # 15 of 27 on 27 Horror Films You Had No Idea Were Directed By Women
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Reese Witherspoon shines in this dark and twisted take on the Little Red Riding Hood tale, portraying a naïve but resourceful teenager named Vanessa who finds herself pursued by a menacing serial killer posing as a charming and helpful stranger. As Vanessa struggles to evade her pursuer and uncover his secrets, she discovers a strength she never knew she had. Blending elements of horror, suspense, and dark humor, Freeway offers an unconventional and thrilling ride through the underbelly of the American dream.

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The best horror movies in every subgenre of horror. Whether it's evil dolls, terrible vacations, or anything in between, we've got a list for it.

10 Terrifying and Twisted Horror Movie Road Trips to Hell

October is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t bother looking it up; it’s true. Most people take that to mean highlighting one horror movie a day, but here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or nine by celebrating each day with a top ten list. This article about the best horror movie road trips is part of our ongoing series 31 Days of Horror Lists .

Road trips are quite often a nightmare on rubber, and while I’m personally a fan, I can see why others might not be as enamored by the prospect. Multiple people crammed into a car, strangers and the unknown around every curve in the road, a lack of awareness and familiarity with the world outside your window — road trips can most definitely be terrifying. It’s no surprise, then, that so many genre filmmakers have hit the asphalt for inspiration and execution when it comes to their horror movies.

To be clear, we’re only looking at horror movies here, obviously, so with apologies to Chevy Chase and friends, Nation Lampoon’s Vacation will not be making an appearance. Our focus instead rests with the road trips that find death, terror, killers, monsters, murderers, and more bloody mayhem while people are trying to drive from point A to point B. Now please join me and the crew ( Chris Coffel ,  Valerie Ettenhofer,   Kieran Fisher ,  Brad Gullickson ,  Meg Shields ,  Anna Swanson ,  Jacob Trussell ) as we buckle up, open the sunroof, and hit the highway for our look at the best horror movie road trips!

10. Road Games (1981)

If you want to understand purposeful isolation, make a trucker or a hitchhiker movie. These loners of the road have no use for society. They’ve turned their backs on it, choosing instead to explore the interior by facing the infinite horizon. The points on the map don’t matter; it’s the curvy line between A and B that gets their motor running.

Richard Franklin ‘s Road Games is a thoughtful inspection of the mindsets of two characters: one behind the wheel of a mighty rig, and the other drifting the landscape toward wherever her thumb will take her. There’s a solid narrative simply in the performances of Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, but when the plot drops a serial killer on that same stretch of tarmac they’re occupying, the film takes off as a lo-fi wannabe Hitchock thriller turned road trip horror. Road Games dares to propose intellect where wet, gooey kills would suffice. In its delusion of grandeur, the arty slasher thrives. (Brad Gullickson)

9. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

From Dusk Till Dawn is basically two different movies spliced into one. The first film is a road trip from hell that chronicles two criminal brothers as they make a dash for the border with their hostages. The second is a siege movie about vampires. While both merge together seamlessly, the road movie aspect is the most interesting part.

The tension in the RV scenes is palpable and uncomfortable, mostly due to the fact that Quentin Tarantino plays a homicidal sexual deviant who could pounce on his desired prey at any moment. Personally, I find that aspect much scarier than the vampire mayhem, which is, admittedly, more hilarious than terrifying. (Kieran Fisher)

8. The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Inspired by the true story of a 1950s spree-killer, The Hitch-Hiker is our oldest piece of road trip horror and follows two buddies on a boys’ trip to Mexico for a relaxing fishing excursion. The plan hits a snag when they pick up a drifter who’s on the run and has plans to take the men hostage. This landmark film noir makes the most of its open-road premise, with some brilliantly crafted suspense sequences and a taut execution from director Ida Lupino . (Anna Swanson)

7. Death Proof (2007)

Quentin Tarantino perfectly captures the high-speed essence of ’70s carsploitation films with his tribute to grindhouse cinema, Death Proof . Kurt Russell stars as Stuntman Mike (he’s a stuntman named Mike), a movie and television daredevil with a fetish for vehicular homicide.

Stuntman Mike hits the road in his 1970 Chevy Nova, complete with a roll cage to make it “death proof,” and uses it as a weapon to track down unsuspecting women traveling on the highway. One victim dies while committing the ultimate road trip sin — placing a barefoot up around the dash and slightly out the window. Mike’s fun and games are turned upside down when he attempts to prey on three badass ladies out joyriding in a 1969 Dodge Charger. This turns out to be one stunt that even Stuntman Mike can’t pull off. (Chris Coffel)

6. Breakdown (1997)

We’ve known for a long time, thanks to the scientists at the Walt Disney Center for Science n’ Stuff, that any film is unavoidably improved by the presence of Kurt Russell. It’s hard not to love the guy even when he’s playing a corrupt cop ( Dark Blue ), a sleazy salesman ( Used Cars ), or a guy who tricks a woman into thinking she’s his wife and mother to his children ( Overboard ). If we love him as those characters, imagine the power he wields when playing a truly good guy?

Jonathan Mostow ‘s still under-appreciated Breakdown presents us with just such a scenario as Russell plays a man whose wife is abducted while on a road trip across the American Midwest. Think a more energetic, suspenseful, and crowd-pleasing take on The Vanishing  and you’ll be in the ballpark as to what this top-notch thriller has to offer. Russell becomes a man possessed by the need to find his wife, and his quest sends him through all manner of chase scenes, brushes with the law, and violent exchanges.

Mostow crafts and captures it all with an eye for — and an appreciation of — practical effects and stunt work. This is an exciting action film that’ll keep your pulse up for the duration, and Russell is joined by the equally talented Kathleen Quinlan as his wife and the late, great J.T. Walsh as the man behind the abduction. It is stellar entertainment and an absolutely thrilling slice of road trip horror. (Rob Hunter)

Related Topics: 31 Days of Horror Lists , Horror

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Road Trip Horror Movies

Have you heard all of these Road Trip Horror Movies? We think you'll find some new movies. Here are 25 of the best ones.

The Shining (1980)

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers Rated R

The Shining is a psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. It stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker of an isolated hotel in the Rocky Mountains. Jack, his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son Danny (Danny Lloyd) move into the haunted hotel, and soon Danny begins to experience supernatural phenomena, including telepathy and encounters with a malicious entity known as the Grady twins. As Jack's mental state deteriorates, Wendy and Danny attempt to escape the evil forces that haunt the hotel. The Shining is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made, and its iconic imagery and themes have become ingrained in popular culture.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

From Tobe Hooper, starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain Rated R

Doctor Sleep (2019)

From Mike Flanagan, starring Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis Rated R

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

From Rob Zombie, starring Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, William Forsythe Rated R

Road Games (1981)

From Richard Franklin, starring Stacy Keach, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marion Edward, Grant Page Rated PG

Sightseers (2012)

From Ben Wheatley, starring Alice Lowe, Kenneth Hadley, Steve Oram, Eileen Davies Rated Not Rated

Silent Hill (2006)

From Christophe Gans, starring Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Deborah Kara Unger Rated R

The Endless (2017)

From Directors: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, starring Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Callie Hernandez, Tate Ellington Rated Not Rated

The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

From Alexandre Aja, starring Ted Levine, Kathleen Quinlan, Dan Byrd, Emilie de Ravin Rated R

Phantasm II (1988)

From Don Coscarelli, starring James Le Gros, Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm, Paula Irvine Rated R

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

From Victor Salva, starring Gina Philips, Justin Long, Jonathan Breck, Patricia Belcher Rated R

Wolf Creek (2005)

From Greg McLean, starring Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi, John Jarratt Rated R

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

From Marcus Nispel, starring Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski, Erica Leerhsen Rated R

Wolf Creek 2 (2013)

From Greg McLean, starring John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn, Philippe Klaus Rated Not Rated

Splinter (2008)

From Toby Wilkins, starring Shea Whigham, Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Charles Baker Rated R

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

From Rob Zombie, starring Sid Haig, Karen Black, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie Rated R

Southbound (2015)

From Directors: Roxanne Benjamin, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Tyler Gillett, Patrick Horvath, Justin Martinez, Radio Silence, Chad Villella, starring Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Kristina Pesic, Fabianne Therese Rated R

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

From Jonathan Liebesman, starring Jordana Brewster, Matt Bomer, Diora Baird, Taylor Handley Rated R

Children of the Corn (1984)

From Fritz Kiersch, starring Peter Horton, Linda Hamilton, R.G. Armstrong, John Franklin Rated R

Downrange (2017)

From Ryûhei Kitamura, starring Kelly Connaire, Stephanie Pearson, Rod Hernandez, Anthony Kirlew Rated Not Rated

Sinister 2 (2015)

From Ciarán Foy, starring James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, Robert Daniel Sloan, Dartanian Sloan Rated R

Random Acts of Violence (2019)

From Jay Baruchel, starring Jesse Williams, Jordana Brewster, Jay Baruchel, Simon Northwood Rated Not Rated

Riding the Bullet (2004)

From Mick Garris, starring Jonathan Jackson, David Arquette, Barbara Hershey, Cliff Robertson Rated R

Willow Creek (2013)

From Bobcat Goldthwait, starring Alexie Gilmore, Bryce Johnson, Laura Montagna, Bucky Sinister Rated Not Rated

Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

From Jeff Burr, starring Kate Hodge, Ken Foree, R.A. Mihailoff, William Butler Rated R

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10 Terrifying Road Trip Horror Movies

Some of the least-appreciated horror movies are those that take place on the road.

The horror genre is one of the most expansive genres in film. Humans are frightened or disturbed by such a wide variety of elements that gives horror filmmakers much to work with. Sure, many horror films set out simply to scare their viewers in the moment, but a horror film has the ability to affect the viewer long after the movie has finished. Horror can be fascinating because it explores what scares us, why something scares us, and the reasons why some people like to incite fear. There are numerous subgenres of horror that explore these themes differently, such as slasher movies or movies about cults.

The horror genre does indeed cover many forms of horror, but one of the lesser-appreciated horror movie types would be those that take place on the road. Road trips perhaps initially do not come across as something that would instill fear or terror in a person. Most of us get in a car almost every day whether it is to travel short or long distances. We may subconsciously think about the risks of getting in the car, but most of us are not actively thinking about getting into an accident.

When traveling long distances, many people will opt to drive to their destination rather than fly because it is typically cheaper or because they have a fear of flying. Most of us can admit, however, it is a bit eerie to be driving through a rural part of the country we're unfamiliar with. The fear of the unknown is something that horror movies feed into and when we're on the road, we don't truly know what we may encounter. Here are ten terrifying road trip horror movies that will make you think twice about getting into a car:

Related: 10 Slasher Horror Movies with Perfect Killer Reveals

10 Road Games (1981)

Set in the open roads of the Australian outback, Road Games follows a laid-back American truck driver named Pat Quid (Stacy Keach) who is driving across southern Australia and suspects that the driver of a green van may be killing young women along his route. Convinced that he is witnessing a serial killer in action after his latest hitchhiker Pamela (Jamie Lee Curtis) disappears, Pat embarks on a quest to stop the driver, causing a cat-and-mouse game between the two to ensue. While the movie overall may not be considered scary by seasoned horror fans, the concept of being captured and murdered while traveling on the road is quite terrifying. There is a reason we are all warned about the dangers of hitchhiking, especially while alone, and this movie is sure to make anyone reconsider their hitchhiking plans.

9 Race with the Devil (1975)

Starring Peter Fonda and Warren Oates, this '70s action horror film follows two couples vacationing together in an RV on a road trip from Texas to Colorado. During a camping stop in Texas, both couples witness a horrific Satanic ritual that results in murder. After witnessing the brutal act, the Satanists make it their mission to chase down the four friends, and they find themselves terrorized by the cult members. Race with the Devil plays into the idea of not knowing what you may find while on the road. These couples were looking forward to an idyllic ski vacation in the Colorado mountains and wound up in a fight for their lives against a murderous cult bent on hiding any evidence of their crimes.

8 Final Destination 2 (2003)

There are not many films that have traumatized the millennial and Gen Z generations the way the Final Destination franchise has. Tanning beds, roller coasters, laser eye surgery, and elevators are just a few of the things that this franchise has made people terrified of over the years.

In Final Destination 2 , Kimberly Corman (A.J. Cook) is driving herself and her friends to Daytona Beach for spring break. As she is about to get onto the highway, Kimberly has a premonition about a multi-car pile up that would have taken place if she didn't block traffic. Horrified when the accident happens anyway, she makes a connection with her premonition and the Flight 180 crash that happened exactly one year prior. She discovers that Death's pattern has been disrupted, and now she and the other supposed car crash victims will die in separate freak accidents. This sequel features some of the most horrifically gory deaths in the franchise, including the infamous log truck scene, and plenty of vehicle explosions and malfunctions. It is definitely not a movie anyone would want to watch right before a road trip.

7 Wrong Turn (2003)

Two groups of people on two separate road trips are left stranded deeps in the woods of West Virginia after they crash into each other on a quiet back road. As they venture deeper into the woods, the unlikely group find themselves facing a bloodcurdling fate.

Wrong Turn is a slasher film that is very loosely based on the supposedly "true" story of a Scottish cannibal named Sawney Bean. After the two groups join forces, they realize that each of their road trips have been sabotaged at the hands of sinister inbreds living deep within the mountains. The group tries to outsmart the skilled hunters in order to make it back to civilization after three of the mountain men show up to the cabin they thought was abandoned with the bodies of their friends. Wrong Turn is terrifying simply because the events are plausible. Anyone can become stranded in the woods or on rural back roads without another way of getting out. There really are people out there who live secluded from the rest of us that, to a lesser extent, may behave like this.

6 Children of the Corn (1984)

Based on the book by literary horror master Stephen King , Children of the Corn will leave you a nervous wreck the next time you are around children. Vicky (Linda Hamilton) and Burt Peter Horton) are a young couple on their way to Seattle when they drive through the small town of Gatlin, Nebraska and accidentally hit a child with their car. They seek out help, so they can report the accident, but discover that the town has been abandoned for over three years. Now, it is run by a cult of religious children who believe that anyone over the age of 18 must die. Lead by boy preacher Isaac (John Franklin), the disturbing children worship a corn god they refer to as He Who Walks Behind the Rows. The special effects may be outdated almost 40 years later, but it will make you weary of two things: young children and getting stuck in a small town you have never heard of before.

Related: The 10 Best Horror Movies Based on Short Stories

5 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Nearly 50 years after its release, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most notable horror franchises in existence and Leatherface has become an iconic slasher villain. The original film begins with a group of friends in the mid-70s traveling through rural Texas in a van to check on the grave of Sally's (Marilyn Burns) grandfather. The friends pick up a rather strange hitchhiker along the way who proves to be sinister. After stopping at a roadside gas station for some food, the teenagers find themselves in the secluded home of a family of ritualistic cannibals who force them into a never-ending nightmare of blood and violence.

TTCSM shows the dark consequences of picking up strangers on the road and what can happen if you stop to rest at a random, seemingly abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. The film's infamous final shot shows Sally, now a hitchhiker herself, in the back of a stranger's pickup truck laughing manically as she's covered in blood after escaping the freakish Leatherface.

4 Near Dark (1987)

Directed by Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, Near Dark is a vampire thriller that features a young drifter who belongs to a coven of nomadic vampires. At the end of a date, Mae (Jenny Wright) turns mid-western farm boy Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) into a bloodsucking vampire who now must prove himself to her coven or be killed. Led by the merciless Severin (Bill Paxton), the group of vampires roam the highways at night in stolen cars and wreak havoc on roadside bars and taverns. The film infuses classic western themes with vampire storytelling to create wild horror film that takes the viewer on an endless nightmare of a road trip.

3 The Hitcher (1986)

Yet another horror movie that should discourage anyone from hitchhiking, The Hitcher stars C. Thomas Howell as Jim Halsey, a young man driving from Chicago to San Diego. Bored during his trip, he picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer) in West Texas. Almost immediately after introducing himself, John pulls a knife on Jim and threatens him before Jim is able to forcibly remove him from his car. Jim is then relentlessly pursued by John who frames Jim for a string of murders he committed.

The Hitcher leans more toward a thriller than a straight-up horror movie, but the concept is still horrifying. Being hunted down by an actual serial killer while on the run from law enforcement that believe you are actually the criminal is an awful situation that absolutely no one would want to find themselves in.

Ti West's incredibly popular slasher breakout X pays homage to the slashers and horror films that came before it while also creating something completely unique . The A24 film draws similarities to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with its rural Texas setting and group of young friends on a long road-trip. They even stay at a farm house property that is similar to the property in TTCSM . The similarities start to dissipate as the group starts to interact with their hosts, and it becomes more apparent that this gruesome elderly couple is up to no good. The youngsters are in town to film a rather graphic adult film, and their aging hosts simply can't handle it. Fueled by pure jealousy and envy that they are no longer young and attractive, the couple wages war on the filmmakers. Things would have gone a lot smoother if they perhaps filmed at a hotel rather than a pair of stranger's farm house.

1 The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Possibly the ultimate road trip horror movie, horror icon Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes follows the Carter family on a road trip in an RV on the way to California. The family accidentally passes through an air testing zone that is closed off to the public, resulting in them being stranded out in the Nevada desert. When their dog runs off and doesn't come back, the Carters meet a deranged family of cannibals who live in the deserted desert hills. The Carters are subjected to pain and suffering at the hands of these psychopathic recluses who have not immersed themselves in modern society.

Similar to Wrong Turn , The Hills Have Eyes is frightening because the events that take place in the film, while unlikely, are still plausible. There are few things more nerve-wracking than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no way of escaping. Mix in the addition of sinister cannibals and you have a concoction made for nightmares.

10 Road Movies d’horreur oubliés mais a voir absolument

Last Updated on 18 mai 2020 by Frere Yannick

La route n’est pas toujours un symbole de liberté et de possibilité. Dans de nombreux films d’horreur, cela mène directement à la mort. Alors que le road trip est un style commun dans le genre : pensez au Massacre à la Tronçonneuse ou à The Hitcher certains des films qui explorent ce thème sont tombés malheuresement dans l’obscurité.

Cette liste rend hommage aux films d’horreur de voyage sur une route perdus au fil du temps. Les 10 films ci-dessous sont classés d’après mes gouts personnel. Bouclez votre ceinture de sécurité, comme on dit. Ce sera une course infernale sur la route de la pellicule.

01 : Death Valley (1982)

Peter Billingsley de A Christmas Story  joue un curieux gamin voyageant de Californie en Arizona avec sa maman et son nouveau petit ami dans ce film slasher sur quatre roues. Après avoir découvert une scène de meurtre dans Death Valley, le personnage de Billingsley Billy devient la cible du coupable qui est un tueur de cow-boy.

Death Valley présente d’autres acteurs classiques des années 80 comme Wilford Brimley . Malgré son récit non original, les paysages désertiques et le jeu stellaire divertiront tous les fans d’horreur.

02 : Nuits de cauchemars (1980)

Motel Hell est une horreur comique à petit budget à son meilleur. Une arnaque sans vergogne du massacre à la tronçonneuse Texan, ce film se concentre sur un fermier fou nommé Vincent qui vit dans une ferme et dirige Motel Hello. Au lieu de bétail, de légumes ou de fruits, Vincent récolte les humains.

Vincent cible les gens qui traversent la ville, tirent sur leurs pneus ou mettent des barrières sur la route pour s’assurer qu’ils ne peuvent pas passer. Avec sa sœur Ida, Vincent enterre littéralement ses victimes jusqu’au cou jusqu’à ce qu’elles soient «mûres» pour la cueillette. Il s’avère que l’ingrédient secret des célèbres viandes fumées de Vincent sont les voyageurs.

03 : Bienvenue en enfer (1991)

Bienvenue en enfer est un récit déjanté du mythe classique d’Orphée, un homme qui doit descendre en enfer pour sauver son amour. Chad Lowe : oui, le frère de Rob Lowe   et Kristy Swanson jouent le rôle d’un couple qui décide de s’enfuir à Las Vegas. En chemin, le personnage de Swanson, Rachel, est kidnappé par un rejeton de Beezlebub.

Le personnage de Lowe, Charlie, est obligé de voyager directement en enfer pour sauver sa fille. Malheureusement, Satan lui-même prend goût à Rachel et la choisit comme épouse.

04 : Splinter (2008)

Splinter est une expérience d’horreur multicouche. Après qu’un couple en escapade romantique ait été piraté par un autre couple, les quatre se retrouvent à chercher refuge dans une station-service abandonnée après avoir renversé un animal mystérieux.

Il s’avère que les éclats étranges qui sont sortis de l’animal sont les signes d’une infection virale contagieuse résultant d’un organisme inconnu et mortel. Ces quatre personnages  interprétés par Shea Whigham , Jill Wagner , Paulo Costanzo et Rachel Curbs deviennent rapidement affectés par la contagieuse. Il s’ensuit beaucoup d’horreurs corporelles de dingue.

05 : Le Piège (1979)

Le Piège (Tourist Trap) est un film spécial, qui se distingue des autres slashers décalés des années 80 en raison de la performance centrale du célèbre acteur de télévision Chuck Connors . Le film s’ouvre au format standard: un groupe de jeunes voyageurs attrayants se retrouve bloqué après avoir crevé. Ils finissent par tomber sur l’attraction routière en titre – une maison de mannequins  mais il s’avère que c’est une maison d’horreur dirigée par le personnage de Connors, M. Slausen.

Connors donne une performance folle à la fois comme M. Slausen et le tueur masqué qui traque le groupe. le film comprend également des éléments surnaturels époustouflants qui portent son récit effrayant et son cadre au niveau supérieur.

06 : Course contre l’enfer (1975)

Course contre l’enfer est un film d’action-horreur hybride conçu pour le visionnement sur grand écran. Il met en vedette Peter Fonda , Warren Oates , Loretta Swift et Lara Parker . Ces acteurs jouent une paire de couples caravaniers du Texas qui tombent sur un culte au milieu d’un sacrifice humain.

Lorsque les couples signalent ce qu’ils ont vu à la police, il n’y a pas suffisamment de preuves pour corroborer leur histoire. Alors qu’ils poursuivent leur chemin, le culte les retrouvent, culminant dans une bataille de véhicules fous sur la route. Le filma été un succès dès sa sortie, mais il est finalement tombé dans l’obscurité.

07 : Déviation mortelle (1981)

Déviation mortelle met en scène Jamie Lee Curtis , la dernière fille de l’horreur. Ce conte hitchcockien  se déroulant en Australie  voit Curtis jouer un jeune auto-stoppeur qui fait équipe avec un chauffeur de camion joué par Stacy Keach . Leur objectif: capturer un tueur en série qui assassine brutalement des femmes.

Le tueur vise des auto-stoppeuses comme son personnage Pamela, et elle accepte de servir d’appât afin de traduire le tueur en justice. Le résultat est une prise de suspense et de tension dans ce film slasher.

08 : Kalifornia (1993)

Kalifornia met en vedette certains des acteurs hollywoodiens les plus attrayants qui séduisent le public dans les années 90: Brad Pitt , Juliette Lewis , David Duchovny et Michelle Forbes . Duchovny et Forbes jouent un couple de journaliste-photographe voyageant à travers le pays pour étudier les tueurs en série.

Pitt et Lewis jouent un couple faisant du covoiturage qui les rejoignent lors de leur voyage. Le personnage de Pitt Early est un fou psychopathe qui pousse le reste du casting dans des actes d’horreur injustifiables. 

09 : Breakdown (1997)

Breakdown explore la peur la plus facile à vivre de chaque road trip en voyage: tomber en panne au milieu de nulle part. Kurt Russell et Kathleen Quinan jouent un couple, Taylor et Amy, dont la voiture tombe en panne au Nouveau-Mexique après avoir failli entrer en collision avec un conducteur fou.

Un chauffeur de camion du nom de Red s’arrête pour les aider et leur propose de conduire Amy au restaurant à quelques kilomètres de là. Taylor reste avec la voiture, mais Amy et Red ne reviennent jamais. Les circonstances cauchemardesques de Taylor se sont encore aggravées alors qu’il fait face au fait que quelqu’un a kidnappé sa femme.

10 : Duel (1971)

Duel est un long métrage canonique axé sur la vengeance, réalisé par nul autre que Steven Speilberg . Ce film conçu pour la télévision raconte l’histoire terrifiante de ce qui se passe lorsqu’un conducteur de voiture décide de dépasser un 18 roues sur un tronçon isolé d’une route de Californie.

Écrit par l’icône d’horreur Richard Matheson , Duel met en vedette Dennis Weaver dans le rôle du banlieusard pris dans un jeu de chat et de souris avec un monstrueux camion-remorque à essence. Le monstre menaçant du film est un Peterbilt 281 .

By Frere Yannick

Grand passionné de Films d'horreur et fantastique depuis des décennies Rédacteur, Critique, Webmaster ainsi que de la création de futurs projets et évènements ayant rapport avec le cinéma d'horreur en Belgique .

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25 Essential Road Trip Movies of the Last 25 Years

We’re looking down the horizon and beyond for some of the best road trip movies that defined the genre over the last 25 years! To rev up this list, we selected American movies movies, journeys that begin in the States (where they actually finish is part of the fun). The movies celebrate the sights and sounds of the country, or at least will inspire you to pull out that camping gear, putting the convertible top down, and hitting the open road. These rides can be cross-county ( Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle ), on the freeway ( Dog , Sideways ), trekking across a few state lines ( Little Miss Sunshine , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ), hitting a new time zone ( Road Trip ), or even runnin’ coast-to-coast ( Rat Race , Transamerica ). Even the Academy has felt the need for reasonable speed, awarding Best Picture to both Green Book and Nomadland . Carpool lane? Of course: we’ve got an Oscar strapped in the passenger seat!

So whether you’re looking for a map to a long summer drive or fixing a flat in your life, turn to these essential 25 road trip movies of the last 25 years (in chronological order)!

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) 50%

The Straight Story (1999) 94%

Tumbleweeds (1999) 82%

Almost Famous (2000) 91%

Road Trip (2000) 57%

Rat Race (2001) 45%

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) 75%

Sideways (2004) 97%

Transamerica (2005) 77%

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) 91%

Cars (2006) 75%

Zombieland (2009) 89%

Away We Go (2009) 67%

Paul (2011) 70%

We're the Millers (2013) 48%

Chef (2014) 87%

Grandma (2015) 91%

Mississippi Grind (2015) 91%

Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016) 83%

Green Book (2018) 77%

Nomadland (2020) 93%

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) 97%

Bad Trip (2021) 79%

Dog (2022) 77%

Joy Ride (2023) 90%

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13 Best Road Trip Movies on Netflix (March 2024)

Road trip movies often send out a deeper message than just going from point A to B. They depict transformations of those who embark on them and also stress immensely the value of the journey a lot more than the final destination. We understand the value of road trips for you. We also understand that, at times, a little push is needed to get the courage to leave behind everything for a while and go on one. However, there are also road trip movies that incorporate a different genre, like thriller or action or action thriller. In such movies, the plot is underscored by the trip, but that doesn’t dampen the theme and the emotions of the story, which is what the following movies capture.

13. Bad Trip (2021)

‘Bad Trip’ is a hilarious comedy road movie that will surely have you falling out of your chair in laughter. Chris Carey (Eric André) and Bud Malone (Lil Rel Howery) are two friends who are completely dissatisfied with the direction their lives have taken. Stuck at dead-end jobs with no progress or promotion, the two yearn for even the slightest bit of excitement. However, when Chris unexpectedly comes across his high-school crush, Maria Li, the friends decide to set out on a road trip from Florida to New York City so that Chris can win her over. Thus, the friends then steal a car and set out on a trip that ensues one hilarious incident after the other, while unbeknownst to them, Bud’s sister, the actual owner of the car, appears hot on their trail. You can check out the film here .

12. End of the Road (2022)

Directed by Millicent Shelton, ‘ End of the Road ’ is a sinister take on a road trip movie. Starring Queen Latifah and Ludacris, it tells the story of Brenda, her two kids, and her brother Reggie, whose cross-country road trip across the New Mexico desert to a new place for a new job (after losing her old one) and a new life, goes haywire. A halt on the way makes them witnesses to a murder, following which the killer puts them in his crosshair. Moreover, Reggie takes something from the crime scene that belongs to the killer, something that is a huge mistake, and Brenda knows it. How she and her family get rid of this maniac is what follows in this high-octane road trip thriller. You can stream the movie here .

11. Dirty Grandpa (2016)

‘Dirty Grandpa’ reveals the fun/casual side of Robert De Niro, who stars as Dick, the grandfather to Zac Efron’s Jason Kelly, who is a lawyer and is about to be married. Dick has just lost his wife and wants to have all the fun he couldn’t in the last 15 years or so. So when Jason takes him on a Spring Break road trip to Florida, he unlocks the raunchy side of himself that Jason had no idea existed. Directed by Dan Mazer, the ‘Dirty Grandpa’ cast also includes Zoey Deutch as Jason’s classmate Shadia, Aubrey Plaza as Shadia’s friend Lenore, and Julianne Hough as Jason’s fiancée Meredith. The exploits of the grandpa-grandson duo are what ‘Dirty Grandpa’ is made up of, and it’s a fun riot. You can be a part of it right here .

10. Kodachrome (2017)

Matt, played by Jason Sudeikis, is often overshadowed by his father’s reputation as a famous photojournalist. Upon finding that he has cancer, Matt’s father’s last wish is to go on a road trip with his son from New York to Kansas to get his last few Kodachromes developed before it’s too late and the memories get lost in unprocessed films. The movie will bring back some pleasant memories to those who once used Kodachromes for taking pictures with Kodak cameras before the company went bankrupt and shut down completely. The film is very predictable overall, but that’s how most road-trip feel-good kind of movies are, right? We do not watch them for a predictable storyline. We watch them for the whole positive vibe that the movie gives out to touch us and, at times, even inspire us deeply. You may watch the film here .

Read More: Best Space Movies on Netflix

9. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

Put the Antman star, Paul Rudd , in any film, and he’ll surely give you a great performance and some hilarious jokes to remember. ‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ is one such film where Paul Rudd plays the role of a writer who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. To recover from that, he decides to become a caregiver. This is when he meets an angry and frustrated teenager who has never left his home because of his disability. During the journey, the two get close and get a deeper understanding of friendship and aspiration. This movie is a pure entertainer when you’re in a feel-good kind of mood and will make you laugh and cry at the same time. You can watch it here .

Read More: Most Disturbing Movies on Netflix

8. Seventeen (2019)

‘Seventeen,’ also known as ‘Diecisiete’ in Spanish , follows Hector, a spirited and lively 17-year-old who has been confined to a juvenile detention center for two years. While most believe that Hector is a spoilt teen with no regard for rules, he does have a kind heart and even befriends a dog named Oveja while on a visit to an animal rescue center. Hector appears intent on working towards his freedom and becoming a better person. However, things go haywire once Oveja goes missing, and Hector, fraught with concern, breaks out of prison to search for the missing dog. Surprisingly, the 17-year-old’s loved ones support such a venture, and Hector, along with his brother, Isamel, and their grandmother, soon embarks on a road trip through the Spanish region of Cantabria. You can stream ‘Seventeen’ here .

7. The Trader (2018)

As the title suggests, ‘The Trader’ (Georgian: ‘Sovdagari’) is a documentary that follows a poor traveling trader living in poverty and selling his wares in the rural Republic of Georgia. His travels take him to remote corners of the country and provide an authentic sneak peek into the daily lives of the people from that part of the region. The documentary even portrays previously unheard practices like using potatoes as the only unit of currency. For fans who are curious to know more about different cultures and people from around the globe, ‘The Trader’ will surely be an eye-opening experience. You can stream the film here .

6. Expedition Happiness (2017)

Travel documentaries are a joy to sit through, and ‘Expedition Happiness’ satisfies every craving in that regard as it follows filmmaker Felix Starck and his then-girlfriend Selima Taibi on a road trip across North America. Felix and Selima originally hail from Berlin, Germany , but soon grew tired of the big city with its highrises, noisy traffic, and congestion. Thus, longing for fresh air, a change in scenery, and new experiences, the pair obtain and refurbish a school bus before setting out on an epic road trip across North America along with their dog. Filmed by the pair themselves, ‘Expedition Happiness’ provides a fresh take on North America and can easily be considered a must-watch. You may watch it here .

5. Dhak Dhak (2023)

A Bollywood drama directed by Tarun Dudeja, ‘Dhak Dhak’ brings together four women from different social lifestyles and age groups. Together, they set off on a bike trip to Ladakh, India, a place that is considered the highest mountain pass in the world and can be reached by vehicle. The journey also becomes a spiritual one as each experience brings about new realizations, thereby adding to the meaning of life and what it means to be free. The film stars Dia Mirza, Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi. You can watch it here .

4. 4L (2019)

‘4L,’ known popularly as ‘4 latas’ in Spanish, revolves around Tocho, an alcoholic with bad manners, and Jean Pierre, a past womanizer who still reminisces about his glory days. The film opens with Tocho reading a letter that informs him about his old friend, Joseba, who is seemingly on his deathbed in Timbuktu. The letter makes Tocho realize what he has lost, and soon, he makes up his mind to meet his friend before his death. On top of it, the two also plan on taking Joseba’s estranged daughter, Ely, to her father. Interestingly, apart from agreeing to the trip at a moment’s notice, Ely even provides the men with an old 1982 Renault, the same car the three friends had once used to cross the desert. Thus, they embark on a massive road trip from Paris to Timbuktu while being surrounded by fond memories. Moreover, even though the experiences they have on the road change their outlook on life, the film ultimately teaches us the value of friendship, family, and love. You can watch ‘4L’ here .

3. Qarib Qarib Single (2017)

A Hindi-language Bollywood feel-good rom-com directed by Tanuja Chandra, ‘Qarib Qarib Single’ stars Irrfan Khan and Parvathy Thiruvothu. When two strangers meet via an online dating platform, it’s usually a date that decides whether they will agree to go on further dates with each other. For Jaya (a 35-year-old widow) and Yogi (a not-that-famous poet), it is an adventure that decides it. After some humorous experiences, the two decide to go and visit Yogi’s three ex-girlfriends. Thus begins a memorable trip for our duo as well as for us. From Dehradun to Jaipur to Gangtok, the journey is full of humor, confusion, and humor-filled confusion and ends in a perfect manner. Stop guessing, as you can stream the film right here .

2. Paddleton (2019)

A road trip meets the trip of life in this comedy-drama directed by Alexandre Lehmann. It tells the story of two misfits/neighbors/best friends, Michael and Andy, between whom Michael is diagnosed with terminal cancer . With six months to live, Michael, accompanied by a reluctant Andy, set off on a 6-hour drive to the nearest pharmacy that has the required meds. Their experiences during the journey, which throw light on their friendship and the reality of life in general, make ‘Paddleton’ an enriching road trip movie. The cast includes Mark Duplass as Michael, Ray Romano as Andy, Kadeem Hardison, Christine Woods, Stephen Oyoung, Marguerite Moreau, and Alana Carithers. Feel free to check out the movie here .

1. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Directed by Zoya Akhtar, ‘ Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ’ is an Indian Hindi-language movie that tells the story of three friends who come together after a long time when one of them gets engaged. The bachelor trip that follows folds out into a buffet of experiences, both physically and emotionally, as the lives of all three begin to reveal themselves. Pain, regret, fear, mistakes, love, happiness, and insecurities take center stage and address the title of the movie, which translates to ‘Life never happens twice.’ The cast includes Farhan Akhtar , Hrithik Roshan , and Abhay Deol as the three friends, along with Katrina Kaif , Kalki Koechlin , Naseeruddin Shah , and Deepti Naval. You may watch the film here .

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'Ahsoka' Finally Shows the True Horrors of the Clone Wars

Episode 5 looks into the past of the titular character, played by Rosario Dawson.

The Big Picture

• The Ahsoka television series sheds light on how the Jedi Order's practice of taking children from their families for their strong connection to the Force was wrong and contributed to their downfall.
• In "Shadow Warrior," Ahsoka revisits memories from her time as a Jedi, gaining a new perspective on being taken from her family and the tragedies she experienced at a young age.
• Ahsoka seeks to train Sabine Wren with a focus on embracing emotions and channeling them in a way that won't lead to destructive outcomes, aiming to fix the mistakes of the Jedi Order and prevent the return of the Empire under Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Ever since Star Wars: The Clone Wars premiered in 2008, Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein ) was excited about having the possibility of saving the galaxy alongside Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter ). But the live-action Ahsoka television series shows a new perspective to the protagonist's adventures as a young girl , by showing how the Jedi Order was wrong in taking children away from their families only for the fact that they had a strong connection to the Force. The keepers of the peace planted the seeds for their own downfall with the practices they placed upon the galaxy for centuries.

After the fall of the Galactic Empire, former Jedi Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

'Ahsoka' Episode 5 Offers a Trip Down Memory Lane

The fifth episode of the Ahsoka television series, titled "Shadow Warrior," was special for the protagonist of the story (played by Rosario Dawson as an adult) because of how it allowed her to visit some memories from her early years as a Jedi. Her own memories of her former Master (with Hayden Christensen returning as Anakin Skywalker ) took her back to some of the biggest battles she had to face while living through the Clone Wars . But as Ahsoka continued to go from one place to another, she realized a number of things about herself, about Anakin, and about the system she grew up in.

Ariana Greenblatt played a younger version of Ahsoka , as the adult consciousness of the character saw her memories through the appearance she had when they took place. Since she had an entire lifetime of experiences after she had to part ways with Anakin, Ahsoka already had an entirely new perspective about the fact that she was taken from her family when she was only a toddler, without any choice regarding her recruitment into a war where countless clone troopers died in front of her eyes while she was still extremely young.

After the events of Star Wars: Rebels , Ahsoka turned out to be a very wise adult, constantly listening to her connection to the Force to figure out what she's supposed to do next. She had to find the strength within herself to move on from the tragedies she lived through at such a young age, including the fact that the adults who were supposed to be taking care of her didn't believe her when faced with strong accusations of betrayal during her final days in the Jedi temple.

Two Jedi Generations Face the Same Problem

While Ahsoka struggled a lot to adjust as an adult after being taken by the Jedi Order when she was a child, her master also suffered the grave consequences of how the keepers of the peace used to operate . As seen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Anakin couldn't grow up as a normal teenager while in the middle of a war. By being away from his mother, the only example he saw of how to process emotions was from the very serious, slightly unhealthy Jedi who only wanted him in the first place because of a misguided prophecy .

And this upbringing was what would eventually lead Anakin to fall into the grasp of Darth Sidious ( Ian McDiarmid ), effectively turning him into the evil Darth Vader . The only thing Anakin ever wanted was to form a family with Padmé Amidala ( Natalie Portman ). But the young man grew up without any close friends of his age, or any early romances that could've helped him process what would come after. Instead, he was turned into a confused soldier without any sense of responsibility, and the entire galaxy would suffer because of it. Fortunately, it looks like his padawan learned how to deal with it in a much more healthy way.

When Ahsoka saw her master once again in the television series, they had an honest conversation about the galaxy he had left behind him when he died during the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi . Since Ahsoka was more like Anakin than she cared to admit, she was afraid his turn towards the Dark Side could mean she was headed towards a similar fate . Anakin Skywalker was always going to be Darth Vader, even if he was redeemed in the end. But could Ahsoka be anything more than someone who had to serve in the war against the Separatist Army?

Ahsoka Tries to Fix the Mistakes of Her Past

By this point, it's clear that the Jedi Order did plenty of damage by dragging children into the conflict that would bring the ultimate collapse of the Republic. But the entire franchise has done a great job of displaying how different people reacted to building a life for themselves after the conflict. Ahsoka is no longer an apprentice. She's a Master, and she has to train Sabine Wren ( Natasha Liu Bordizzo ) if she has any hope of stopping the remnants of the Empire from taking over the galaxy once more.

But what Anakin's former apprentice is trying to do is give Sabine everything she wishes the Jedi Order could've offered her when she was younger. Ahsoka's teachings aren't about denying Sabine's emotions and forcing her to mindlessly join an army. Ahsoka wants her apprentice to learn how to channel those emotions to guide her path without leading her into an irrational crusade similar to the one Anakin fell victim to. The horrors of the Clone Wars and the failure of the Jedi Order allowed Ahsoka to become a better person, as she trains the future of the Force while on a very special mission.

The galaxy faces the emerging threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn ( Lars Mikkelsen ) , who has made a comeback after disappearing during the final episodes of Rebels . Ahsoka knows how dangerous the villain can be, and that his return would allow his leadership skills to establish a new version of the Empire. But the fight is not over, and since Ahsoka is passing on her knowledge to Sabine without the expectations of the Jedi Order on her shoulders, the heroes will be stronger than ever, perhaps allowing them to get rid of the military leader once and for all as the series continues .

Ahsoka is streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.

WATCH ON DISNEY+