Chilling Cabin Horror Films You Might Have Overlooked

      Casey Chong ventures deep into the woods to highlight a selection of overlooked creepy cabin horror films you might not have seen…

      The cabin-in-the-woods motif has been a frequent element in horror films, and it’s easy to see why it continues to be popular. This setting creates limited environments that inspire fear, tension, and dread in secluded locations. Iconic cabin-in-the-woods films like The Evil Dead and its sequel, alongside others such as Cabin Fever, Misery, and The Cabin in the Woods, have long dominated the horror genre. However, several cabin horror films unfortunately remain less known; here are six lesser-recognized titles you may have missed…

      **247°F (2011)**

      Produced with a budget of $650,000, Beqa Jguburia and Levan Bakhia’s directorial debut presents a gripping premise: what if you found yourself trapped in a sauna within a cabin, the temperature rising to unbearable levels? This is precisely the fate of three friends—Jenna (Scout Taylor-Compton), Renee (Christina Ulloa), and Ian (Travis Van Winkle)—when their weekend getaway at a lake house turns into a terrifying ordeal.

      **247°F** primarily focuses on creeping dread and psychological tension, rather than typical gore. The confined sauna setting creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia. The film also introduces red herrings, like references to a pagan festival, hinting at potential folk-horror themes.

      **Black Mountain Side (2014)**

      This lesser-known Canadian indie horror captures the unsettling atmospheres of isolation and paranoia akin to John Carpenter’s **The Thing**. The narrative centers on scientists stationed at a remote Arctic outpost where they uncover enigmatic ancient structures hidden in the snow. Much like **The Thing**, writer-director Nick Szostakiwskyj employs a slow-burn storytelling technique to heighten tension. As paranoia creeps in, the scientists face inexplicable occurrences one by one.

      Despite its meager budget, Szostakiwskyj effectively utilizes available resources to create genuinely chilling and even gruesome scenes. The film's atmospheric cinematography accentuates the cabin fever and haunting claustrophobia they experience in a frigid, isolated environment devoid of outside communication. The characters are confronted with the fear of the unknown, and the incomprehensible madness surrounding them contributes to a deeply unsettling cinematic experience.

      **What Keeps You Alive (2018)**

      **What Keeps You Alive** is a taut psychological thriller that follows Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson) and her new wife, Jules (Brittany Allen), during their visit to Jackie’s family cabin in the woods. What is intended to be a romantic retreat quickly devolves into a relentless game of cat and mouse.

      Kudos to writer-director Colin Minihan for crafting the dynamics of Jackie and Jules’ relationship, allowing viewers to grow comfortable with this seemingly perfect couple before delivering a shocking twist that escalates the tension to a breaking point. With strong performances from Anderson and Allen, the film deftly maintains suspense by merging psychological and survival horror, achieving engrossing results within its concise 98-minute runtime.

      **The Wind (2018)**

      Before Emma Tammi gained wider recognition directing **Five Nights at Freddy’s**, she made an impressive early mark with **The Wind**. This film merges Western and supernatural horror in the late 19th century, following Lizzy Macklin (Caitlin Gerard) and her husband, Isaac (Ashley Zukerman), who live in isolation in the New Mexican prairie. They soon befriend their neighbors, Emma (Julia Goldani Telles) and Gideon (Dylan McTee).

      The Wind's non-linear storytelling can be disorienting, requiring viewers to stay engaged with the plot. While this approach might seem like a gimmick, it effectively reflects Lizzy’s growing paranoia and solitude. The film raises questions about whether her extended isolation drives her to madness or if supernatural forces are at play. Tammi enhances the atmosphere and tension with an evocative sound design and careful use of silence.

      **Always Shine (2016)**

      Before Sophia Takal directed the ill-fated remake of **Black Christmas**, she crafted a stronger narrative in the low-budget indie **Always Shine** three years prior. The story revolves around two friends, Beth (Caitlin FitzGerald) and Anna (Mackenzie Davis), who escape to Big Sur for a weekend cabin retreat. Both are actresses, with Beth's career thriving while Anna struggles to find work.

      Their trip is meant to rekindle their friendship, but soon the atmosphere turns poisonous with rivalry and jealousy. The isolated cabin setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the escalating tension between Beth and Anna, with Mackenzie Davis delivering an engaging performance as Anna, whose growing envy towards Beth’s success makes her increasingly toxic and insecure.

      **The Ritual (2017)**

      **The Ritual** portrays a group of