The Best Survival Horror On Shudder

Survival horror has been around since the beginning of horror entertainment. In many ways, every horror movie owes its roots to this subgenre. The protagonist is trying to survive the killer whether it be a human, beast, or supernatural. The more brutal the better. I love to watch other people run for their lives. I realize that makes me a sadist, but it’s not real, so don’t judge. If you are reading this, you are one too. Here are the Best Survival Horror Movies On Shudder right now. If you are into other types of horror movies click here for all our Shudder lists.

The Ranger

After a run-in with the cops at a punk show goes sideways, Chelsea and her pals flee the city in search of a place to lay low. Running to the security of Chelsea’s old, abandoned family cabin in the woods, they fall under the watchful eye of an overzealous park ranger who holds a secret from Chelsea’s past. Set to the beat of a killer punk soundtrack (Fang, The Avengers, The Grim, Rotten UK and more) and presented in eye-popping neon colors, Jenn Wexler’s debut offers a modern take on survivalist horror that both celebrates and subverts the genre’s tropes with equal parts humor, glitter and gore. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. Contains strong language, violence and gore.

Cast: Chloë Levine, Granit Lahu, Bubba Weiler, Jeremy Pope, Amanda Grace Benitez

It’s punk rock, it’s survival, and it doesn’t give zero fucks if you don’t like it. I love that about it, and I love this movie. Director Jen Wexler is a rising star and I can’t wait to see what she brings next to the genre. Read our full review here and include this on your must-watch Best Of Survival Horror On Shudder this weekend.

Revenge

Jen is enjoying a romantic getaway with her wealthy boyfriend, which is suddenly disrupted when his sleazy friends arrive for an unannounced hunting trip. Tension mounts until the situation abruptly––and viciously––intensifies, culminating in a shocking act that leaves Jen left for dead. Unfortunately for her assailants, Jen survives and reemerges with a relentless, wrathful intent: revenge. A white-knuckle tale of transgression and transformation, REVENGE gloriously blurs the lines of vengeance and survival while delivering a ferocious dissection of gender and genre. Director Coralie Fargeat announces her stunning arrival, painting a crimson canvas of hypnotic beauty and bloody retribution in this razor-sharp feminist subversion of the revenge-thriller. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL.

Cast: Matilda Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe, Guillaume Bouchede, Jean-Louis Tribes

This is a brutal survival turned revenge story that is as satisfying as it gets. Male toxicity meets its match in this Shudder Original. It is more revenge horror than survival but Jen deserves some respect for surviving the first act of the film and turning the tables on her abusers. It’s a great movie on our 30 Best Horror Movies Every Woman Should See list.

The Furies

Rebellious high school students Kayla and her best friend Maddie are abducted by a sinister presence while out bombing their neighbourhood with graffiti. Waking up, in the woods, bound and disoriented in a claustrophobic coffin-like apparatus, Kayla’s first thought is of Maddie. Before she has a chance to ruminate on the dreadful fate that may have befallen her friend, Kayla notices a terrifying masked man fast approaching, armed with a razor-sharp axe. As a chase ensues, it soon becomes clear that Kayla and her pursuer are not alone. There are six more young women, each with a masked stalker assigned to them, hell-bent on murder.

Cast: Airlie Dodds, Linda Ngo, Taylor Ferguson, Ebony Vagulans

There is plenty of gore and no shortage of inventive kills in The Furies. It’s gritty and bloody and light on depth so it’s perfect for a casual watch. Don’t worry about the plot, just focus on the massive amounts of grotesquery. Need more information, read my full review here.

Monster Party

Three small-time thieves specializing in home burglary pose as caterers for a fancy dinner party at the Malibu mansion of the extravagantly wealthy Dawson family. But their plan for the perfect heist goes horribly wrong when they discover that the Dawsons and their guests are actually a support group of recovering serial killers. When one of the addicts can’t resist the urge to attack, this simple cash grab becomes an all-out battle for survival where no one is safe. A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE.

Cast: Julian McMahon, Robin Tunney, Sam Strike, Virginia Gardner, Erin Moriarty

For anyone who has had to endure a bad dinner party here’s one to put things in persepctive for you. The cast is a great mix of old school genre stars with Tunney, Lance Riddick, and McMahon and new school guys like Sam Strike who was great in Nightflyers. It’s a ton of fun and perfect for your own dinner party. Read our 5 Things I Learned About Dinner Parties From Monster Party here.

Downrange

For six college students carpooling cross-country, a seemingly mundane blow-out is the beginning of a grueling fight for survival. They’re in the midst of changing the flat when they discover a spent slug and realize this was no accident…A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. Contains strong language, violence and gore.

Cast: Kelly Connaire, Stephanie Pearson, Rod Hernandez

Pretty great practical effects make this tense film a quality addition to the list. The ending is shocking as hell and it will definitely make you think twice about calling AAA instead of trying to change your tire yourself. Road trips are overrated. Stay home where it’s safer and load this up.

Wake In Fright

When Australian teacher John Grant stops off in the rural town of Yabba, he quickly gets pulled into the dark world of strange, ultra-macho townies who spend their days binge drinking, gambling and hunting kangaroos. For the timid Grant, this starts out as a thrilling release of his id. But after he loses his shirt gambling, Grant struggles to escape the bad luck – or perhaps a conspiracy – that keeps preventing him from leaving Yabba. Long unavailable on home video, Ted Kotcheff’s superb thriller is a deeply unsettling study of the horror of the unchecked male psyche. NOTE: Wake in Fright is presented in its entirety, featuring animal hunting scenes, which viewers may find offensive. Discretion is advised.

Cast: Gary Bond, Donald Pleasence

This is easily the most thought-provoking on the Best Survival Horror On Shudder list. That doesn’t mean the heart of the sub-genre doesn’t beat hard though. Do beware when they warn about the animal hunting scenes. They are hard to watch for animal lovers. It is a fascinating character study of male relationships and stereotypes.

Do not forget to tune into the Horror Pod Class and their podcast on all things horror and science fiction, you might just learn something. Just for Signal Horizon readers, we have a free trial that lasts twice as long as their normal offer. Signal Horizon readers can sign up for a 30-day free trial using the link below. Tell us what you think and let us know if you find something in the streaming service that warrants further discussion. Let me know if I’ve left something off the Best Survival Horror On Shudder list.

I hope we have given you some new movies to consider. Let us know what you enjoyed this weekend. Don’t forget to use the promo code SIGNAL for a whole month free! Catch us back each week with a new Shudder list.