Winter's Coming: 5 Lesser Known Horror Films in the Snow
So you woke up to the Arctic blast, decided to call in “sick” and are now wrapping yourself in your Snuggie, wondering what to queue up on the tube, eh? I see you reaching for those heavy hitters of wintry horror like The Shining, The Thing, and 30 Days of Night, but don’t pop that Blu-Ray in just yet because I’ve got a few choice recommendations that you probably haven’t seen and can be streamed right now!
Ravenous (1999)
Antonia Bird’s underrated horror comedy set in the American frontier follows an Army Captain investigating rumors of a wagon train massacred by their guide. In what I consider the best on-screen portrayal of the legendary Wendigo of Algonquian lore, Ravenous often falls under the radar but you can catch it today (in the US) on Hulu.
Frozen (2010)
Not to be confused with another film by the same name, Frozen finds three skiers trapped on a chair lift at a resort that shuts down for the coming week. While it may prove to be a little too slow for some viewers, others should find it suitably tense—especially with the added suspense of watching via the commercial-supported VUDU or Tubi TV platforms.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
The directorial debut for ghost story lover Oz Perkins—who the following year brought I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House to Netflix—The Blackcoat’s Daughter stars Emma Roberts and Kiernan Shipka, who spend their winter break isolated at their prep school. As one might expect, they don’t exactly enjoy their alone time. Stream it now on Netflix!
Black Mountain Side (2014)
Here’s one that I am always quick to recommend. A team of archaeologists in Canada uncover a strange structure that seems to predate all known civilization in the area. Soon, the team’s native contractors inexplicably evacuate the site, their communications systems fail, and the effects of their solitude take hold. Black Mountain Side is a wonderful indie flick that needs to be seen by more people, so head over to Amazon Prime and give it a shot.
Wind Chill (2007)
Wind Chill stars Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes who break down on a deserted road as they ride home from school for the holidays. Stuck in the snow with no apparent way out, they begin to be haunted by the ghosts of the road. Admittedly a mixed bag, the performances by the two main characters are solid and, along with an excellent atmosphere, make this a worthy watch. Plus, you can see it for free with commercials on Sony’s Crackle.
Article Written by Ande Thomas
Ande loves the intersection of sci-fi and horror, where our understanding of the natural world clashes with our fear of the new and unknown. He writes about monsters and foreign horror and can also be found over on Letterboxd.
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