Deep Woods, Deep Cuts – 10 Camping Horror Movies Ranked

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at Deep Woods, Deep Cuts – 10 Camping Horror Movies Ranked.

Horror Under The Stars

When it comes to camping horror movies, there’s not quite as much choice as you might image. Especially when you consider we aren’t talking about things like Friday the 13th or The Cabin in the Woods. We are talking about a couple of people heading out into the middle of nature with nothing but a tent for protection.

No cushy cabin, no cosy little lake house; just a tiny tent and nothing for protection. After all, what is scary about big groups of people chilling in the middle of the woods? Nothing of course. Anyways, all of these movies follow the theme of camping and focus on the things that can happen when you are snuggled up in your sleeping bag late at night in the middle of nowhere.

I’ve tried to focus on more obscure titles here with only a few heavy hitters. That means the quality is seriously mixed but you might find your next camping horror hidden gem. Let’s take a look.

🌲 At a Glance: Top 5 Deep Woods Cuts

10. The Nothing (2020) – A Whole Lot of Nothing

The Camping Nightmare: Clayton Thompson is suffering from a little bit of writers block. Hoping to alleviate this, he believes the best way to create, is to get in touch with oneself. And to do that he is going to head out in to the woods to make a terrible found footage camping, survival, horror movie.

Knockout Verdict: Screaming into the void.

So let’s be honest, this isn’t a great way to start our list of Camping Horror Movies. And by not great I mean absolutely awful. Unfortunately, and to the detriment of the movie itself, The Nothing revolves entirely around the self named Clayton Thompson. A person I described as a mountain man version of James Corden in my review of The Nothing and that about sums it up.

It is slow and a bit boring but if you fancy spending an hour or so listening to an annoying person scream into the darkness. This movie may just be for you. The camping themes are strong here though so you may just enjoy it. It’s one person alone in the woods battling supernatural threats. Check out our review of The Nothing right here.

9. Something Walks in the Woods (2023) – Don’t Subscribe

The Camping Nightmare: It follows the story of a video that goes viral depicting a supposed spirit crossing a treeline at the same time every day. Wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery while maybe making a few sweet YouTube bucks in the process. The self named Bill Howard sets out to spend a night in the supposedly haunted woods with nothing but a tent and a camera.

Knockout Verdict: A cure for insomnia.

Something Walks in the Woods is a relatively new horror movie for 2023. It’s another boring one, too. In fact, I would go as far as to say that less happens here than in previous entry to our list The Nothing. It’s pretty yawn inducing to be fair and really lacks in the scare department. Why do so many horror writers forget to put actual horror in their horror movies?

Still, Bill is a more likable dude than Clayton so you may enjoy this one a little more. The story is ridiculous considering some of the leaps of logic but, again, there is lots of camping so maybe give it a try. The woods don’t feel particularly imposing but some may appreciate the D.I.Y vibe. Check out uur review of Something Walks in the Woods right here.

8. Uninhabited (2010) – Trouble in Paradise

The Camping Nightmare: A young couple decide to spend a week away camping on a beautiful desert island only to realise they may not be as alone as they initially thought. Footprints in the sand hint at something sinister but that may only be the tip of what turns out to be a entirely unexpected mystery iceberg.

Knockout Verdict: Great gear, shame about the movie.

Gorgeous scenery and one of the most well stocked camp sites I have ever seen in a camping horror movie are the stars of the show in Aussie horror Uninhabited. This is a movie replete with foreshadowing and fairly devoid of scares. It has stunning scenery and the main stars aren’t bad to look at, even if one of them really can’t act.

Uninhabited is by no means a great movie but it does try to do something fairly interesting with the ending. The location feels very atypical, as well. It might be worth checking out if you fancy a camping movie set in the sun. We awarded Uninhabited 1.5/5 in our review.

7. Survive The Hollow Shoals (2018) – Solo Survival

The Camping Nightmare: This camping horror movie follows a man setting himself a challenge to survive out in the Georgia Hollow Shoals for 60 days with minimal supplies. After a few days of relative calm, Zach begins feeling like he is being watched. Setting off a series of events that will make him regret ever stepping foot into the woods alone.

Knockout Verdict: Better than average vlogging.

This is a pretty decent, ultra low budget, one man effort that is much more watchable than the similar themed Something Walks in the Woods and The Nothing. This movie manages to get right a lot of the stuff that the aforementioned movies fail at. It’s almost like a meeting between The Blair Witch Project and the television series Alone that isn’t as good as either but is still fairly watchable.

There’s a few decent jump scares and a few stand out moments that make this worth checking out. Zach is a likeable lead, as well and the setup for the movie serves to make the scenario quite believable. The deep woods scenery is fantastic, too. Check out our review of Survive The Hollow Shoals here. You can watch this movie as part of a series of shorts on YouTube. Definitely an interesting format to check the movie out in.

6. Killing Ground (2016) – Aussie Brutality

The Camping Nightmare: It follows the story of a family taking a much needed weekend camping trip for some rest and relaxation. Only to have their worlds turned upside down by a pair of ruthless thugs who refuse to leave them alone. That’s it, there is very little story, just a set up to enable some ultra violence.

Knockout Verdict: Not for the squeamish.

This is a camping horror movie that I have covered a number of times in a number of different lists. I always point out that I don’t like Killing Ground anywhere near as much as some people. This is a movie that gets a lot of hype but is designed to appeal to a certain audience. If you are part of that audience then great. If not, you will probably find very little to grab onto here.

This is one of those movies that could best be described as violence for the sake of violence. It is brutal and can be a difficult watch which makes the lack of plot a little bit frustrating. It does place a rather terrifying focus on the real dangers of camping and just how vulnerable you are out there with only a tent for protection. A lot of people really like it and it definitely fits the camping theme so you might want to check it out. Take a look at our review of Killing Ground right here.

5. Willow Creek (2013) – Squatch Watch

The Camping Nightmare: A Bigfoot film that sees a couple head out on a camping trip, completely unaware that they are about to hike right into the home of the curious cryptid himself. The majority of the scary parts of this movie take place when the couple hit their tent for the night.

Knockout Verdict: A masterclass in tension.

Bobcat Goldthwait absolutely loves Bigfoot. He has starred in a few documentaries on the subject and he also wrote and directed our next camping horror movie Willow Creek. Fans of the big hairy cryptid are going to have a great time with this one. It really taps into some of the actual lore of the enigmatic creature and manages bags of tension, too.

For the most part, all the scares come in the form of our couple being harassed while stuck in their tent. Surprisingly, it actually works incredibly well. There are some great moments of tension and a few legitimately brilliant scares. It’s not going to be for everyone but Bigfoot fans will love it and the tent scenes are some of the most creative in Camping Horror to date.

4. Significant Other (2022) – Love and Aliens

The Camping Nightmare: A couple in a struggling relationship take a trip out into the woods for some camping and flame rekindling under the stars. Little do they realise that an awkward marriage proposal will be the start of an increasingly strange and terrifying series of events. As something that crashed in the woods has brought an otherworldly malevolence to the place that threatens to consume them both.

Knockout Verdict: Not your typical camping trip.

Scares are mixed with sci-fi in this fairly atypical camping horror movie. This is one of those films that proves that science fiction and camping, for some reason, go together quite well. I mean, it’s not an obvious crossover, unlike camping and cryptids, but there’s something very scary about being at the mercy of cosmic terror with nothing to protect yourself other than a sleeping bag.

Significant Other features a few twists and an interesting story as well as a few decent scares. It’s the story that stands out though with its daring merging of two separate themes. It does get a little bit crazy here and there but it’s a rewarding, albeit flawed, ride if you stick with it.

3. The Interior (2015) – Alone in the Woods

The Camping Nightmare: Wishing to escape the chaos of everyday life. Our protagonist abandons all of his belongings and heads deep into the woods of British Columbia to confront his fears. Little does he know that they may very well be about to consume his mind completely.

Knockout Verdict: Silence is deafening.

This is a movie that I think is underrated but I entirely understand why. It is slow and only briefly steps into the world of full on horror. Despite that, I think The Interior is one of the better examples of camping horror and it captures the subject perfectly. Our protagonist here is completely alone and entirely at the mercy of the world around him.

I might be going way off base here but I almost feel like there is a bit of a cosmic-horror vibe to what takes place here. It’s framed as mental illness or the supernatural but there’s something deeply concerning and unknowable that makes The Interior weirdly intriguing.

It is a quiet little indie movie that manages some seriously effective tension and at least one brilliant scare. It is far closer to a character study and an exploration of existential crises than it is a horror and critics like it more than most viewers. But if you can make it through the slowness of the first half and get past the somewhat annoying lead character. There is a story here that manages to channel the feelings of isolation and fear surrounding camping in the middle of nowhere better than most movies around. I awarded The Interior 3.2/5 in my review.

2. Backcountry (2014) – Bear Market

The Camping Nightmare: Backcountry sees a couple with a whole bunch of relationship issues heading out for a camping trip into the backwoods. Little do they realise that they will find themselves lost in the territory of a hyper aggressive black bear. Backcountry starts as a relationship drama before turning into a brutal tale of survival against the odds.

Knockout Verdict: Jaws in the woods.

We’ve had a Bigfoot movie so why not a back that up with something a little more realistic and tangible? Described as the Jaws of bear movies; Backcountry is unsettling, uncompromising, and thrilling all at the same time. In fact, it’s one of the better creature horror movies and perfectly combines survival against the odds with the perils of camping.

Once it gets past its relationship stuff, it keeps the tension going throughout. There’s a great “animal vs human” cat-and-mouse game that takes place over the vast wilderness that’s a whole lot of fun. It also happens to be based on the real life story of Jacqueline Perry and Mark Jordan who were attacked by a bear while camping in Missinaibi Lake provincial park back in 2005. Something which makes the movie all the more realistic and all the more terrifying. I enjoyed this one more on a second viewing.

1. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – The Legend

The Camping Nightmare: Three friends head deep into the woods to make a documentary about local legend The Blair Witch. After finding themselves completely lost, the group begin to become mentally unscrewed as something toys with them each and every night. The Blair Witch Project does a better job of turning the woods into an antagonist than any movie on this list.

Knockout Verdict: Don’t kick the map in the creek.

You knew this one would have to be number one on the list of Camping Horror movies, right? I mean, it is probably what a lot of people think of when someone says camping horror. This is a title that took a few people, minimal equipment, no money, and a bunch of innovation into the woods and produced one of the most memorable horror movies of all time. I can’t wait until the narrative on this movie switches and people stop complaining about the hype it received and appreciate it for the wildly important horror that it truly is.

A lot of people dislike it and i get why. Regardless, I still appreciate just what was achieved with such a small budget. It is effective and punches way above its weight. I think it has aged pretty damn well, too. Even if its best scares are parodied and lampooned to all hell. It shaped modern horror film making and deserves its roses. It isn’t perfect and it never could have lived up to the hype but it is still a solid horror movie if you just forget all the noise and try to enjoy it. We awarded The Blair Witch Project 4/5 in our review.

Zip Up Tight…

There you have it, 10 reasons why “glamping” might be the safer option. Whether it is Bigfoot, a bear, or just a guy with a camera and a God complex, the woods are full of things that want to ruin your weekend. These movies prove that a thin layer of nylon isn’t much protection against the things that go bump in the night.

If you haven’t been scared off the idea of sleeping under the stars just yet, be sure to check out our 10 Backpacking Horror Movies Ranked list for more terror on the trail. Or, if you prefer a broader look at nature’s wrath, take a peek at our 20 Outdoors & Wilderness Horror Movies. Thanks for reading Knockout Horror, and don’t forget your flashlight!

🔥 Quick Picks: The Best Camping Horror Movies by Vibe

The “Found Footage” Pick: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
For when you want the original nightmare. It defined the sub-genre and makes a simple stick figure terrifying. Don’t kick the map in the creek.

The “Realistic” Pick: Backcountry (2014)
For when you want nature to win. A city couple vs. a predatory black bear. It is visceral, frustrating, and incredibly tense.

The “Slow Burn” Pick: The Interior (2015)
For when you want isolation. A man runs away from his problems straight into the Canadian wilderness. It captures the paranoia of being alone perfectly.

The “Cryptid” Pick: Willow Creek (2013)
For when you want Bigfoot. Bobcat Goldthwait delivers a masterclass in tension using nothing but a tent, two actors, and some very scary noises.

The “Brutal” Pick: Killing Ground (2016)
For when you want human monsters. An Australian survival horror that pulls no punches. It is gritty, violent, and not for the faint of heart.

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