Escape, Murder, Sleepaway Camp: Top 5 Summer Horror Films

Don't let that scenery fool you—camping is far from peaceful

Summer is the best time for horror films. Or at least that’s how we feel here at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game. In summertime, everyone is free and easy, and even people who aren’t usually up for a scary movie will watch one when the sun stays up until 9 pm.

Not only is summer the best time to watch tales of escape, murder, and sleepaway camp, but it’s also one of the classic horror film settings. It’s probably for the same reasons we listed above: everyone is free and easy—making the appearance of a decidedly uptight murderous maniac all the more unexpected.

1. Jaws (1975)

With one simple line, Steven Spielberg ruined summer for millions of kids: “Don’t go in the water.” The beachgoers in Jaws likewise have their summer ruined, when the resort town they’re all hyped to be at turns out to have a monstrous man-eating shark trawling its pristine waters. Oh well, there’s always next summer.

2. Friday the 13th (1980)

Arguably the most iconic summer-themed horror film, with little (or not so little) Jason Voorhees unable to leave the grounds of Camp Crystal Lake after tragically drowning there. His mother doesn’t help the situation either, making sure Jason’s death is never resolved thanks to her murderous rampage on the camp counsellors.

3. Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Playing on the success of Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp has a similar premise to its predecessor, with one crucial difference: this time it’s a girl who is bullied at camp! Or—is it? Bizarre moments and plot twists abound in Robert Hiltzik’s film, making it a cult favourite.

4. Cabin in the Woods (2012)

In the more recent Cabin in the Woods, an unsuspecting group of friends is heading for a—you guessed it—fun and carefree camping trip. Unlucky for them, the summer horror film is by now a well-studied phenomenon, with the bizarre moments dialed up to 11 by a team of experts. Unfortunately, this means their chances of escape aren’t looking good.

5. The Final Girls (2015)

By now, the summer-themed horror film has developed into pure parody, as seen with 2015’s The Final Girls. Though escape and murder are still on the menu, the top priority here is comedy. After falling through a cinema screen into a Friday the 13th-esque horror film set at Camp Bloodbath, a group of friends must figure out a way to dodge the murderous maniac and also somehow get back to reality.



Try your luck with Krakit Vancouver Escape Game’s own homicidal maniacs in our Saw or Asylum escape rooms. Book a slot here: http://bookeo.com/krakit