List of natural horror films
Appearance
Natural horror is a subgenre of horror films that features natural forces,[1] typically in the form of animals or plants, that pose a threat to human characters.
Though killer animals in film have existed since the release of The Lost World in 1925,[2] two of the first motion pictures to garner mainstream success with a "nature run amok" premise were The Birds, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1963; and Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1975. Following Jaws, numerous horror films of a similar narrative were produced, including Grizzly (1976), Piranha (1978), and Alligator (1980).[3]
Arthropods
[edit]See also the section on insects.
Arachnids
[edit]- Kingdom of the Spiders (1977; tarantulas)[1]
- Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977; banana spiders)[4][5]
- Arachnophobia (1990; spiders)[6]
- Ticks (1993; giant ticks)[7]
- Eight Legged Freaks (2002; giant spiders)[8]
- Big Ass Spider! (2013; giant spider)[9]
- Lavalantula (2015; giant lava-breathing tarantulas)[10]
- Infested (2023; illegally imported spiders)[11]
Crustaceans
[edit]Birds
[edit]- The Birds (1963; flocks of vicious gulls, crows, sparrows and other birds)[3]
- The Birds II: Land's End (1994)[13]
- Beaks: The Movie (1987)[1]
- KAW (2007; ravens)[14]
- Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010; mutated birds)[15]
- Birdemic 2: The Resurrection (2013; mutated birds)[16]
Fish
[edit]Piranhas
[edit]- Piranha (1978; genetically enhanced piranhas)[17]
- Piranha II: The Spawning (1982; mutant piranhas)[18]
- Piranha 3D (2010; prehistoric piranhas)[19]
- Piranha 3DD (2012; prehistoric piranhas)[20]
- Piranha (1995; killer piranhas)[21]
Sharks
[edit]- Jaws (1975; a large great white shark)[22][23]
- Up from the Depths (1979; a prehistoric shark)[26]
- Great White (1981 a.k.a. L'ultimo squalo; a great white shark)[27]
- Deep Blood (1989 a.k.a. Sangue negli abissi; a great white shark)[28][29]
- Cruel Jaws (1995, a great white shark) [30]
- Deep Blue Sea (1999; large genetically engineered shortfin mako sharks)[31]
- Shark Attack (1999; great white shark) [32]
- Shark Attack 2 (2000; great white shark) [33]
- Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002, a Megalodon) [34]
- Megalodon (2004; a Megalodon) [35]
- Red Water (2003; a bull shark)[36]
- Shark Zone (2003; great white sharks) [37]
- Open Water (2003, Caribbean reef sharks)[38]
- Blue Demon (2004; a great white shark) [39]
- 12 Days of Terror (2004; great white shark) [40]
- Shark Swarm (2008; great white shark, mako shark, thresher shark) [41]
- Shark in Venice (2008; great white sharks) [42]
- Malibu Shark Attack (2009; goblin sharks) [43]
- The Reef (2010; a great white shark)[44]
- Shark Night (2011; great white shark, hammerhead shark, cookie-cutter shark, sand tiger shark)[45]
- Jurassic Shark (2012; a prehistoric great white shark) [46]
- Bait (2012; two great white sharks)[47]
- 2-Headed Shark Attack (2012; a mutated great white shark) [48]
- Sharknado (2013; swarms of various species of sharks emerging out tornadoes).[49]
- 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019; cave-dwelling great white sharks)[50]
- Great White (2021; two great white sharks)[51]
- The Requin (2022; a great white shark)[52]
Insects
[edit]Ants
[edit]- The Naked Jungle (1954; army ants)[1]
- Them! (1954; giant mutated ants)[4]
- Phase IV (1974; super-intelligent ants of various species)[1]
- Empire of the Ants (1977; large mutated ants)[53]
- It Happened at Lakewood Manor (1977)[54]
Honey bees
[edit]- The Deadly Bees (1966)[55]
- Killer Bees (1974)[56]
- The Savage Bees (1976)[57]
- The Bees (1978)[58]
- The Swarm (1978)[3]
- Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare (1995)[59]
Cockroaches
[edit]- Creepshow (1982, killer cockroaches)[60]
- Mimic (1997, evolved human-sized genetically engineered cockroaches)[61]
Locusts
[edit]- Locusts: The 8th Plague (2005)[62]
Wasps
[edit]Mammals
[edit]Bats
[edit]- The Devil Bat (1940; mutant bats)[64]
- Nightwing (1979; vampire bats)[3]
- Bats (1999; genetically altered bats)[65]
Bears
[edit]- Grizzly (1976; a grizzly bear)[3]
- Prophecy (1979; a mutant bear)[4]
- Grizzly Rage (2007; a grizzly bear)[1]
- Grizzly Park (2008; a grizzly bear) [66]
- Bear (2010; A grizzly bear) [67]
- Backcountry (2014, a black bear) [68]
- Into the Grizzly Maze (2015; a grizzly bear)[69]
- Cocaine Bear (2023, a black bear) [70]
Canines
[edit]- Dogs (1976; domestic dogs turned into killers)[71]
- The Pack (1977; feral dogs)[4]
- Cujo (1983; a Saint Bernard infected with rabies)[72]
- The Breed (2006; mutated feral dogs)[73]
- Frozen (2010; gray wolves)[1]
- The Grey (2011; gray wolves)[1]
- The Pack (2015; feral dogs)[74]
Dolphins
[edit]- Orca (1977; a killer whale)[3][4]
Felines
[edit]- Black Zoo (1963; lions and tigers)[75]
- Maneater (2007; a Bengal tiger)[1]
- Burning Bright (2010, a tiger)[76]
Pigs
[edit]Primates
[edit]- Blood Monkey (2007)[80]
- Shakma (1990)[81]
- Monkey Shines (1988)[82]
Rats
[edit]- Willard (1971)[83]
- Ben (1972)[84]
- Deadly Eyes (1982; a.k.a. The Rats)[85]
- Graveyard Shift (1990)[86]
- Willard (2003)[87]
Others
[edit]- Night of the Lepus (1972; giant rabbits)[88]
- Black Sheep (2006; genetically engineered killer sheep)[9]
Mollusks
[edit]Gastropods
[edit]- Slugs (1988; abnormally large killer black slugs)[89]
Octopuses and squids
[edit]- Bride of the Monster (1955; a killer octopus)[90][91]
- Tentacles (1977; a giant octopus)[4]
- Octopus (2000, a giant octopus)[92][93][94]
Reptiles
[edit]Alligators and crocodiles
[edit]- The Great Alligator River (1979; an alligator god)[95]
- Alligator (1980; an abnormally large American alligator)[3]
- Alligator II: The Mutation (1991; a mutant alligator)[1]
- Dark Age (1986; a monstrous crocodile god called Numunwari)[96]
- Killer Crocodile (1989, mutated large crocodile)[97]
- Lake Placid (1999; an abnormally large saltwater crocodile)[98]
- Lake Placid 2 (2007)[99]
- Lake Placid 3 (2010)[100]
- Lake Placid: The Final Chapter (2012)[101]
- Crocodile (2000; an abnormally large Nile crocodile)[102]
- Blood Surf (2001; a monstrous giant crocodile)[103]
- Black Water (2007; a saltwater crocodile)[75]
- Croc (2007; a saltwater crocodile)[1]
- Primeval (2007; Gustave)[104]
- Rogue (2007; a giant saltwater crocodile)[105]
- Crawl (2019; several American alligators)[106]
Snakes
[edit]- Rattlers (1976)[107]
- Anaconda (1997)[108]
- King Cobra (1999)[112]
- Silent Predators (1999; rattlesnakes)[1]
- Snakes on a Plane (2006)[113]
- Mega Snake (2007)[114]
Plants
[edit]- Little Shop of Horrors (1960; mutant Venus flytrap)[115]
- The Day of the Triffids (1962; man-eating plants)[23]
- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978; killer tomatoes)[23]
- The Ruins (2008; vines)[116]
Worms
[edit]- Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959, giant leeches)[117]
- Squirm (1976, bloodworms and sandworms)[4]
- Blood Beach (1982; a giant worm)[9]
Miscellaneous
[edit]- Godzilla (1954; a giant irradiated Godzillasaurus)[118]
- Frogs (1972; various species of animals)[119]
- The Food of the Gods (1976; various species of animals)[120]
- Day of the Animals (1977; various species of animals)[3][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Puckett, Terek (27 October 2013). "Revolt of Nature Horror Films: The Must-Sees". PopOptiq. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "The Lost World (1925)". Internet Archive: The Public Domain Review. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hickman, Matt (28 October 2014). "12 horror films that reveal Mother Nature's evil side". Mother Nature Network. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gambin, Lee (8 October 2012). Massacred by Mother Nature: Exploring the Natural Horror Film. Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1936168309.
- ^ Gambin, Lee (11 May 2024). "BLESS THE BEASTS & THE NETWORKS: ECO-HORROR HITS THE SMALL SCREEN". In Reyes, Amanda (ed.). Are You In The House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999. Headpress. ISBN 9781909394445.
- ^ "Arachnophobia (1990)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Ticks (1993)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Eight Legged Freaks (2002)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Ann, Melissa (17 March 2016). "Man vs Nature: 10 Crazy Natural Horror Films". PopHorror. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Lavalantula (2015)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Ebiri, Bilge (2024-04-30). "The Bone-Chilling Infested Is Spiders All the Way Down". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "The Bay (2012)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "The Birds II: Land's End (1994)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Kaw (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2008)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Birdemic 2: The Resurrection (2013)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Piranha (1978)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Piranha (2010)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Piranha 3DD (2012)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Piranha (1995)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Jaws (1975)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ a b c Gregersdotter, Katarina; Höglund, Johan; Hållén, Nicklas (22 February 2016). Horror Cinema: Genre, History and Criticism. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-1137496386. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Jaws 2 (1978)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Jaws 3 (1983)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Up from the Depths (1979)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Great White (1981)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Deep Blood (1989)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ Palmerini, Luca M.; Mistretta, Gaetano (1996). Spaghetti Nightmares: Italian Fantasy-horrors as Seen Through the Eyes of Their Protagonists. Fantasma Books. ISBN 9780963498274.
- ^ "Cruel Jaws". Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Deep Blue Sea (1999)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Shark Attack". Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Shark Attack 2". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Shark Attack 3". Archived from the original on 2024-03-03. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Megalodon". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Red Water (2003)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Shark Zone". Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Open Water (2003)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Blue Demon". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "12 Days Of Terror". Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Shark Swarm". Archived from the original on 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Shark In Venice". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Malibu Shark Attack". Archived from the original on 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "The Reef (2010)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Shark Night (2011)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Jurassic Shark". Archived from the original on 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Bait (2011)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "2-Headed Shark Attack". Archived from the original on 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Sharknado (2013)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- ^ "Great White (2021)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "The Requin (2022)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "Empire of the Ants (1977)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "It Happened at Lakewood Manor (1977)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "The Deadly Bees (1967)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Killer Bees (1974)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "The Savage Bees (1976)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "The Bees (1978)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare (1995)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "Creepshow (1982)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Mimic (1997)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Locusts: The 8th Plague (2005)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Stung (2015)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "The Devil Bat (1940)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Bats (1999)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "Grizzly Park". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Bear". Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Backcountry (2014)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Into the Grizzly Maze (2015)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ Bradley, Laura (3 March 2023). "'Cocaine Bear' and the Wild, Ridiculous History of Horror-Movie Beasts". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Dogs (1976)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Cujo (1983)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "The Breed (2006)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "The Pack (2015)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ a b Gregersdotter, Katarina; Höglund, Johan; Hållén, Nicklas (February 22, 2016). Animal Horror Cinema: Genre, History and Criticism. Springer. pp. 51–53. ISBN 978-1137496393.
- ^ "Burning Bright (2009)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Pigs (1973)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Razorback (1984)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Pig Hunt (2008)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Blood Monkey (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Shakma (1990)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Monkey Shines (1988)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Willard". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Ben". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Deadly Eyes (1982)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Stephen King's 'Graveyard Shift' (1990)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Willard (2003)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Night of the Lepus (1972)". AllMovie. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Slugs (1988)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ Weldon, Michael (1983). The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-34345-X. Page 89
- ^ Rhodes, Gary; Weaver, Tom (2015). Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster. BearManor Media. ISBN 1593938578.
- ^ "Movies". The Daily Oklahoman. October 8, 2000. p. 72.
- ^ "Miscellaneous Notes". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Bokamper, Jerry (October 6, 2000). "'Octopus' Gets Tangled in Own Plot". The News-Press. p. 14.
- ^ "The Great Alligator River (1979)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Dark Age (1986)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Killer Crocodile". Really Awful Movies. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ "Lake Placid (1999)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Lake Placid 2 (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Lake Placid 3 (2010)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Lake Placid: The Final Chapter (2012)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Crocodile (2000)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ "Blood Surf (2001)". Allmovie. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Primeval (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Rogue (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Crawl (2019)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Rattlers (1976)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Anaconda (1997)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Anaconda III: Offspring (2008)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2009)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "King Cobra (1998)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Snakes on a Plane (2006)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Mega Snake (2007)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "The Ruins (2008)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Gojira (1954)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Frogs (1972)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Food of the Gods (1976)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.