Barbecued Terror: 10 Horror Films To Prepare You For A Harrowing Summer Pastime

Summertime is synonymous with staycations — because frankly, you’re too poor to go anywhere and so utterly exhausted that the idea of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to get to the boiling hot beach would set your body or sanity ablaze.

Your mom believes the lie that you’re traveling, but your neighbor knows the truth — they can see your rust bucket parked squarely in your driveway. Therefore, you can’t escape the festivities of said neighbor — the infamous barbecue.

To prepare yourself for what lies ahead, here’s a list of 10 horror films that revolve around creepy food gatherings, weird people, and yes, cannibalism — fitting, as the stress of having to interact with your peers is making your brain’s intrusive thoughts go haywire, and here at Gore Culture, we’re here to guide you through the labyrinth of your twisted mind.

10.) Killer BBQ (2019)  

According to the laws of listicles, you can’t start a countdown about killer BBQs without featuring Killer BBQ. In this charcoal-themed tale from director Joe Betancourt, written by Betancourt alongside Daniel P. Coughlin, a new-to-town police deputy makes a connection between the hordes of locals going missing and questionable meat. So, next time your pals insist you quit your couch-laden marathon of Baby Reindeer and socialize at the cookout, you can present this as your excuse — you aren’t yet ready to die, despite how your solitary, sedentary lifestyle will kill you before any barbecue-loving cannibal could.

9.) Hannibal (2001)

Ridley Scott’s psychological thriller, written by David Mamet and Steven Zaillian, based on Thomas Harris’ novel, doesn’t exactly showcase an outdoor roast, but Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has guests over for dinner and serves them – themselves. Plus, Ray Liotta has a memorable scene where he drinks his own cranium through a straw, and his mental acuity is not exactly high-functioning… which is pretty much how you feel anytime you have to attend a social function against your will — you’re on autopilot, like a brain-slurping Liotta. Less than two hours into the summertime affair, and you’d rather be cornered at the copy machine, listening to Jan drone on about her marital problems, because at least you’re making minimum wage.

8.) Sinister (2012)

This supernatural story features multiple family gatherings, and one forcibly attends a barbecue — of their own bodies. Directed by Scott Derrickson and written by C. Robert Cargill and Derrickson, Ethan Hawke portrays Elliot Oswald, a true crime novelist desperate to write another bestseller. During his obsession that has an eerie resemblance to Jack Torrance’s in The Shining, he cloisters himself away from his loved ones so he can dive into the gory underpinnings of his investigative writing. In Elliot’s case, his quest for artistic merit is a mask for his insatiable drive for fame. It’s a sizzling, worthwhile watch with a lesson baked inside about the power of images, or videos, to destroy lives.

7.) Midsommar (2019)

Sunny getaways are a chance for rejuvenation or an opportunity to be crafted into impressive human taxidermy. The latter happens in this Ari Aster gem, with horror unfolding against a backdrop of broad daylight, adding to its uncanny feel. Headlined by the wonderful Florence Pugh, the Swedish rituals grow more and more bizarre, including some cannibalistic ones — making you realize that your neighbor’s ritualistic end-of-summer bash isn’t that bad compared to being immortalized in taxidermy, and subsequently, burned to a crisp.

6.) The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

This title sums up your neighborhood, since your prying neighbor peers into your window at night like they’re auditioning for a reboot of Netflix’s Baby Reindeer. Written and directed by the late, great Wes Craven, this classic, which later spawned a 2006 reboot, is about an all-American family who unwittingly captures the attention of cannibals in the Nevada desert. This film will make you feel better about the peeping Toms out there — at least they’re not plotting to devour you and your loved ones.

5.) Raw (2016)

You don’t typically associate cannibals with coming-of-age stories, but writer/director Julia Ducournau’s feature weaves these two dichotomies seamlessly. In the thriller, a young woman’s tenure at veterinary school veers off in a disconcerting direction — when she tries meat for the first time and then graduates to human flesh. It’s intensely graphic, but simultaneously presents a commentary on how we tackle our hedonistic desires. Beyond that, it’s a vegetarian’s solid defense against their meat-loving friends who insist they must indulge in their carnivorous cuisine — do they really want you to turn into a cannibal?

4.) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Based on a true story — well, at least that’s what it claims in the opening credits — nevertheless, real-life serial killer Ed Gein influenced this masterpiece, rife with helpings of Homo sapiens’ meat. Director Tobe Hooper helms this legendary film, with the script penned by Hooper and Kim Henkel — centered around the Sawyer family and, of course, Leatherface. You’re treated to how Leatherface stores humans in the freezer and even culinary shots — making you feel like you’re viewing an open-faced kitchen at a Michelin-star restaurant, albeit a fairly dirty one.

3.) Fresh (2022)

The love interest in this story wouldn’t be caught dead schmoozing with your friends at a grill festivity, which is a relief. The trade-off is that prince charming sells human female meat on the black market. This directorial debut by Mimi Cave, based on a screenplay by Lauryn Kahn, is about a woman who veers away from dating apps and cozies up to a cannibal surgeon with ’80s dance moves that could rival Patrick Bateman’s. Your mom was right when she said you should be wary of a man using you for your body — or harvesting your body for wealthy cannibals.

2.) Alien (1979)

In space, no one can hear you barbecue… Ridley Scott’s film has little to do with outdoor feasts; however, it does revolve around a surprise visitor, akin to your neighbor showing up unannounced at your front door. The script for this nail-biting thriller was derived from a story written by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, with O’Bannon penning the eventual screenplay that focuses on the Nostromo team, who must contend with an alien invader. Similar to that inauspicious crew, you’re stuck with the nuisance until they eject themselves – hopefully not through your stomach.

1.) Drag Me To Hell (2009)

You’ve had your fill of barbecue with a side of cannibalism and next-door pests, but there’s always room for dessert — like cake garnished with an old woman’s eyeball? Director Sam Raimi’s legendary horror, co-written with Ivan Raimi, serves as a cautionary tale about upsetting an elderly person, as you never know when they might cast an ancient curse on you. In this film, a loan consultant learns this the hard way when she later uncovers an eye-opener inside a delectable cake she presents to her boyfriend’s parents. Besides the bloody, oozing peeper, another surprise is the appearance of seasoned horror favorite Justin Long, known for Jeepers Creepers (2001) and recently, Barbarian (2022). So, next time your boyfriend begs you to meet his folks, show him this first. Unless he wants you to serve his mom and dad a sweet treat with a human eyeball and witness you scream in unbridled terror, maybe he should take things slowly.

*Honorable Mention* The Shining (1980)

At this point, you probably think get-togethers this time of year are a terrible idea—and you’d be right—so take solace by planning a trip to the Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film. Based on the Stephen King novel and later adapted into a screenplay by Kubrick and Diane Johnson, the story demonstrates how isolation isn’t wholly positive for a writer (Jack Nicholson), his wife (Shelly Duvall), and their son. But at least there’s no cannibalism. The harsh winter at the remote destination offers a chilling respite after enduring severe heat. You’ll need it after your neighbor insists on convening outdoors, even though they have perfectly viable AC in their house. They just don’t want you to ruin their prized wall-to-wall carpeting. The monsters.