The grit, the action, and the adventure aside, plague movies definitely remind you of how much worse the world can actually get. Be it the zombie-induced apocalypse or viruses that somehow wipe out only one gender, these films have a way of pulling you into the survival thriller.
Yet, they make you wonder about how you’d react if you were put in such a situation. Now, if you love a good escapist thriller, we’ve got you covered. This new list includes some of the most horrific world-ending scenarios you can imagine!
10. The Thing (1982)
Ever come across a dog in the middle of Antarctica that turned out to be a bloodthirsty alien in disguise? That’s exactly what the crew in this 1982 film encounters! Kurt Russel leads a group of researchers stuck in Antarctica who attempt to destroy a shapeshifting creature before it possesses them all.
With the ‘being’ capable of assuming its victim’s identity, ‘The Thing’ really makes you doubt who’s actually infected, and the ambiguous ending doesn’t help either!
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9. The Andromeda Strain (1971)
A satellite carrying a deadly microorganism crashes into Earth, wiping out many upon contact, in this epic horror sci-fi from Robert Wise. The aftermath is the attempts made by a group of researchers to contain it before it spreads.
In ‘The Andromeda Strain‘, the action scenes are not rushed; they take their time to build suspense and leave you guessing throughout!
8. Body Snatchers (1993)
This 1993 sci-fi horror features aliens cloning humans while they sleep. The film takes you through a horrific tale of survival where a girl and her father attempt to resist this.
Adapted from Jack Finney’s novel, ‘Body Snatchers‘ brings psychological warfare to an isolated space. The survivors are constantly trying to stay awake and alive, yet the invasion feels inevitable.
7. It Follows (2014)
This one takes an unconventional approach to plague horror films. Instead of viruses or alien invasions, the epidemic takes the form of a curse that people acquire when they sleep with the infected. The only solution is to pass it on, or you get killed.
Think vampires in ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ but the last to convert dies, and everyone before does too, not the other way around. You can’t help but empathise with Maika Monroe’s Jay, who is constantly hunted, even when everything looks calm for a moment.
6. Light of My Life (2019)
Casey Affleck and Anna Pniowsky totally win the ‘best post-apocalyptic dad-daughter duo’ with this one! ‘Light of My Life’ is set in a world where a mysterious virus has wiped out most women. Amidst the chaos, a father attempts to survive with his daughter while protecting her identity.
The film has a tide of emotions in its dialogue and metaphorical elements that reflect the male-dominated world it depicts. It’s definitely not your usual survival thriller, but it leaves a lot of room for introspection.
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5. 28 Days Later (2003)
Another film that deceives you with infected animals, ’28 Days Later’ follows a deadly virus that turns its infected into aggressive killers. The film is told through a man who wakes up from a coma after the spread as he navigates survival.
Cillian Murphy is definitely in his underrated era with this one, and you see the adrenaline of a high-stakes chase in it!
4. Carriers (2009)
This one will remind you of the real-life pandemic the world just outlived a few years ago. With Chris Pine leading a crew of survivors, ‘Carriers’ is about a deadly virus that has spread globally.
Without a cure, the survivors are hoping to reach a safe base while evading the infected. With a subtle setting, the film feels all too realistic, staying true to its word with a classic plague-horror portrayal.
3. Blindness (2008)
A plague movie that takes its plot literally, ‘Blindness’ follows a mysterious illness that turns people blind and forces them into quarantine. Except now the quarantine order is breached, and a woman takes on the safety of the inhabitants.
The film skips over the Nihilist outlook on plague horrors and makes the disease look terminal, so that’s a good bonus!
2. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
George A Romero’s classic survival thriller follows a group of survivors in a zombie apocalypse who hide and try to stay alive in a mall. Featuring intense action sequences, the jump scares on this run are super high to the point of you definitely getting the creeps!
1. Resident Evil (2002)
This iconic 2002 video game adaptation may have made the zombie apocalypse look stylish in the 21st century. The film follows an apocalyptic world where a deadly virus has turned exposed humans into zombies.
It most certainly makes you never wish for something like this in real life. ‘Resident Evil’ surely sets the stage for a sinister virus epidemic, and two decades later, we’re still getting sequels on the Umbrella Corporation!
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