The Wrong Turn — Movies Like
The ending is famously divisive (you’ll either love it or scream at the TV). But the first hour is arguably better than any Wrong Turn sequel. 7. The Forest (1982) – The Weirdo Pick For the completionist: A forgotten gem about two couples camping in... you guessed it... a forest. They are hunted by the ghosts of two cannibalistic children who died in the 1930s. It’s low-budget. The acting is wooden. But the atmosphere is pure Wrong Turn : isolation, no cell phones (obviously), and the sense that the trees are watching you. Plus, the killer uses a fork as a weapon. You can't unsee it. 8. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007) – The Honorable Mention Wait, hear me out. Most sequels are trash. Wrong Turn 2 is the exception. Directed by Joe Lynch, it’s a reality TV show ( Apocalyptic Survival ) where contestants are hunted by Three Finger and his family. It leans into the camp (literally and figuratively) and features Henry Rollins as a retired marine who yells, “I’m gonna kill every last one of you inbred f&%ks!”
Like Wrong Turn , the survivors make realistic bad decisions. They cut off an infected limb. It doesn't work. 5. Just Before Dawn (1981) – The Forgotten Grandfather The classic: Before Wrong Turn , there was this rainy, atmospheric slasher. Five campers wander into the Oregon wilderness. A massive, machete-wielding "mountain man" picks them off. But here’s the interesting part: The killer isn’t alone. There’s a twist involving a "twin" that directly influenced Wrong Turn 2 . movies like the wrong turn
This movie will ruin your day. The ending is infamous for making audiences throw popcorn at the screen. 4. The Ruins (2008) – The Vegetal Wrong Turn The hook: The monster isn’t a person. It’s the plants . American tourists get trapped on a Mayan pyramid in the jungle. The locals won't let them leave because they're "infected." What follows is a slow, agonizing body-horror film where vines crawl under your skin and mimic human voices. It has the same "group betrayal" dynamic as Wrong Turn (who gets left behind?). The ending is famously divisive (you’ll either love
The emotional stakes. You hate the villains so much that when the father (a retired cop) goes full John Wick with a shovel, you’ll cheer. 2. The Descent (2005) – The Subterranean Wrong Turn The hook: What if Wrong Turn happened 2,000 feet underground... with blind, echolocating humanoids? Six women go spelunking. They get trapped. Then they realize they aren't alone. The "crawlers" are faster, hungrier, and more claustrophobic than any hillbilly. This movie understands the Wrong Turn rule: The environment is the first killer. The Forest (1982) – The Weirdo Pick For
No gore for gore’s sake. It’s all about the sound design—twigs snapping, heavy breathing in the fog. A masterclass in slow burn. 6. High Tension (2003) – The French Wrong Turn The hook: Swap the forest for a remote French farmhouse. Two college girls visit a family farm. A truck-driving killer (with a burlap sack over his head) shows up, slaughters the family, and kidnaps one girl. The other gives chase. This movie is 80 minutes of pure chase . No subplots. No police. Just a girl, a killer, and a very sharp razor.