by  Rachel Reeves

The subgenre of eco-horror exists to remind us that the Earth and natural world were here long before each and every one of us, and will remain so long after we depart this mortal coil. It is horror rooted in the idea that nature does not exist to serve or be controlled by short-sighted humans, and can indeed fight back. Whether it’s killer animals, toxic contamination, mutation, or the general sense that the planet is fed up with our abuse, eco-horror is one of the most enduring and prescient corners of the genre. 

That said, it makes perfect sense that eco-horror began to gain real momentum in the 1970s. While examples of eco-horror existed long before that, Earth Day launched in 1970 as part of the modern environmental movement. The EPA was created that same year amid growing public anxiety over pollution, pesticides, and the compounding damage being done to our air, water, and land. That combo made the decade a fertile breeding ground for stories about nature striking back. You can almost feel the era’s fear of industrial excess seeping straight onto the screen.

Even today, eco-horror still works because the anxieties behind it, unfortunately, never went away. Despite all the advances made in the last few decades, science remains constantly questioned, planned obsolescence keeps landfills full, and extreme weather events are only increasing. 

If you, too, are feeling frustrated and have sympathy for the planet that sustains life for us all, here are 7 eco-horror films to check out, along with where to stream them, to help channel that angst.

The Last Winter (2006)

Larry Fessenden’s The Last Winter blends snow horror with eco-horror, taking place in the freezing, godforsaken Arctic. Starring Ron Perlman, Connie Britton, James LeGros, Zach Gilford, and Kevin Corrigan, the movie kicks off as an oil company’s push into the Alaska tundra taps into something unexpected and very dangerous. The crew soon begins to experience eerie visions, disappearances, and paranoia as the land itself seems to rebel against their presence.

Where to watch: Shudder

Read whole list at BD!