Respect Mother Nature, or Else: Dun dun dunnnn!
Today we’re exploring some great offerings in the “Eco Horror” and “Environmental Disaster” subgenera of Sci-Fi and Horror flicks. Check out our picks below. Feel free to drop a trailer link or movie name in the comments if you think we’ve missed a classic that belongs on this list!
The Bay (2012)
This found footage horror film chronicles the downfall of residents residing in a seaside community in Maryland. During the town’s 4th of July festivities, the townspeople become inflicted with a strange parasite. Is it food poisoning, or perhaps something even more mysterious and nefarious?! You’ll just have to watch and see.
Now Streaming on HBO Max or with HBO for Hulu or Amazon Prime Premium Add-On.
The Ruins (2008)
Adapted from Scott Smith’s book of the same name, this supernatural eco horror film follows two insufferable American couples traveling to Mexico for a destination vacation. Not satisfied with the luxurious resort they’ve booked, the four fools embark on a journey to see ~~*~the more authentic country vistas.~~~~*~ After disrespecting the locals taking some beautiful nature selfies for their travel diary, the foursome decides to overstep their boundaries explore the grounds of this untapped wild wonderland. Is this uncharted territory the next big travel blogger destination? Or does something more sinister lurk beneath… A great cautionary tale for disrespectful white travel bloggers!
The Host (2006)
Not to be confused with the subpar Stephenie Meyers book-to-movie adaptation of the same name, this cinematic monster movie masterpiece is magnificently made by maestro Bong Joon-Ho and is easily one of the best creature features ever made. It might seem like a bold claim, but give it a watch and you’ll see what we mean. This flick makes our list of Eco-Horror thanks to its villainous American eco-terrorists and the commentary on intentionally dumped pollutants contaminating a water supply. Partly inspired by a true incident where a Korean mortician was instructed by the US Military to improperly dispose copious amounts of formaldehyde. Additional nods include environmental and physical damage due to weaponized “Agent Orange” as well as commentary on South Korean politics.
Annihilation (2018)
We would be absolutely remiss if we didn’t include this psychedelic tinged gem on our list of Environmental/EcoHorror. A team of five women embark on a journey into a mysterious environmental anomaly caused by a meteoroid landing three years prior. Their mission is to recover data and investigate the plant life and animal mutations as well as the mysterious disappearance of previous excursion teams. Based on Jeff Vandermeer’s “Southern Reach Trilogy” book series, this exemplifies the EcoHorror and Environmental Horror genre whilst also effortlessly blending Cosmic Horror and Scifi elements as well. We absolutely recommend both this adaptation and the book series. In fact, we’re really sad this was set to be a standalone and are really craving more of this visual feast!
@Netflix: Please hear our plea for more of this world building and women-led scifi-horror content! We need more of it in our eyeballs. #PetitionToFinishTheSouthernReachTrilogy.
Now streaming via Hulu Live subscription or to Rent/Buy on Amazon Prime.
The Grey (2012)
We know that this isn’t a conventional entry onto the list, but what is more terrifying than being left to the elements and battling mother nature for survival?! Exactly. This is seriously tight thriller of Man Vs. Nature rife with suspense and truly compelling visuals. Plus, it’s Liam Neeson stuck in the snow after a plane crash kicking ass. Like really, what is there not to love about it?!
The Happening (2008)
Look, we never promised that this list was only going to contain good movies. If you’re a fan of M. Night Shyamalan, you can probably (A) see this plot “twist” coming a mile away (B) just skip it and avoid tainting your enjoyment of this director’s body of work. If you’re hellbent on checking this one off in your quest to watch his entire filmography, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Anyway, something bad is in the air and it’s making people lose their minds and die and no one knows why. Could it be man-made in origin? Is this divine retribution? Is anyone really believing these casting choices? Mysteries abound in this vaguely sci-fi adjacent eco horror offering.
It’s probably streaming somewhere but you probably shouldn’t put that much effort into looking for it because you’re not missing much. We just felt it really belonged on this list. Because trees.
The Green Inferno (2013)
Please do not mistake this movie’s inclusion on this list as our endorsement or encouragement to watch it. But if you’d like to see just how harmful white folks are to indigenous folks, look no further than Eli Roth. The man is an ecoterrorist in his own right, barging into remote indigenous lands and exploiting the regional tribes for his own xenophobic agenda. This movie is horribly racist and exemplifies all the problems white folks cause on a global scale in the name of (A) entertainment, (B) travel blogging, (C) their ridiculous white savior complexes. If that doesn’t just knock your socks off with being impressively offensive, Eli Roth is also a Xenophobic Sex Pest who doesn’t deserve your money via these streams.
Skip it. We’re really not helping you find this one. It’s a waste of your time.
Listicle by Ellen Avigliano
Twitter: @ImaginariumCS
Instagram: @ImaginariumArts
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com
