The road can be a dangerous place. Whether these vehicular excursions are with families or friends, those periods of time on the road can lead to memories either good or bad. In the most unfortunate of drives, a ride can go straight to hell.
So often in horror and suspense movies, hitting the open road is a one-way stop to terror. This is the case for so many of the people in the following ten movies, all of which are included with Amazon Prime Video right now.
Evil Things (2009)
This 2009 found-footage horror movie begins with a group of New York college students embarking on a trip to a remote forest cabin. Along the way, they notice a shady-looking black van following them. They even spot it near a diner they stop at.
Eventually, the unnerving van disappears. That is, until the characters reach the cabin.
Wrecker (2015)
Two best friends are having fun driving in the countryside when they opt to take a shortcut. In doing so, they seal their fates.
On this shortcut, the pair of women is pursued by a deranged truck driver whose tow truck somehow easily catches up to a Mustang. Is something supernatural going on? Either way, the women aren't safe, and there is no around to help them.
Switchback (1997)
An FBI agent played by Dennis Quaid is haunted by the disappearance of his son. One night, the boy was abducted by a serial killer; he broke in and murdered the babysitter.
Some time has passed and the obsessive father continues to search for his son. This entails his tracking the killer down by car and braving some treacherous mountain roads.
Penny Dreadful (2006)
Penny was so traumatized by the horrific car accident that robbed her of her parents, she now has a phobia of cars. Her therapist encourages her to face her fears by going on a road trip together that would end at a mountain community.
En route, the therapist accidentally hits a hitcher. He's not harmed, but she offers him a ride. That was her first mistake. The next, the therapist leaves Penny alone to get help after parting ways with the creepy stranger, who has punctured their car's tire. All by herself in the car, Penny fends off the terrorizing hitcher outside.
Roadside (2013)
A couple, whose marriage is on the rocks, is on the way to visit parents when a dead tree blocks their car's path. As the husband gets out to remove the debris, he's emotionally paralyzed by an unseen marksman in the bushes, who is holding the couple hostage.
The husband cannot get back in the car without being shot at. What is this maniac after?
Road Train (2010)
In this Australian import also known as Road Kill, four friends on their way to camping, unexpectedly get involved in a collision with a truck. They group of friends survives, but their car is totaled.
The problem doesn't end there as the truck driver is out to kill the other party. This encounter leaves some of them possessed by an evil force, too.
Skew (2011)
More found-footage horror can be found in Skew. Three friends are road tripping together; one of them captures the event on his camcorder. Everything seems fun, at first, until a series of strange incidents rattle the trio.
Their friendship soon dissolves as paranoia and distrust enters.
Wolf Creek 2 (2013)
In this followup to the Australian exploitation horror movie Wolf Creek, the backwoods serial killer Mick Taylor returns to stalk and maim more innocent people.
The xenophobic murderer meets his match, though, when he comes across an English tourist named Paul. The two engage in a match of wits as their cat-and-mouse game spreads across the Outback.
Breakdown (1997)
This 1997 thriller was a modest hit at the box office. A couple's car breaks down in the New Mexico desert and the husband (Kurt Russell) fixes it while a truck driver takes his wife to a nearby café. After managing to fix the car, the husband goes to the café to meet his wife. However, she's not there.
The truck driver claims he doesn't know anything about the man's wife. Realizing he's dealing with a twisted individual, the husband searches desperately for his spouse.
The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Friends on their way to a day of fishing misguidedly assist a wandering hitchhiker. The man is really an unhinged and very dangerous man who fled the cops. The two friends obey their captor, but never give up the hope they can escape his evil clutches.
The Hitch-Hiker was directed by actress Ida Lupino. This makes her the first woman to direct a film noir.
The version on Amazon Prime Video is mistakenly listed as being a 2011 movie. When searching, one should include the director's name, too.