Hotels and motels have long served as the perfect breeding grounds for terror, with their eerie, isolated atmospheres and histories that beg for creepy stories. Some of the most iconic horror films are set in these unsettling locations, ranging from the murderous Bates Motel in Psycho to the supernatural hauntings of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. Here’s a look at some of the scariest hotel and motel horror movies, where the guests rarely check out in one piece.
Psycho (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 8.5/10 Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho takes place at the remote Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates, whose sinister dual personality is more terrifying than the quiet, abandoned highway it sits on.
The Shining (1980)
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 8.4/10 The Overlook Hotel, with its ghostly inhabitants and a madness-stricken Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson), offers one of the most iconic horror movie settings ever. From its haunting twins to the eerie hedge maze, the Overlook is a nightmare wrapped in grandeur.
The Witches (1990)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.8/10 Though it’s a dark fantasy aimed at children, the grand Hotel Excelsior (in reality, the Headland Hotel) in this film hosts a gathering of witches whose sinister plot is enough to give anyone chills.
1408 (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.8/10 Based on a Stephen King short story, 1408 follows a skeptical writer investigating paranormal activity at the Dolphin Hotel. The horrors of room 1408 are terrifying enough to convince anyone that some places are best left unexplored
Private Parts (1972)
IMDb: 6.5/10 The King Edward Hotel on Skid Row, Los Angeles, becomes a place of obsession and psychological horror in this lesser-known gem. Dark and twisted, it’s one for fans of vintage thrillers.
The Night (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 5.5/10 This Iranian-American psychological thriller uses the real-life Hotel Normandie in Los Angeles to create a claustrophobic nightmare as a couple faces sinister forces while trapped overnight.
Identity (2003)
Rotten Tomatoes: 63% | IMDb: 7.3/10 A rainstorm forces ten strangers into the Desert Valley Motel, but what should be a safe haven quickly turns into a death trap as the guests are mysteriously killed one by one.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.7/10 Rob Zombie’s grisly horror film follows a family of killers hiding out at the Kahiki Palms Motel, where the terror escalates as they continue their violent rampage.
Vacancy (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.2/10 Starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, this thriller plays on everyone’s fear of being stranded at a desolate motel with sinister staff and hidden cameras recording the horrors that unfold.
Hostel (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: 59% | IMDb: 5.9/10 A group of backpackers checks into a Czech hostel, only to discover a horrifying torture ring targeting tourists. This movie, infamous for its gore, has forever altered how travelers think about budget accommodations.
These films showcase just how terrifying a seemingly normal night away from home can be, with eerie atmospheres, sinister owners, and supernatural forces that leave an unforgettable mark on movie history.
