Today is World Tourism Day, a day meant to make people aware of the benefits of international tourism. It’s a way for people to experience other cultures and to see how other parts of the world function, broadening our horizons both literally and figuratively. Having had the good fortune to have traveled to some incredible places around the world, I can tell you firsthand just how important I believe experiences like the ones I’ve had are. They’ve shaped me to become the person I am and allowed me to appreciate things I never would’ve otherwise known.
But when it comes to traveling in cinema, it doesn’t always end well for the tourists. Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s downright deadly to venture outside your front door, much less when going to a brand new destination!
So, in the spirit of seeing the world and all the wondrous things it has to offer, let’s take a look at several horror films that prove you should respect where you are…and what you do!
An American Werewolf in London
How could I start this list and not make this the first choice? Two guys go backpacking through England only to offend some locals at a small pub. Deciding not to incur the wrath of several pissed off Brits, the pair go back into the night against the warnings of several patrons. Also not heeding the advice to stick to the road, the two aimlessly wander into the moors, where they are set upon by a werewolf. One dies, the other is bitten and so begins his transformative tale.
Moral of the story: Local superstitions might seem silly to you but they’re there for a reason. Pay heed and be respectful.
Cannibal Holocaust
A film that revolutionized the found footage genre almost two decades before The Blair Witch Project, it conveyed a similar message the that film: be very, very careful what you wish to document. Creepy with in the woods? Cannibal tribes in the Amazon? Guess what? No one wins in the end!
Moral of the story: Pick and choose your battles. If death is a possibility and you’re not willing to risk your life, don’t even try it.
Hostel
Look, I’m all for traveling the world on a whim and, perhaps more appropriately, on a lean wallet. Any chance you can take for a cheap, good deal, I say go for it! But maybe pay a bit of attention to how things begin playing out? After all, if you think something is too good to be true (such as several gorgeous women suddenly taking an interest in you out of the blue), it probably is. Stick to your group, go to the safe parts of town, and check out a museum or two.
Moral of the story: Think with the brain above your shoulders, not the one below. It’s better for everyone that way.
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Not many people mention this film when talking about the works of Wes Craven, which is a shame. I remember it being okay but highly imaginative and definitely unpleasant.
The idea here is that Bill Pullman is sent to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company to obtain large quantities of a drug used in local Voodoo rituals for potential medicinal applications. That alone should be enough of a red flag to anyone thinking this is a good idea.
“Hey Bob!”
“Yeah Jim?”
“We should piss off potential Voodoo practitioners and take their drugs for our own means!”
“I can’t think of A SINGLE THING that could go wrong with that idea!”
Moral of the story: Learn from those around you when traveling. And don’t try to steal their shit.
Chernobyl Diaries
A group of tourists think it’s smart to venture into the most irradiated place on the planet.
Moral of the story: Don’t be a fucking idiot.
Turistas
Once again, a group of backpackers run across the wrong kind of people in their travels. It all begins when the group parties it up at a beachfront bar only to have their drinks spiked, resulting in them passing out and waking up the next morning with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In this movie, it’s not only their lives that they’re in risk of losing, it’s their organs as well!
Moral of the story: Keep a close eye on your stuff. Tourists get robbed all the time, so be ever vigilant about taking care of yourself and your belongings!
The Ruins
Two couples join some people who are trying to find their missing friend. Their search leads them to a Mayan ruin where they are held hostage by local tribes who keep them at the site, refusing to let them step foot off the ancient structure. It turns out that the vines growing in and on this building are carnivorous and the locals will do anything to make sure it doesn’t spread.
Moral of the story: Spend a little time learning about the flora and fauna of the place you’re visiting. You never know what might bite!
Jaws
Alright, so this one might be a bit of a stretch because the tourists aren’t the ones who get the brunt of the attacks. Instead, it’s the residents of Amity who are put under the dark pall of a killer shark. However, it’s up to Sheriff Brody to figure out how to stop these shark attacks before the tourist season kicks in, which is why I’m going to let this one slide.
Moral of the story: Listen to local authorities and don’t disobey their commands. Oftentimes, a place is shut down for a very good reason.
JeruZalem
Two friends decide to go to Israel to soak in some fun, some sun, and just have a good time. Originally planning on going to Tel Aviv, they instead are convinced by a local to go to Jerusalem, who claims that it’s the real party city. Having been to Israel many times, I can tell you that’s a bold-faced lie. Tel Aviv is WAY better!
Getting back to the point, the women end up in Jerusalem just as the apocalypse begins and the Gates to Hell open, pouring forth demonic creatures. People start going crazy, the IDF are doing their best to contain the supernatural threats, and no one makes good decisions.
Moral of the story: Take the time to read about local history and religion. It’ll give you a great foundation when talking to people!
Hatchet
Mardi Gras! Time to drink it up, get laid, and make some bad decisions! When a couple of friends decided to take a haunted swamp tour, they realize that they’ve booked it with a guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing, resulting in the boat hitting a rock and sinking. It is there that the local legend Victor Crowley beings attacking them, killing them off one by one.
Moral of the story: Check online ratings when picking a tour. You want to be sure you’re getting a great experience!
Piranha 3D
After a small quake lets loose prehistoric piranhas, a small party town is beset upon by these carnivorous aquatic monstrosities, whose appetites are seemingly insatiable!
Moral of the story: Always wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking before swimming!