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Those who loved The Purge might be itching for new ways of experiencing similar concepts. Surely, horror films that depict humanity’s worst natures outside The Purge, right? As it turns out, some films might just fix that The Purge itch.

10 The Human Race (2013)

At first glance, The Human Race doesn’t feel like a horror film at all. After all, even its title card makes it seem like a sci-fi action flick. However, its premise certainly makes up for it. After encountering a flash of light, 80 strangers end up in an empty city block. They hear instructions in their head that they must run, never step on the grass, and never get lapped by anyone twice. Soon, racers start dying – some step on the grass, others get lapped twice, and a few force other competitors to die in their stead.

Despite the straightforward premise, The Human Race gives an interesting take on the “sole survivor” genre. Adding to the tension is the fact the lead happens to be an amputee. Like The Purge, The Human Race sets impossible odds that the protagonist has to conquer in order to survive.

9 Hell Fest (2018)

Traveling theme parks are wonderfully unique attractions that not everyone gets to visit. While a horror theme park might sound tempting for fans of the genre, having a murderous stalker inside will make the thrills a touch too terrifying. In Hell Fest, a masked man decides to stalk a group of friends and kill them one by one as they enjoy a horror theme park.

Granted, Hell Fest isn’t exactly brilliant. However, as with The Purge, it’s terrifying to see how an “innocent” agenda can turn horrifying at the hands of the wrong people. In The Purge, the goal to “lower crime rates” resulted in a “policy” that got twisted to “promote” crime and murder. In Hell Fest, a horror theme park becomes a serial killer’s avenue to “dress up” and disguise his horrific acts.

8 Escape Room (2019)

Claustrophobic rooms and death traps aren’t new in the horror genre. Apart from Saw’s signature traps and Cube’s sickening six-sided rooms of horror, not many films made a mark in the “death games” subgenre. Thankfully, Escape Room makes an interesting twist to the growing phenomenon of its titular activity. After all, instead of escaping a puzzle room for bragging rights, what if actual lives are on the line?

Sadly, Escape Room doesn’t completely capitalize on its interesting novel concept of escape room death traps. Given a sequel is in the works, Escape Room 2 could hopefully provide engrossing puzzles that viewers may also enjoy. As with The Purge, viewers of Escape Room will ask “would they have done the same thing?”

7 Vacancy (2007)

Motels provide safe havens for people who need a place to stay when they’re away from their homes. In Vacancy, motels are the best venue to create snuff films. At least, this is what couple David and Amy Fox discover as they see gruesome videotapes and surveillance equipment in their room.

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As with other 2000s horror flicks, Vacancy has its fair share of campiness. However, it’s unique in its reliance on psychological terror to instill a sense of fear in the horrifying nature of being in a strange motel room in the middle of nowhere. And like in The Purge, Vacancy proves that strangers aren’t always trustworthy – and in a place where survival is a requirement, trust is an expensive commodity.

6 Don’t Breathe (2016)

In Don’t Breathe, three delinquents attempt to rob a blind Gulf War veteran. Unfortunately for them, the veteran has retained his instincts, and won’t hesitate to kill intruders in his home. As the title implies, the slightest movement could help the villain catch the delinquents in their struggle to escape his house.

While not as engrossing as The Purge, Don’t Breathe does explore the former’s trope of being at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Don’t Breathe presents a unique twist on the home invasion genre and should be entertaining for fans looking for something new.

5 The Strangers (2008)

Horror films tend to age miserably over time. This isn’t necessarily a case with The Strangers, with an initial subpar theatrical release that ended up becoming a sleeper hit. In the film, the couple James Hoyt and Kristen McKay visit the former’s isolated summer home. Unfortunately for them, three masked intruders make their way inside their safe abode.

Unlike other horror flicks, The Strangers highlights the sheer horror of death being a random act. Whereas the usual classic slashers try to “explain” horrific situations with negative behavior (e.g., alcohol, drugs), The Strangers show an unsettling truth: death just happens. Both The Strangers and The Purge highlight this idea.

4 You’re Next (2011)

Slasher films are as predictable as slicing cake, and You’re Next knows this. Consequently, it adds dark humor to its repertoire of tricks. In You’re Next, young Erin and her boyfriend Crispian visit the latter’s family for a reunion. Unsurprisingly, things go wrong, as killers wearing various animal masks break into the house.

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Despite the violence and gore, You’re Next compensates for its “predictable” nature with fitting humor that will appeal to both horror fans and regular viewers. Moreover, Erin is a fresh take on the struggling horror heroine.

3 Hide And Seek (2013)

It’s one thing to actively stop a violent home invasion, but it’s another thing entirely to confirm whether people have already “invaded” a house. In Hide and Seek, two families begin to notice that strangers might be living inside their homes. And when their survival is put at risk, the families are forced to fight back.

Despite being a low-budget film, Hide and Seek is a stellar addition to the home invasion genre. Feeling more of a mystery than a horror film, Hide and Seek will force viewers to question the “peace” they notice in their own homes. And unlike other horror films, Hide and Seek contains a small twist that will want viewers to rewatch the film from another point of view. While The Purge remains an entertaining alt-history rewatch, Hide and Seek is simply an artistic take on the home invasion genre worth revisiting every few years.

2 The Belko Experiment (2016)

The Belko Experiment is straightforward: kill or get killed. In this horrific take on office drama, the seemingly unimposing Belko Industries building becomes the site of a horrific experiment. As the premise implies, the employees have to kill a certain number of colleagues or else more than that number would be killed by the recent implant in their skulls.

In a fight for survival, employee Mike and his colleagues have to end the experiment while stopping others from killing them. Sadly, despite starting with a strong premise, The Belko Experiment lacks the “punch” to engage the audience once the violence begins. However, the film is still a great attempt to give a unique take to the sole survivor genre.

1 Battle Royale (2000)

What better film to watch after the grisly dystopia of The Purge than the grisly dystopia of Battle Royale? An adaptation of the novel of the same name, Battle Royale is set in an alternate history where the “BR ACT” has created the Battle Royale: a tournament that pits students in a fight to the death to curb teenage delinquency. In the story, middle schooler Shuya and his class end up in the said tournament, which takes place on a remote island. If no victor is declared within three days, all of them will die.

Despite its sickening nature, Battle Royale is a grisly look into a reality where survival through violence is forced into a crowd. Whereas The Purge tries to weave social commentary into its premise, Battle Royale explores these times by the way Shuya and his classmates interact with each other.

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