When you think about it, Las Vegas is the perfect setting for a horror movie. The glamorous exterior of the town hides what some consider to be an ugly truth, which is ripe for examination through the horror lens. Not only that, but the intricate layouts of casinos, restaurants, and hotels would provide excellent suspense-building, and there’s something about the schlocky, fun nature of Vegas that makes it ideal for the more campy side of horror.
We’re about to look at the best horror movies set in Vegas – or set in casinos in general – but before we do, we recommend getting into the casino ambience if you’re going to watch any of these movies. To do that, make yourself some cocktails, decorate your home accordingly, and be sure to join this website if you want to get stuck into some casino gaming favourites. If you are inexperienced or rusty, read a bit about gambling terminology to understand the plots better. Without further ado, then, let’s take a look at the best horror movies set in Vegas.
Army of the Dead (dir. Zack Snyder, 2021)
Despite spending a number of years fending off the zombie hordes of development hell, Zack Snyder’s followup to his 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake is actually surprisingly decent. It’s a Zack Snyder film, so if you’re familiar with his movies, you already know if you’re going to like this one. However, it never lets up, and the action it offers – while familiar to fans of the genre – is more than diverting enough to pass an hour or two. Dave Bautista is always fun to watch, and there are some inspired plot twists that should hold your interest beyond the somewhat prosaic setup.
Resident Evil: Extinction (dir. Russell Mulcahy, 2007)
Love them or hate them, Paul W. S. Anderson’s Resident Evil movies are reliable little money-spinners for Sony. This one wasn’t directed by the maestro himself, with directing duties instead handed off to Highlander director Russell Mulcahy, but it’s a continuation of the same aesthetics and themes the franchise has embraced since its cinematic inception. The Vegas scenes present a reasonably convincing facsimile of the City of Sin, and if you’re already invested in this series, you’ll be satisfied with the narrative and action on offer.
Dead Man’s Hand (dir. Charles Band, 2007)
Dead Man’s Hand is about as schlocky a horror movie as they come, but that doesn’t mean it’s without entertainment value. A man inherits a casino from his dead uncle, and upon arriving at the venue, he discovers it’s overrun with undead mobsters. Rather than doing the intelligent thing – running for the hills and leaving the cleanup to more qualified folk – our hero decides to do battle with the ghosts, leading to an intermittently entertaining 81 minutes. Dead Man’s Hand isn’t going to win any Oscars (and, indeed, it didn’t), but it’s passably watchable for the truly dedicated horror aficionado.
Hostel: Part III (dir. Scott Spiegel, 2011)
Unfortunately, the well of truly great Vegas horror movies isn’t one that can be said to yield a lot of nourishing water. Hostel: Part III lacks the incisive edge and arguable satire of the first entry, instead choosing to focus on over-the-top gore and protracted torture sequences. With that said, if you do love gory horror movies and you don’t mind a dearth of narrative depth, then Hostel: Part III should make for an entertaining enough movie, especially if you sandwich it between more filling fare during a marathon. It’s set in Vegas, which means plenty of sin, sand, and – oh goodness, what are they doing with that mask!?
Fright Night (dir. Craig Gillespie, 2011)
This remake of a campy 80s horror classic features an ensemble cast that is undeniably having the time of its life. David Tennant is clearly enjoying himself as Peter, and while this won’t be remembered as the late Anton Yelchin’s finest acting hour, he still gives the role his all. Other ghoulishly watchable cast members include Colin Farrell, Kick-Ass’ Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and the always wonderful Imogen Poots. This is the perfect movie to throw on when you’ve got friends over and you don’t want something that’s too intellectually stimulating.
Spirits of the Dead (dirs. Roger Vadim, Louis Malle, Federico Fellini, 1968)
This omnibus piece has rather unfairly gone down as a footnote in three very talented directors’ histories, but it’s worth seeking out, if only for the William Wilson segment. Based on a short story by legendary horror writer Edgar Allan Poe, William Wilson focuses on an army officer who murders his doppelganger. We’re including this one almost solely for a scene in which Wilson, played by Alain Delon, battles a smouldering Brigitte Bardot in a Vegas casino. The card game is the stuff of legends, and we’re not likely to see its ilk in movies any time soon.
Leprechaun III (dir. Brian Trenchard-Smith, 1995)
We often wonder what the sets of movies like Leprechaun III must be like. Obviously, nobody who’s present for the creation of movies like this thinks they’re making high art, but they must be tremendous fun to work on nonetheless. Leprechaun III is not a good movie by any metric, and is one of the only films to currently hold the “coveted” 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nonetheless, it’s set in Vegas, and if you can leave your critical brain at the door, you may well find an enjoyable hour-and-a-half here. Just don’t expect your life to be transformed.
