History Main / SafeZoneHopeSpot

-->'''Theo:''' Yeah, 'cause the last one was really f***ing safe.

* ''WorldWarZ'' was filled with stories and allusions to this trope.

* In ''[[Film/TwentyEightDaysLater 28 Days Later]]'' a broadcast on the radio claims that there is a safe zone north of London and a cure for the virus. When the protagonists arrive, it turns out that the point of the broadcast was to attract more people (specifically women) to the tiny group of soldiers holed up there, and the "cure" for the virus is waiting until the infected die off within a few more weeks.

* In the fourth ''Film/ResidentEvil'' film, the main character discovers that Arcadia, the so-called safe haven where survivors are supposed to have gathered, is in fact a trap laid by the BigBad. Subverted in that Alice succeeds in turning it into a safe haven by the end of the hill.

** In the original ''DawnOfTheDead'' there are rumours that the infection isn't so bad in Canada and that was where the gang was originally heading before that entered the mall. In the remake they attempt to head off to a island...which doesn't end so well.

* In [[Film/TwentyEightDaysLater 28 Days Later]] a broadcast on the radio claims that there is a safe zone north of London and a cure for the virus. When the protagonists arrive, it turns out that the point of the broadcast was to attract more people (specifically women) to the tiny group of soldiers holed up there, and the "cure" for the virus is waiting until the infected die off within a few more weeks.

* Played bleakly straight with ''World Of The Dead: The Zombie Diaries 2''. A group of British soldiers was told to go to a military outpost where survivors would be evacuated by boats, cause the British military was gonna bomb Britain's cities. Whats left of the military unit finally arrives as the bombing sirens sound only to find that the base was over run during a firefight and that every one was dead presumably the zombie attackers as well. The group decides to hold up there anyway. Turns out this was a bad idea as there were SEVERAL dozen zombies hidden in the bunker. The unit attempts a LastStand only to be overrun themselves. [[FinalGirl The final guy]] survives the SafeZoneHopeSpot just due to the fact he had a HeroicBSOD and decided to go to the beach and look for the boats anyway while the rest stayed behind in the outpost. He makes it to the beach only to realize that the boats left (or maybe they never arrived). Later on the beach he meets a couple who say they're ''coming from'' the area the survivor was trying to get to. Telling him they heard that it was safer where he was, because Britain was an island. The survivor just gives a subtle disturbed [[ThousandYardStare horrified glare]] to the oblivious couple, [[FridgeHorror while the woman caressed her pregnant belly]].

* Played bleakly straight with ''World Of The Dead: The Zombie Diaries 2''. A group of British soldiers was told to go to a military outpost where survivors would be evacuated by boats, cause the British military was gonna bomb Britain's cities. Whats left of the military unit finally arrives as the bombing sirens sound only to find that the base was over run during a firefight and that every one was dead presumably the zombie attackers as well. The group decides to hold up there anyway. Turns out this was a bad idea as there were SEVERAL dozen zombies hidden in the bunker. The unit attempts a LastStand only to be overrun themselves. [[TheFinalGirl The final guy]] survives the SafeZoneHopeSpot just due to the fact he had a HeroicBSOD and decided to go to the beach and look for the boats anyway while the rest stayed behind in the outpost. He makes it to the beach only to realize that the boats left (or maybe they never arrived). Later on the beach he meets a couple who say they're ''coming from'' the area the survivor was trying to get to. Telling him they heard that it was safer where he was, because Britain was an island. The survivor just gives a subtle disturbed [[ThousandYardStare horrified glare]] to the oblivious couple, [[FridgeHorror while the woman caressed her pregnant belly]].

* Not strictly this trope but in the same vein -- ''Brotherhood of the Rose'' by David Morrell has safehouses kept by international agreement among the world's intelligence agencies where no-one is allowed to be harmed, including three luxurious 'retirement homes'. When the protagonists finally arrive at a retirement home it's revealed they've actually got a massive suicide rate, as their formally-ambitious residents can't cope with being cooped up in a GildedCage from which YouCanNeverLeave.

* [[spoiler: Utopia]] in the ''DoctorWho'' episode [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E11Utopia of the same name]]]] is revealed to have been this in the season finale [[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E13LastOfTheTimeLords "Last Of The Time Lords"]].

* ''Brotherhood of the Rose'' by David Morrell has a series of safehouses kept by international agreement among the world's intelligence agencies where no-one is allowed to be harmed, including three luxurious 'retirement homes'. When the protagonists finally arrive at a retirement home it's revealed they've actually got a massive suicide rate, as their formally-ambitious residents can't cope with being cooped up in a GildedCage from which YouCanNeverLeave.

* In StephenKing's ''{{Cell}}'', the rumors about an area protected from the cell phone ZombieApocalypse turn out to have been manufactured to lure and turn the remaining humans.

* In StephenKing's ''{{Cellular}}'', the rumors about an area protected from the cell phone ZombieApocalypse turn out to have been manufactured to lure and turn the remaining humans.

* In StevenKing's ''{{Cellular}}'', the rumors about an area protected from the cell phone ZombieApocalypse turn out to have been manufactured to lure and turn the remaining humans.

** With ''DayOfTheDead'' you could say the bunker was one before the events of the movie but at the end the survivors don't seem to be having any problems on their tropical island, perhaps the happiest Romero ending.

* ''ZombieLand'' has this trope into play. But the rumors contradict the other as far as location. Either way, said place doesn't exist.

* In the fourth ResidentEvil film, the main character discovers that Arcadia, the so-called safe haven where survivors are supposed to have gathered, is in fact a trap laid by the BigBad. Subverted in that Alice succeeds in turning it into a safe haven by the end of the hill.
** In ResidentEvil2, the RPD building.

* TheRoad has boy and man heading south to get to warmer climate. Of course this place doesn't exist.
* ZombieLand has this trope into play. But the rumors contradict the other as far as location. Either way, said place doesn't exist.

* {{Left4Dead}} pulls this one over and over and over again. Most notable is Riverside in the first game.

* Series/TheWalkingDead starts with Rick Grimes trying to reach {{Atlanta}}, only to find out that there's no one there.

* Arguably every room in the game {{Shivers}} could be one. No matter where you go, there is the possibility of an Ixupi hiding somewhere nearby.
* Technically FatalFrame always has this. Most gamers believe that an area with a save point will be safe. But if you stay in ANY room for too long....a ghost WILL find you. Pray that it's not the [[ThatOneBoss Wandering Monk]].
* Happens ''TWICE'' in ''Centurion''.

* ''TheBirds'' fades out on the survivors leaving Bodega Bay for San Francisco, hoping to find help. Hitchcock's original plan was to have it fade back in to a shot of [[MonumentalDamage the Golden Gate Bridge covered in birds]], but the studio felt that was ''too'' dark and made him leave it open.

** In the second resident evil game, RCPD Headquarters is this.

* Happens ''TWICE'' in ''Centurion''.

* Arguably every room in the game {{Shivers}} could be one. No matter where you go, there is the possibility of an Ixupi hiding somewhere nearby.

** This was a running theme in the [[ComicBook/TheWalkingDead comic]], too. Some of the Safe Zones ''are'' safe...for a while.

* Series/TheWalkingDead starts with Rick Grimes trying to reach {{Atlanta}}, only to find out that there's no one there.

Usually when there's a ZombieApocalypse, AlienInvasion, or some type of pandemic thanks to TheVirus, or ThePlague, there will eventually be rumors that start to spread amongst survivors, and refugees about a "safe zone", or a "outpost" or something to that effect. After hearing this news of a possible refuge the desperate protagonists goes on a arduous and harrowing pilgrimage to said place where there's hopefully food, shelter, and uninfected (and sane) humans.

* TheRoad has boy and man heading south to get to warmer climate. Of course this place doesn't exists.
* ZombieLand has this trope into play. But the rumors contradict the other as far as location. Either way said place doesn't exists.

* TheWalkingDead starts with Rick Grimes trying to reach atlanta, only to find out that there's no one there.
* in 1x05. The recent episode had the CDC as this. possibly

* TheWalkingDead starts with Rick Grimes trying to reach alabama, only to find out that there's no one there. The recent episode had the CDC as this.

* TheWalkingDead starts with Rick Grimes trying to reach alabama, only to find out that there's no one in there

** It also seemingly averted with [[TonightSomeoneDies The Sacrifice]], where it appears that the safe zone was real. At least one of them is anyway.