Horror Films Inspired By Real-Life Events
Many horror flick fans get through terrifying movies by telling themselves, “It’s only a movie". Somehow, it’s easier to digest if we think it could never actually happen.
But in truth, many horror films, like The Conjuring or Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, were actually based on true events—making them even more scary than you originally thought.
Fire In The Sky (1993)
Fire in the Sky tells the true tale of Travis Walton—a man who claims to have been taken by aliens back in November of 1975. He was heading home to Snowflake, Arizona with a few colleagues when he went missing for five days before suddenly returning with a disturbing story to tell.
He published his experiences in a book called The Walton Experience, which was later republished and titled Fire in the Sky following the release of the movie.
Paramount, Fire in the Sky (1993)
The Rite (2011)
The Rite is inspired by the real-life experiences of Father Gary Thomas, one of the 14 Vatican-certified exorcists working in the US. While he was studying in Rome, Thomas met a journalist who wrote about his experiences in The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist. Thomas also supervised the making of the film.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Amityville Horror is based on the real experiences of the Lutz family. Thirteen months before they moved into their Amityville, NY home at 112 Ocean Avenue, Ronald DeFeo Jr took the lives of six of his family members—in the house.
The Lutz family launched a series of books detailing their experience during the 28 days they spent in the home, which is the basis for 11 films.
The oldest child, Daniel Lutz, spoke about his experiences publicly for the first time in the documentary My Amityville Horror, released in 2012.
American International Pictures, The Amityville Horror (1979)
Annabelle (2014)
Annabelle, the cursed doll, was first introduced in The Conjuring (2013) and later became a separate franchise of her own.
The doll is based off a Raggedy Anne doll that was given to a young nurse. After a number of traumatic events occur, the nurse enlists in the help of a medium who believes the doll is inhabited by the spirit of a seven-year-old girl named Annabelle Higgins.
The doll was apparently cursed by a demonic spirit and had been blamed for violent attacks, leading to at least two near-death experiences.
The actual doll now sits in a museum owned by paranormal investigators. Under her glass case is a sign that reads: “Warning: Positively do not open".
New Line Cinema, Annabelle (2014)
Zodiac (2007)
This movie is based on the real Zodiac slayer who terrorized San Francisco in the 1960s and '70s. The guy would also taunt authorities by sharing puzzles and coded messages through the press.
In the movie, political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal) spends decades obsessing over figuring out the Zodiac’s identity—however, the case remains unsolved.
Winchester (2018)
Winchester is based off the true story of the Winchester Mystery House—a historic landmark in San Jose, California and the home of the late Sarah Winchester.
The home—which is said to be haunted—has 160 rooms, 40 staircases, 6 kitchens, three elevators, two basements, and just one shower.
Ms Winchester moved to the old farmhouse after both her infant child and her husband passed. During its renovations, countless occurrences of paranormal activity allegedly occurred—and still do today.
Blacklab Entertainment, Winchester (2018)
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
Deliver Us From Evil is based on the real life experiences of NYPD sergeant Richie Sarchie. However, director Scott Derrickson has said that the storyline includes fictional content as well, to create a riveting plot.
Screen Gems, Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring blends two other true horror stories into one. The movie draws on the previous case of two demonologists that involved a creepy, haunted doll (Annabelle). The two professionals are also known for investigating the Lutz family from Amityville.
New Line Cinema, The Conjuring (2013)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist is another classic horror film that continues to terrify audiences years later—but the film’s inspiration is just as chilling.
It’s based on the case of a 14-year-old boy known as Roland Doe, who was reportedly possessed by something sinister. As a result, an exorcism was performed where he ended up ripping apart the mattress and throwing it at the priest.
Days later, red marks appeared on Doe’s face spelling out “LOUIS". It has never been explained.
Warner Bros., The Exorcist (1973)
The Possession (2012)
The Possession is about a young girl who buys an antique box at a yard sale, not knowing that a malicious spirit lives inside.
The story originated from an eBay listing for a “dybbuk box". The listing also included a horror story written by its owner, Kevin Mannis.
In Hebrew folklore, a dybbuk is a malicious spirit that has the ability to haunt and possess the living.
Ghost House Pictures, The Possession (2012)
The Haunting In Connecticut (2009)
The Haunting in Connecticut is inspired by the real-life story of the Snedeker family who, in 1986, rented a home in Connecticut that turned out to be a former mortuary. Well-known demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren declared the home to be overrun by demons.
Lionsgate, The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
Stuck (2007)
In Stuck, a young nursing assistant tries to decide her next course of action after committing a hit-and-run where the person becomes lodged in the windshield.
The story is based on Chante Jawan Mallard—a Texan woman who hit a homeless man named Gregory Glen Biggs, and left him in her windshield until he passed. She ended up sentenced to 50 years behind bars.
Prodigy Pictures, Stuck (2007)
Things Heard & Seen (2021)
Things Heard & Seen is about a Manhattan couple who move to a historic hamlet and discover that their marriage has sinister secrets involving their new home’s history.
It was based on actual events that author Elizabeth Brundage experienced in a home she rented with her husband. She wrote the book All Things Cease to Appear, which led to the movie.
Likely Story, Things Heard & Seen (2021)
Borderland (2007)
Borderland is about three friends who go to Mexico to celebrate their college graduation but end up stumbling upon a cult that practices human sacrifice.
The movie is loosely based on the real life of Adolfo Constanzo—American-born serial slayer and cult leader who moved to Mexico and befriended people who would become his future followers.
Tonic Films, Borderland (2007)
Open Water (2003)
Open Water is about a couple who get left behind after their scuba diving group leaves without them. The movie is based on the real story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan who were visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in January of 1998, when they were left behind.
Experts don’t exactly believe the Lonergan’s shared the same fate as the characters in the movie—but they were never found.
Plunge Pictures LLC, Open Water (2003)
Monster (2003)
Charlize Theron won 17 awards, including an Oscar, for her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos—a street worker turned serial slayer who was responsible for taking the lives of six people (possibly more). She was convicted and executed in Florida in 2002.
Media 8 Entertainment, Monster (2003)
Dahmer (2002)
Many already know that Dahmer is a biopic based on the well-known serial slayer Jeffrey Dahmer, who lured men into his home and then ended their lives and dismembered their bodies. Not only that, Dahmer did unthinkable things to their bodies before he cut them up and ate them.
Blockbuster Films, Dahmer (2002)
The Birds (1963)
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds is based on a real-life event that happened in 1961, when a large number of birds in the Monterey Bay area reportedly acted disoriented and rammed into people’s houses—with no known cause.
Scream (1996)
Classic horror film Scream was inspired by the Gainesville, Florida mutilations where several young people lost their lives to a serial slayer.
Screenwriter Kevin Williamson said he watched a TV special about it and then wrote the script.
Dimension Films, Scream (1996)
Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist is about a family whose home was built on a burial ground and plagued with evil spirits.
The movie is based on the true story of the Hermann family who claimed their home in Long Island, New York was haunted after objects began mysteriously flying around the house.
Black Water (2007)
Black Water is about a family vacation that ends up becoming a fight for survival after a terrifying crocodile attack. The movie is based on a horrific crocodile attack that did actually happen in Northern Australia in 2003.
The Australian Film Commission, Black Water (2007)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is loosely inspired by the real life serial slayer Ed Gein—also known as “the Butcher of Plainfield". Gein exhumed corpses from graveyards and made keepsakes from their bones and skin.
Just like in the film, Gein also had a history of wearing women’s clothing.
Vortex, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers is about a terrifying home invasion that is inspired by real-life violent acts, including the slayings committed by the Manson Family and the 1981 Cabin Slayings, in which four people lost their lives to three masked assailants.
Rogue Pictures, The Strangers (2008)
The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (2005)
The horrifying tale of Emily Rose is loosely based on the actual experiences of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who underwent an exorcism and later passed from malnutrition and dehydration.
Her parents, along with the priest involved, were charged for her demise.
Screen Gems, The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street is about a serial slayer who stalks his prey while they’re sleeping. How could it possibly be based on real events?
In an interview with Vulture for the film’s 30th anniversary, the writer and director, Wes Craven, revealed that the film was inspired by newspaper articles from the Los Angeles Times about young refugees who passed in their sleep. It was said that many men would refuse to sleep because they feared nightmares would lead to their demise.
In total, 26 men passed in their sleep in 1981.
