Horror Movies Based on True Stories

Can You Relate?

 As a True Crime and horror movie superfan, I find it pretty cool when people intertwine the two. For instance, did you know that some of your favorite horror movies are based on actual true stories? I feel like that just makes the movie all the more interesting. So, let's jump in shall we?


What is a Horror Movie?

Well, the dictionary-text description of a horror movie is a movie genre that focuses on eliciting fear, suspense, and dread in viewers. The films are made to thrill audiences, often tapping into primal fears, psychological discomfort, or the unknown. Horror films often intertwine suspense and shock with themes like death, isolation, or morality. They can be deeply symbolic, offering commentary on societal fears or taboos. They're not just about scares, they’re about provoking thought and exploring humanity's darkest corners. The genre includes a wide range of subgenres, such as:

  • Supernatural Horror: Featuring ghosts, demons, or otherworldly entities 

  • Psychological Horror: Exploring the dark corners of the human mind and emotions 

  • Slasher Films: Centered on violent killers or serial murders 

  • Monster Horror: Featuring creatures or beasts 

  • Paranormal Horror: Stories about hauntings, possessions, or unexplainable phenomena 

  • Found Footage: Presented as "real-life" recordings for added authenticity 

  • Survival Horror: Following characters battling for their lives in extreme situations 

What is True Crime?

Back to the textbook definitions! True crime is a genre that dives into real-life crimes, exploring the events, individuals, and investigations surrounding them. It typically focuses on high-profile cases involving murder, abductions, fraud, and other shocking or mysterious incidents, but it could also feature and bring awareness to a lot of smaller and less known horror cases. This genre is popular in various forms of media, such as books, podcasts, documentaries, and films, and often provides a mix of storytelling, analysis, and factual reporting. Some types of true crime include (but really are not limited to):

  • Criminal Cases: Retelling real events, often with a focus on motives, methods, and outcomes.

  • Investigative Depth: Detailed accounts of police work, legal proceedings, and forensic evidence.

  • Psychological Exploration: Examining the minds of criminals and the impact on victims and society.

  • Societal Reflections: Highlighting systemic issues, such as justice system flaws or societal influences on crime.

Okay Enough With the History Lesson! Give Us the List Of Movies!

Well you very impatient reader, here's a list of some movies that will give you your horror movie fix while also scaring you with the reality that this was once someone's well...reality:

  • The Conjuring (2013) - Inspired by the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) - Based on the tragic exorcism of Anneliese Michel.

  • The Amityville Horror (1979, 2005) - A chilling tale of a haunted house in New York.

  • Zodiac (2007) - A thriller about the infamous Zodiac Killer.

  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - Loosely inspired by Ed Gein's crimes.

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Partially influenced by Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome.

  • The Girl Next Door (2007) - Based on the harrowing story of Sylvia Likens.

  • The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) - A family's terrifying experiences in a haunted house.

  • Fire in the Sky (1993) - A story of alleged alien abduction.

  • The Hills Have Eyes (1977) - Inspired by legends of a cannibalistic family.

Okay.... These Are the Movies so Where's the True Story?

Glad you (didn't really) ask! I have had the pleasure (and displeasure) of watching all of these movies, and doing some background on the true stories surrounding these movies (The Girl Next Door was a really hard watch and the crimes the movie is based on was even harder for me to go through especially since I watched this movie at like age thirteen, and then The Conjuring series is just...... the movies in their own right for the most part are okay but the "true crime" aspect is hard for me to get behind). So with that being said, I bring you the true stories that these movies are based on!

 

  • The Conjuring: The Perron family moved into a farmhouse in Rhode Island in 1971 and began experiencing paranormal activity, including spirits both benign and malevolent. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the case, claiming the presence of a witch named Bathsheba Sherman who had cursed the land.

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose: This film is based on the tragic case of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who underwent 67 exorcisms after being diagnosed with epilepsy and psychosis. Her death in 1976 from malnutrition and dehydration led to a controversial trial against her parents and priests.

  • The Amityville Horror: In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his family in their home in Amityville, New York. The Lutz family moved in a year later and reported terrifying paranormal experiences, including voices, strange odors, and green slime.

  • Zodiac: The Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, murdering at least five people and sending cryptic letters to newspapers. Despite numerous suspects, the killer's identity remains unknown.

  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: While not directly based on true events, the film drew inspiration from Ed Gein, a Wisconsin killer who made items from human remains. Gein's gruesome crimes influenced several horror films.

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: Wes Craven was inspired by reports of Southeast Asian refugees dying in their sleep due to unexplained causes, later termed Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome. The concept of nightmares leading to death shaped the film's premise.

  • The Girl Next Door: This disturbing film is based on the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens in 1965. Sylvia was subjected to horrific abuse by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, and others, leading to her tragic death.

  • The Haunting in Connecticut: The Snedeker family moved into a former funeral home in Connecticut in 1986 and reported paranormal activity, including apparitions and physical attacks. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated the case, claiming the house was infested with demons.

  • Fire in the Sky: Travis Walton claimed he was abducted by aliens in 1975 while working in Arizona. He disappeared for five days and later recounted vivid details of his alleged experience, which remains controversial.

  • The Hills Have Eyes: Wes Craven drew inspiration from the legend of Sawney Bean, a 16th-century Scottish clan leader who allegedly led a group of cannibalistic family members. The story, though likely fictional, is steeped in gruesome folklore.

  • So...That's Twisted

  • I know right? But out of all of these films and true stories as I said above, The Girl Next Door was the hardest hitting for me. I say watch the movie and look up the Sylvia Likens case at your own digression, but please make sure to look after yourself, because that case is NOT for the weak (not calling any of my lovely readers weak I'm just saying you'll definitely have a totally different outlook on humanity after that case and movie). But that is all for today's blog, which leads me to my final question..."What's your favorite scary movie?" (all of my Scream fans better know that reference!)



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