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When you watch horror movies, you kind of know what to expect. From supernatural phenomena to murderers, these films are meant to spook us. But what makes them even more terrifying is when they are based on true events. Films such as 'The Exorcist' (1973), 'Annabelle' (2014), and 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' (2005) are actually inspired by real stories.
Are you curious about the true stories that inspired these films? Then click on and get creeped out.
In this movie, an attorney defends a priest who faces accusations of negligent homicide following an exorcism.
This story is based on Anneliese Michel, who was 'allegedly' possessed and underwent more than 60 exorcisms. Tragically, Michel passed away from malnutrition. Her parents and priest were later convicted in connection with her death.
This film follows the story of a cartoonist fixated on uncovering the Zodiac killer.
The Zodiac killer terrorized California during the 60s and 70s. At least five murders were committed by him, but he claimed responsibility for 37. Zodiac sent his letters to the press, but his identity was never discovered.
Since its original debut in 1974, numerous films have been produced, including a 2003 movie featuring a disfigured man with a chainsaw relentlessly pursuing a group of friends.
The movie drew inspiration from the real-life tale of Ed Gein, a serial killer whose home was discovered to contain several objects crafted from human body parts.
In this film a young couple spends their vacation in an isolated house and is terrorized by a family of three.
The movie was based on Bryan Bertino's personal experiences during his childhood when strangers knocked on his door, only for him to later realize that they were burglars. Additionally, the film was inspired by the Manson family murders.
A young FBI agent enlists the aid of a convicted murderer to catch another serial killer who viciously peels the skin off victims.
The film is an adaptation of a novel by Thomas Harris. Prior to becoming an author, Harris was a crime reporting journalist. He drew inspiration from some of these events, including an interview with a doctor who was a murder convict on death row.
A young girl unknowingly purchases an old box containing a trapped spirit during a yard sale in this movie.
The film is inspired by stories about a dybbuk box, a concept rooted in Jewish mythology. This object in the film is real, so to speak. It is based on a box that was sold on eBay in 2003, along with a spooky story about the evils it supposedly caused.
The plot revolves around a family that is confronted with a series of supernatural experiences after moving into a new house.
This film is based on the true story of Allen and Carmen Snedeker, who bought a house that had previously been used as a funeral parlor. Many of the paranormal events described in the film are said to have actually happened.
A girl becomes possessed by an evil spirit in this horror classic. To get help, her mother enlists the assistance of two priests.
The film is an adaptation of a book with the same title, which was in turn influenced by the real exorcism of Roland Doe in 1949.
Both the 1979 and 2005 versions depict the story of a couple who move into a house where a mass murder has occurred and subsequently experience a series of supernatural events.
The storyline takes inspiration from the Lutz family, who relocated to the Amityville house in 1975 and experienced a succession of paranormal events.
The movie is a portrayal of real events experienced by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Certain aspects of the film are based on true events. A lawsuit was filed by the previous owners of the house on which the movie was based. The claim was that the house had been vandalized after the movie was released.
'The Conjuring' (2013) creators released this film after the public became fascinated with the doll from the 2013 film. The story is based on a real paranormal investigation of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who believed that a doll was possessed by an evil spirit.
This is a dark and twisted horror comedy directed by Antonia Bird. The film is based on true events, specifically the infamous Donner Party incident of 1846-47.
This historical event involved a group of stranded pioneers who resorted to cannibalism to survive in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 'Ravenous' takes this gruesome story and adds a supernatural twist to it.
In both 'The Hills Have Eyes' (2006) and 'Wrong Turn' (2003), people are hunted down and eaten by a group of cannibals in a remote location.
These films are based on the story of a 16th century Scottish clan that ate hundreds of people. Sawney Bean, the leader of the clan, was eventually executed.
The movie tells the true tale of Joe Ball, a 1930s serial killer who brutally killed over 20 women. Reports suggest that he fed the victims to his pet crocodiles.
'The Exorcist' and other horror movies inspired by real-life events
These terrifying movies are based on true stories
MOVIES Cinema
When you watch horror movies, you kind of know what to expect. From supernatural phenomena to murderers, these films are meant to spook us. But what makes them even more terrifying is when they are based on true events. Films such as 'The Exorcist' (1973), 'Annabelle' (2014), and 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' (2005) are actually inspired by real stories.
Are you curious about the true stories that inspired these films? Then click on and get creeped out.