The 10 scariest horror movies based on true stories
Some of the scariest horror movies of all time are dastardly with their approach to special effects, sound design and cinematography, scaring the pants off their often reluctant viewers using ingenious filmmaking tactics. Such classics as The Thing by John Carpenter and Alien by Ridley Scott have long terrified viewers, yet one thing you can always take solace from is the fact that it’s all ‘just a movie’.
But, whilst this is the case for most horror movies, the unfortunate truth is that many movies are based on tragic, horrifying and disturbing true stories. More often than not, these are vague supernatural tales from dubious sources, but other times, there are stacks of police evidence that back up violent tales of murder and much worse.
More recently, this has reared its head in The Conjuring franchise, which is based on the case studies of the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, as well as the David Fincher thriller Zodiac from 2007, which told the story of the notorious Zodiac Killer.
Our list of the scariest horror movies based on true stories explores some obscure tales from the genre, uncovering the remarkable realities behind these terrifying perceived fictions.
10 horror movies based on true stories:
The Amityville Horror (Stuart Rosenberg, 1979)
Depending on if you’re a supernatural sceptic or a true believer, the true story of the horror movie The Amityville Horror by director Stuart Rosenberg will either sound terrifying or quite simply eye-rolling. The story of a family who move into a large house, which was formerly the crime scene of a mass murder, and begin to experience inexplicable goings-on has rather unusual origins.
The film is based on the book by Jay Anson, published in September 1977, which was itself based on the stories of paranormal phenomena by the Lutz family. The story goes that in 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr shot and killed six members of his family, a year before the Lutz family would move in and flee within 28 days, claiming to have been tormented by constant paranormal phenomena.
The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963)
While most horror movies focus on human or supernatural killers, the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds takes a slightly different approach, frightening the audience through aggressive birds that attack anyone in sight. The movie was adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s short story of the same name, with Tippi Hendren in one of the lead roles. Unbelievably, the movie takes inspiration from a real case of violent bird attacks.
While du Maurier was influenced by the sight of a farmer getting flocked by seagulls, Hitchcock was inspired by an incident that occurred after the story was published. In 1961, birds that had ingested toxic algae began wreaking havoc in a California neighbourhood, flying into buildings and vomiting, much to the residents’ terror.
Black Christmas (Bob Clark, 1974)
Released the same year as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Black Christmas is often considered one of the first slasher movies, helping to kickstart the popular genre. Directed by Bob Clark, the film follows a group of college girls who find themselves targeted by a menacing killer during the holiday season. Since its release, it has become a cult favourite and the perfect festive watch for those who prefer Halloween.
The simple premise of a man calling from inside the house and targeting the girls in their own home terrified audiences. Yet, the story is made even more frightening due to the fact that Clark based the movie on the holiday murders that took place in Montreal in the 1940s. The case involved a young boy murdering his family within their own home, although Clark changed the setting to a college sorority house.
Dead Ringers (David Cronenberg, 1988)
The Canadian master of body horror, David Cronenberg, might be best known for such classics as The Fly and Videodrome, but there is one 1988 film that is highly underrated. Telling the story of twin gynaecologists who lead double lives since nobody can tell them apart until their love for the same woman fractures their relationship irreparably, Dead Ringers stars Jeremy Irons and Geneviève Bujold.
Cronenberg’s film is almost entirely based on the story of Beverly and Elliot Mantle, however, a real-life pair of twin gynaecologists who developed addictions to sedatives. Despite trying to clean up their act, the pair were found dead in their apartment. So fascinating was the story Rachel Weisz would later star in a TV series adaptation in 2023.
The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973)
William Friedkin’s 1973 supernatural horror movie The Exorcist became the first horror movie to earn an Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Picture’, giving the genre the credibility it was rarely afforded previously. The movie has horrified audiences for decades thanks to its portrayal of demonic possession, with the host being a sweet 12-year-old girl, Regan. Soon enough, she is spewing gross liquids and profanity, and her head even manages to rotate.
Whether you believe in possession or not, The Exorcist is inspired by a real-life incident that occurred in 1949, although there is significant speculation regarding the event, with many elements of the case down to hearsay. A 14-year-old boy, known as Roland Doe, was said to be possessed, attacking the priests who attempted to exhume the devilish entity, similar to Regan.
Fire in the Sky (Robert Lieberman, 1993)
Many fans of alien science fiction are too quick to dismiss the 1993 Robert Lieberman movie Fire in the Sky, yet there is real quality in this underrated gem. Telling the story of a logger in Arizona who disappeared for five days and blamed an alien abduction for his absence, Fire in the Sky is based on the novel The Walton Experience by Travis Walton, a biography of the story of Travis Walton.
The movie is a direct adaptation of the biography, which details how Walton and his coworkers, who were working in a field at the time, remembered seeing a blinding light in the sky. Walton approached the apparent UFO whilst his friends waited nearby, only to be blasted by a powerful beam of energy, disappearing into thin air. The film does the story justice and is particularly memorable for its terrifying abduction scene.
Open Water (Chris Kentis, 2003)
Many people wouldn’t consider the 2003 Chris Kentis movie Open Water to be a horror film, with the flick originally being marketed as an independent drama. Set in the wide blue of the desolate ocean, Kentis’ film tells the story of two scuba divers who become accidentally stranded in the water after their tour boat leaves them alone. If this situation wasn’t terrifying enough, sharks soon start to swirl around the couple.
Indeed, the movie depicts a horrifying concept and the worst-case scenario for those suffering from thalassophobia. But this nightmare was the reality for Tom and Eileen Lonergan, a duo who, in 1998, were left stranded on the Great Barrier Reef by Outer Edge Dive Company and tragically were never found again.
The Strangers (Bryan Bertino, 2008)
There is something particularly terrifying about a home invasion movie, threatening the audience with the idea that we might not be as protected from the outside world as we like to think. In 2008, Bryan Bertino unsettled viewers with The Strangers, a slasher which sees a couple become the unwitting victims of a break-in carried out by three murderous masked figures – Dollface, Pin-Up Girl and Man in the Mask.
Bertino was inspired by the Manson family murders, which occurred in 1969. The crazed cult leader, Charles Manson, instructed his followers to break into the victims’ homes and murder everyone, resulting in the deaths of multiple people, including actor Sharon Tate. The director used this as the basis of his home invasion story, explaining how he wanted to tell a story that focused on the victims rather than explaining the motives for the killings.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, released in 1974, is one of the earliest examples of the slasher genre. The movie introduced us to the terrifying killer Leatherface, who slaughtered his victims with a chainsaw while wearing a mask made of human flesh. However, the iconic villain was actually inspired by the real-life murderer and grave robber Ed Gein, who fashioned many pieces of clothing and furnishings from human remains and skin, as well as decorating his home with bones, just like Leatherface.
While the actual events of the movie are fictional, although a title card tries to trick us into thinking otherwise, Leatherface’s penchant for human remains is firmly rooted in a disturbing real case.
Wolf Creek (Greg McLean, 2005)
Whilst this independent horror movie went under the radar for the general moviegoer back in 2005, it remains a favourite among ardent fans of the genre. Directed by Greg McLean, who would later helm The Belko Experiment, Wolf Creek tells the story of a trio of backpackers in the outback of Australia who are tortured by a sadistic psychopath who forces them into a hellish nightmare.
The story was all loosely inspired by the backpacker murders in New South Wales, Australia, between 1989 and 1993. Ivan Milat was the man behind the murders, killing seven young people before burying their bodies in the Belanglo State Forest. The tragic tale inspired the 2005 film, as well as its 2013 sequel.
