1. The Conjuring
If you haven't heard of The Conjuring, you've probably been living under a rock. The film is famous as one of the scariest movies out there, and knowing it takes inspiration from actual events only makes it more frightening. The film follows the real story of the Perron family, who experienced terrifying paranormal events in their farmhouse in the 1970s.
In real life, the Perron family called paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for help, and their records provided the spine-chilling basis for the movie. Watching The Conjuring is an intense experience filled with jump scares and eerie moments that might still give you goosebumps once you recall it.
2. The Exorcist
Only a few films have left a mark on horror cinema, such as The Exorcist. This movie, released in 1973, tells the harrowing tale of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity and desperate attempts to save her through an exorcism. Many don't realize this film is inspired by a 1949 case involving a young boy known only by the pseudonym Roland Doe.
His family experienced strange occurrences, from bizarre noises to moving furniture, compelling them to seek the help of priests in a series of exorcisms. This real-life inspiration makes The Exorcist even more terrifying, making you think it is plausible enough to happen to you in real life.
3. Wolf Creek
This Australian horror film makes our list for its gruesome depiction of a chilling story. Wolf Creek comes from not one but two real-life notorious Australian criminal cases—the Backpacker Murders and the murder of British tourist Peter Falconio.
The film follows three backpackers trapped in the outback with a serial killer. With its isolated setting and terrifying plot, Wolf Creek portrays the dark side of human nature in a way that haunts you even after the credits roll.
4. The Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror has become synonymous with haunted houses, drawing from the real-life experiences of the Lutz family. In 1975, they moved into a house in Long Island, New York, where a gruesome mass murder had taken place the year before.
Almost immediately, they reported strange and terrifying paranormal occurrences. Their story gained national attention, resulting in a book and a chilling movie adaptation. Whether you believe the Lutz family's tale or not, The Amityville Horror remains a classic in the world of horror.
5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a cult classic that has frightened audiences with its brutality since 1974. While the movie itself is fictional, it draws inspiration from the real-life crimes of Ed Gein, a notorious serial killer in the 1950s.
He was infamous for his gruesome acts of exhuming corpses from graveyards and making mementos with their skin and bones. Although The Texas Chainsaw Massacre takes liberties with the story, the influence of Gein's true crimes keeps you looking over your shoulder for at least the next few days.
6. Annabelle
For those who thought what an antique doll could do wrong, watching Annabelle will be your ultimate eye-opener. This movie is a spin-off from The Conjuring that focuses on the origins of the possessed doll that terrorized Ed and Lorraine Warren in their museum of supernatural artifacts.
It originally belonged to a nursing student who claimed it moved by itself and left cryptic messages written in childlike handwriting. The doll is now locked away in the Warrens' occult museum, but the thought of it coming back to life is enough to keep anyone up at night.
7. The Poltergeist
The Poltergeist is a classic horror movie produced by Steven Spielberg that spawned numerous sequels and remakes. The film follows a family who becomes the target of a malevolent poltergeist haunting their home. While the movie is fictional, it draws inspiration from a real-life case called the “Enfield Poltergeist.”
In 1977, two sisters in Enfield, England, were allegedly tormented by a poltergeist, with furniture moving on its own and strange noises coming from the walls. Although skeptics have doubted the authenticity of this case, it remains one of the most famous paranormal cases to date.
8. A Nightmare on the Elm Street
Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced the world to Freddy Krueger, a terrifying figure who hunts teenagers in their dreams. The film's concept draws inspiration from a series of mysterious deaths reported among Hmong refugees in the United States. Among them was a boy having terrible nightmares of something chasing him in his sleep, making him stay awake for several days at a time.
When he finally fell asleep, his parents thought they had averted the crisis, only to hear him scream in the middle of the night. However, by the time they reached him, he was already dead, leading Craven to explore the idea of a killer who attacks people in their dreams. And that's how A Nightmare on Elm Street came to haunt the world.
9. Child's Play
Child's Play is another horror film about a possessed doll named “Chucky” and his murderous rampage. While the concept may seem far-fetched to be accurate, the story does take inspiration from the real-life ‘Robert the Doll,” owned by painter and author Robert Eugene Otto.
According to legend, the doll was responsible for numerous strange and unsettling events, such as frequent changes in expression and the occasional sound of giggles. Today, Robert is at a museum in Key West, but many believe he still holds an eerie power over his visitors.
10. The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Exorcism of Emily is not your usual haunted house, bloody murders, or even psychological thriller. It is a courtroom drama and supernatural horror based on the series of real-life exorcisms of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who died during the process.
The subsequent trial of the priests involved garnered national attention and sparked a debate on the intersection of faith and mental health. The film masterfully blends courtroom drama with chilling flashbacks of the young woman's possession, making it a gripping and unsettling watch.
Horror movies based on true stories tap into our primal fears, blurring the line between fiction and reality. They remind us that sometimes, the scariest tales are rooted in truth. These films offer a unique glimpse into real-life horror, leaving a lasting impression on audiences who dare to watch. Our list of 10 horror movies based on true stories promises to deliver terror straight from the pages of history, making you realize that sometimes reality can be so scary that even fiction takes notes from real-life horrors.
