Terrifying Horror Movies Inspired by True Stories

Rope, 1948 This Hitchcock-directed film starring Jimmy Stewart was inspired by the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in 1924 by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, who attended the University of Chicago. The pair allegedly killed Franks to show their superiority by committing a "perfect crime."Getty Images

The Blob, 1958 Starring Steve McQueen in his first leading role, The Blob, focuses on a mysterious alien massive substance that terrorizes a Pennsylvania town. This was based on an incident that happened in Philadelphia in 1950, allegedly two officers saw a mysterious purple blob-like mass that fell from the sky, leaving a sticky residue when felt. After about 25 minutes, it dissolved, but the officers managed to report the incident and an official government report was filed.

The Blob, 1958Starring Steve McQueen in his first leading role, The Blob focuses on a mysterious alien substance that terrorizes a Pennsylvania town. This was inspired by an incident that happened in Philadelphia in 1950, when two police officers claimed to see a mysterious purple blob-like mass that fell from the sky, leaving a sticky residue when touched. After about 25 minutes, it dissolved, but the officers still reported the incident. An official government report was filed. Paramount/Getty Images

Janet Leigh Screams In Shower From 'Psycho'

Psycho, 1960 The famed psychological thriller, starring Anthony Perkins as the peculiar Norman Bates, was inspired by the murders of Ed Gein. Writer Robert Bloch lived just 40 miles from Gein in Wisconsin, both Bates and Gein had deceased mothers that had been dominant figures, held a shrine to their mothers, and dressed in women's clothing.Paramount Pictures/Getty Images

The Exorcist, 1973Parts of the film's story were based on an exorcism performed on a Maryland boy, called "Roland Doe," in 1949. A Jesuit priest, Fr. William S. Bowdern—assisted by Fr. Walter Halloran—were called in by the boy's family, because they thought his erratic and aggressive behavior was caused by demonic possession. Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 1974 The idea for this film came about when director Tobe Hooper worked as a documentary cameraman at the University of Texas at Austin in the early 1970s. Influenced by coverage of violence in San Antonio news outlets, and serial killer Ed Gein, he used these ideas for the film's story and character Leatherface.

Bryanston Pictures

The Amityville Horror, 1979 The film is based on the alleged paranormal experiences that George and Kathy Lutz experienced after moving into their three-story colonial home in Amityville, N.Y. in 1975. The year before, the house had been the scene of a terrible mass murder, when 23-year-old Ronnie DeFeo killed both his parents and four siblings.

The Amityville Horror, 1979 The film is based on the alleged paranormal encounters that George and Kathy Lutz experienced after moving into their three-story colonial home in Amityville, N.Y. in 1975. The year before, the house had been the site of a terrible mass murder, when 23-year-old Ronnie DeFeo killed both his parents and four siblings. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Hills Have Eyes, 1977 The film was made as a contemporary retelling of the Sawney Bean story. Bean was known as the head of a 48-member clan of cannibals, and was reportedly executed for the killing of roughly 1,000 people in 16th century Scotland. Getty Images

The Shining, 1980 The Stephen King-written novel, turned Stanley Kubrick-directed film, drew it's beginnings from a stay by Stephen King and his wife Tabitha at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo. The hotel, which is said to be haunted, and his recovery from alcoholism, prompted King to base his 1977 on the experience.

The Shining, 1980The Stephen King-written novel turned Stanley Kubrick-directed film drew its beginnings from a stay by King and his wife Tabitha at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo. The hotel—which is said to be haunted—and King's eventual recovery from alcoholism inspired his 1977 book.Warner Brothers/Getty Images

A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984 The film's premise is influenced by several LA Times articles in the 1970s about Khmer refugees, who fled to the United States from Cambodia. Some of the refugees had disturbing nightmares, and refused to sleep. Some died in their sleep afterwards, being possibly caused by sudden unexpected death syndrome.

A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984 The film's premise is influenced by several Los Angeles Times articles from the 1970s about Khmer refugees who fled to the United States from Cambodia. Some of the refugees had disturbing nightmares, and refused to sleep. A number of them went on to die in their sleep, possibly as a result of sudden unexpected death syndrome.New Line Cinema

Child's Play, 1988 Inspired by Robert the Doll, in 1903, 3-year-old Robert Eugene Otto received the doll as a gift, named it after himself and were inseparable ever since. Shortly after, his parents thought they heard voices from the doll, with others claiming they thought the doll glared at them. Chucky's full name, Charles Lee Ray, is also derived from the names of killers Charles Manson, Lee Harvey Oswald, and James Earl Ray.

Child's Play, 1988 In 1903, 3-year-old Robert Eugene Otto received a doll as a gift. He named it after himself, and he was inseparable from his new toy. Shortly after, his parents thought they heard voices from the doll, with others claiming they saw the doll glaring at them. Chucky's full name, Charles Lee Ray, is also derived from the names of killers Charles Manson, Lee Harvey Oswald, and James Earl Ray. United Artists

The Silence of the Lambs, 1991 The film's character, Buffalo Bill, played by Ted Levine, was based on six real-life killers, including Ed Gein and Ted Bundy. Like the character, Gein fashioned a suit made of female skin for himself, and similar to Bundy, pretended to by injured, in order to ask victims for help before killing them.

The Silence of the Lambs, 1991The film's character, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) was based on six real-life killers, including Ed Gein and Ted Bundy. Like the character, Gein fashioned a suit made of female skin for himself; similar to Bundy, he pretended to by injured in order to ask victims for help before killing them. Orion Pictures

Summer of Sam, 1999The Spike Lee-directed film is based on the infamous 1976/1977 killings by David Berkowitz in New York City. Berkowitz killed six victims and wounded seven others, claiming that he obeyed orders from his neighbor's dog. Buyenlarge/Getty Images

House of 1000 Corpses, 2003 The character Captain Spaulding is based on real life serial killer and rapist John Wayne Gacy, who fascinated director Rob Zombie. Gacy, also known as the Killer Clown, once worked as a clown named Pogo at children's parties and charitable events. In the film, Spaulding also sells fried chicken, just like his real life counterpart Gacy, who managed three KFC restaurants. Lions Gate Films

Monster, 2003 In this film, Charlize Theron portrays a chilling likeness of former prostitute Aileen Wuornos, a psychologically unstable serial killer who was executed in 2002 in Florida for killing six men. Since capital punishment was restored in 1976, Wuornos was the tenth women to be executed.

Monster, 2003 In this film, Charlize Theron chillingly portrays former prostitute Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer who was executed in 2002 in Florida for killing six men. Since capital punishment was restored in 1976, Wuornos was the tenth woman to be executed. Newmarket Films

The Exorcism of Emily Rose, 2005 The film is loosely based on the story of Anneliese Michel, a German woman who in 1975 underwent a Catholic exorcism, but died in 1976 due to malnourishment and dehydration, with her parents and the priests involved being charged with negligent homicide.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose, 2005 The film is loosely based on the story of Anneliese Michel, a German woman who underwent a Catholic exorcism in 1975, but died in 1976 due to malnourishment and dehydration. Her parents and the priests involved were charged with negligent homicide. Screen Gems

Zodiac, 2007 The David Fincher-directed film starring Jake Gyllenhaal is based on the real life events of the Zodiac Killer of the late 1960s in San Francisco. Gyllenhaal, who portrays Zodiac true crime author Robert Graysmith, met with Graysmith to prepare for his role. At least four men and three women were confirmed dead, with the killer getting his nickname from a symbol he'd include in cryptic letters to newspaper outlets. The case was never solved and remains open.

Zodiac, 2007 The David Fincher-directed film starring Jake Gyllenhaal is based on the real life events of the Zodiac Killer of the late 1960s, who terrorized San Francisco. At least four men and three women were confirmed dead, with the killer getting his nickname from a symbol he'd include in cryptic letters to newspaper outlets. The case was never solved and remains open.Paramount Pictures

The Strangers, 2008 The inspiration behind this film is based on true events from director Bryan Bertino's childhood. At the time, a stranger knocked on his door, asking for someone who wasn't there, with Bertino later finding out that his neighbor's empty homes had been ransacked. The film also draws inspiration from the 1981 Keddie Murders, which is an unsolved quadruple murder case in Keddie, Calif., located in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The Strangers, 2008 This film is based on true events from director Bryan Bertino's childhood. At the time, a stranger knocked on his door, asking for someone who wasn't there; Bertino later learned that his neighbors' empty homes had been ransacked. The film also draws inspiration from the 1981 Keddie Murders, an unsolved quadruple murder case in the mountain town of Keddie, Calif.Rogue Pictures

The Conjuring, 2013In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron moved into an old farmhouse in Harrisville, R.I with their family. After their move, they noticed what they claim were hauntings and mysterious activity. Ed and Lorraine Warren were brought in as paranormal investigators; Mrs. Warren ended up serving as a consultant for the film. Warner Bros. Pictures

18 Terrifying Horror Movies Inspired by True Stories

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