When a horror movie is said to be based on a true story, the intended scary effect on the public is even more powerful. As a consequence, even in cases when the film is only loosely inspired by reality-or even urban legends that themselves borrowed some elements from ambiguous events-the label “based on a true story” is still worth using as a clever marketing tool. The possibility that the chilling story told on the screen could happen plays with the fear of the public, drawing them deeper into the narrative.
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The horror genre is adept at reinventing history to suit its needs, exploiting the mysteries behind it and exaggerating the more alarming details. This ability to blur the line between fact and fiction and thrive into the unknown has created some famous horror movies that, although presumably based on a true story, can barely be called true.
10 The Exorcist
Released In 1973
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One of the greatest horrors of all time has some real-life inspiration. When The Exorcist came out in 1973, many viewers in the theatres had physical adverse reactions to some of the scenes in the movie.
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9/10 10/10 The Exorcist R
The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
Director William Friedkin Release Date December 26, 1973 Studio(s) Hoya Productions Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers William Peter Blatty Cast Max Von Sydow , Linda Blair , Lee J. Cobb , Ellen Burstyn , Jason Miller , Kitty Winn , Jack MacGowran Expand
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This twisted story of the demonic possession of a little girl left a lasting impact on the horror genre and pop culture in general, which has been widely discussed. The film is nowadays considered a cult.
Despite
The Exorcist
‘s “true story” label, the book and the movie took several creative liberties with the narrative.
The film was based on a 1971 book by William Blatty, who was inspired by an occurrence read in the newspaper about a boy from Georgetown University who underwent several exorcisms in the 1940s. Despite The Exorcist‘s “true story” label, the book and the movie took several creative liberties with the narrative. For instance, they changed the sex of the main character (who became a girl, Regan) and exaggerated a lot of the supernatural elements, such as the ceiling-crawling scenes.
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9 The Amityville Horror
Released In 1979
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The first of a series of movies dedicated to America’s most popular haunted house, a lot of the details and occurrences reported in The Amityville Horror (1979) have never been proven. The book upon which the movie was based, written by Jay Anson, has also been a source of controversy regarding its truthfulness. The story follows the Lutz, an apparently ordinary family who move into a house with a tragic past— it is the place where, in 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr inexplicably murdered his entire family with a rifle.
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10/10 The Amityville Horror Horror
The Amityville Horror is the first film in the long-running horror franchise. In the original 1979 film, a family moves into a home where years prior, a brutal murder was committed. Quickly after moving in, they begin to experience supernatural events that take a toll on the father’s sanity. James Brolin and Margot Kidder star as the newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz.
Director Stuart Rosenberg Release Date July 27, 1979 Writers Sandor Stern Cast Murray Hamilton , Margot Kidder , James Brolin , Don Stroud , Rod Steiger Runtime 117 minutes
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The legend says that George, Kathy, and their children observed a series of paranormal and terrifying phenomena take place in the Amityville home, leading them to believe it was haunted by the victims of DeFeo Jr. However, the story has often been questioned, with many believing it was a hoax. Whether the facts behind it are true or not, the movie still became a classic of the horror genre.
8 The Strangers
Released In 2008
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One of the most terrifying films of all time and now considered a cult, The Strangers owes a significant part of its shock factor to the fact that it is presumably inspired by real events. The film shows the harrowing abuse and torment of a young couple at the hands of three masked intruders. The movie was promoted as a real story. However, the truth behind it is a little more complex.
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8/10 8.5/10 The Strangers R
The first film in the horror series, The Strangers, follows an unsuspecting couple on vacation who find themselves at the mercy of a group of murderers who seek to physically and psychologically torture them. After a series of unfortunate events that lead the couple to commit an accidental crime, they find themselves fighting for survival against three masked intruders that chose to attack them “because they were home.”
Director Bryan Bertino Release Date May 30, 2008 Writers Bryan Bertino Cast Scott Speedman , Laura Margolis , Gemma Ward , Kip Weeks , Liv Tyler , Glenn Howerton Runtime 86 minutes
Bryan Bertino, the director, said the movie was inspired by two specific events: The Mason Tate Family murders of the 1960s and a series of home break-ins that occurred in his childhood neighborhood. The motives (or lack of) behind the horrible actions of real-life intruders and the characters in the movies share similarities. However, although real crimes inspired The Stranger, the movie itself is not an accurate report of a single event.
7 The Conjuring
Released In 2013
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The Conjuring is not only one of the most beloved horror movies of the last ten years, but it is also the first of a series centered around two real-life paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The 2013 film follows the couple attempting to help the Perron family, who, in the early 1970s, experience terrifying phenomena related to the presence of malignant spirits in their new house.
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9/10 8.3/10 The Conjuring R
Based on the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring chronicles the haunting of the Perron family after moving into a Rhode Island farmhouse. The film went on to kickstart the Conjuring franchise, a series of supernatural horror films.
Director James Wan Release Date July 19, 2013 Writers Chad Hayes , Carey W. Hayes Cast Joey King , Vera Farmiga , Lili Taylor , Patrick Wilson , Ron Livingston Runtime 112 minutes
The film’s marketing campaign emphasized the “based on a true story” factor. Although Ed and Lorraine Warren truly existed, were quite notorious in their fields, and assisted the Perron Family during their time in the haunted house, the original events took place in a longer period of time than is depicted in the movie.
Even if there is some truth to it, therefore,
the true story of the Perron family’s nightmare
is quite different.
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The portrayal on the big screen is a more intense and brief version of what the family claimed happened to them. Even if there is some truth to it, therefore, the true story of the Perron family’s nightmare is quite different.
6 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Released In 1974
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One of the most famous real story horror films in the history of cinema is actually not as grounded in reality as it is believed to be.The Texas Chain S aw Massacre is a terrifying portrayal of a group of friends targeted by a family of cannibals. The scariest among them is Leatherface, a deranged criminal who wears a mask made of his victims’ skin and is said to be inspired by murderer Ed Gein.
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10/10 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre R
Five friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of cannibals led by the terrifying Leatherface. As they fall victim one by one to the gruesome horrors, they must fight for survival against relentless and unimaginable terror in a macabre and chilling fight for their lives.
Director Tobe Hooper Release Date October 11, 1974 Writers Kim Henkel , Tobe Hooper Cast Marilyn Burns , Allen Danziger , Paul A. Partain , William Vail , Teri McMinn , Edwin Neal Runtime 83 minutes
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Although the film’s main villain is based on a person who existed in real life, many other details were the result of the directors and writers’ creative choice. For instance, Leatherface did not use a chainsaw to kill his victims, and the cannibal clan associated with him is purely fictional. These elements, however, certainly made the story more terrifying. This horror movie cult can barely be called true.
5 The Devil Inside
Released In 2012
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The found-footage horror genre heavily relies on the authenticity of the narrative to elicit more fear in the viewers. The Devil Inside is a notorious example. Its promotional campaign and the movie’s ending heavily implied it was based on a story that happened in real life. The film even suggested that the investigations were still taking place. The work is presented as a documentary about a woman who researches a series of exorcisms related to her mother.
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4/10 The Devil Inside R
The Devil Inside is a 2012 horror film directed by William Brent Bell. The story follows Isabella Rossi as she delves into the world of exorcisms while investigating her mother’s possible demonic possession. The film adopts a documentary-style approach, featuring actors Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, and Evan Helmuth. Set against the backdrop of the Vatican and various European locations, The Devil Inside explores themes of faith and the supernatural.
Director William Brent Bell Release Date January 6, 2012 Writers William Brent Bell , Matthew Peterman Cast Fernanda Andrade , Simon Quarterman , Evan Helmuth , Ionut Grama , Suzan Crowley Runtime 83 Minutes
Despite the belief, however, the film is mainly fictional. Any research regarding the plot appears to be inconclusive (via The Week). The framing of The Devil Inside as a true story was a marketing tool to attract and scare the viewers. However, despite this attempt and the terrifying nature of reports regarding demonic possessions, this “true story” horror movie didn’t have much success.
4 Wolf Creek
Released In 2005
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Wolf Creek is an Australian horror focusing on three backpackers who are kidnapped, held captive, and tormented by Mick Taylor, a deranged serial killer. Although the plot is already disturbing enough as it is, the movie was also promoted as based on real events, which heightened its impact on the viewers. However, further investigations reveal a different version and the story is largely fictional.
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6/10 Wolf Creek R
Wolf Creek is a 2005 horror film where three friends get stranded in Australia and fall victim to a psychopathic torturer. Wolf Creek was then followed by Wolf Creek 2 in 2013 and a TV show in 2016. The film received mixed reviews upon release but has been viewed in a more favorable light in recent years.
Director Greg Mclean Release Date December 25, 2005 Writers Greg Mclean Cast Kestie Morassi , Cassandra Magrath , Andy McPhee , John Jarratt , Nathan Phillips Runtime 99 minutes
The character of Mick Taylor, for instance, is not based on a single person, but loosely inspired by different serial killers who were connected to the murders of backpackers in Australia during separate periods: Ivan Milat from the 1990s and Bradley Murdoch in 2001. Therefore, the film’s plot is not based on any specific event. It is more like an amalgamation of different tragedies. Nevertheless, Wolf Creek became a classic slasher and is even getting a reboot.
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3 Open Water
Released In 2003
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Open Water is a survival horror movie that, despite being plausible, is based on mere speculations. However, what happens in the film is not entirely fictional. The plot follows a loving couple on vacation who are accidentally left behind in the middle of the ocean in Australia during a scuba diving session. The characters face the horrifying reality of the dangers lurking beneath the water, with sharks being one of the most frightening threats.
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6/10 Wolf Creek R
Wolf Creek is a 2005 horror film where three friends get stranded in Australia and fall victim to a psychopathic torturer. Wolf Creek was then followed by Wolf Creek 2 in 2013 and a TV show in 2016. The film received mixed reviews upon release but has been viewed in a more favorable light in recent years.
Director Greg Mclean Release Date December 25, 2005 Writers Greg Mclean Cast Kestie Morassi , Cassandra Magrath , Andy McPhee , John Jarratt , Nathan Phillips Runtime 99 minutes
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The plot is loosely inspired by the real and terrifying story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who were indeed left behind during a scuba diving trip on The Great Barrier Reef. Sadly, the couple was never found. Although the premises are real, however, no one truly knows what happened to the two unfortunate divers. Although they might have fallen victim to sharks, their fate is still unknown, making Open Water an inaccurate account of their shark encounter.
2 Annabelle
Released In 2014
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4/10 5.8/10 Annabelle R
The 2017 horror film Annabelle is a spinoff of James Wan’s Conjuring universe. Starring Annabelle Wallis as Mia and Ward Horton and John, the plot centers on a couple who experiences supernatural events after having their house invaded by members of a satanic cult and bringing home an antique doll. The doll is possessed by a demonic spirit and begins to terrorize them and their newborn daughter.
Director John R. Leonetti Release Date October 3, 2014 Cast Annabelle Wallis , Alfre Woodard , Michelle Romano , Eric Ladin , Tony Amendola , Ward Horton Runtime 99minutes
The story portrayed in the movie is not completely fictional. Annabelle exists and is a Raggedy Ann doll that used to belong to a student nurse and was presumed to be haunted due to her frightening and strange behavior. However, aside from that, most of the events depicted on the big screen are invented. Even the appearance of the doll varies greatly from her real-life version, partially because the films tried to make her look more terrifying. This chilling horror movie is a fictionalized version of the real story.
1 The Blair Witch Project
Released In 1999
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The Blair Witch Project is one of the most famous found-footage horrors in the history of cinema. The movie was a success upon release and became a cult. The film follows three students who set out on a mission into the woods to investigate a local legend about the Blair Witch. The marketing campaign of the movie, the way it was framed and the fact that it was presented as a documentary led many people to believe it was based on real events.
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8/10 21 6.1/10 The Blair Witch Project R
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 horror film that follows three film students who venture into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland. As they document their search for the Blair Witch legend, strange and unsettling events unfold. Presented as found footage, the film is directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, and it pioneered the found footage genre in mainstream cinema.
Director Eduardo Sánchez , Daniel Myrick Release Date July 30, 1999 Studio(s) Summit Entertainment Cast Joshua Leonard , Michael C. Williams , Heather Donahue Runtime 81 minutes
The amount of effort put into making The Blair Witch, which is finally getting an original format release, seem real was immense. The diffusion of the posters with the pictures of the “missing students”, the fact that the dialogues in the movie were mainly unscripted, and the promotional website led some people to even believe the actors involved were dead (via The Independent). In the end, the most authentic part of the movie was the inspiration for the legend of the Blair Witch.
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