Real Life Inspirations Behind Horror Movies and Books

Hollywood and the publishing world are often inspired by real-life events when crafting horror stories. These events, whether true or embellished, create a chilling atmosphere that captivates audiences. This article delves into the real events that lie behind some of the most iconic horror movies and books.

The Amityville Horror: A Nation-Wide Sensation

The story of the Amityville Horror is perhaps one of the most well-known in the horror genre, following in the footsteps of real-life incidents that made national headlines. In 1966, Ronald Defeo Jr. had murdered his family, later attributing his actions to voices he heard. Less than a year later, the Lutz family moved into the very same house, experiencing what they deemed supernatural activity for 28 days. This bizarre series of events gained media attention, leading to a national sensation. George and Kathy Lutz, alongside demonologists from the Warrens, later collaborated on a book to document the haunting.

Ed Gein and the Horrible Truth Behind Famous Films

Ed Gein, a man who killed two women and stole their body parts to decorate his home, served as the real-life inspiration for numerous movies, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and even The Silence of the Lambs. One of the most chilling aspects of Gein's case is that he was declared insane and spent the rest of his life in an asylum. Yet, his actions inspired some of the most famous works in the horror genre.

John List: The Man Behind the Stepfather Films

The chilling story of John List, who killed his family to escape his debts and started a new life with another family, from whom he was eventually caught, served as the inspiration for the Stepfather films. List's ruthless actions and successful facade for years after the murders mirror the character of the stepfather in the movies. This event demonstrates how frighteningly real-life crimes can inspire fictional narratives that continue to captivate audiences.

Fact Versus Fiction: A Closer Look at Internationally Renowned Horror Films

The line between fact and fiction in horror movies is often blurred. For instance, Psycho, a 1960 film, was loosely based on Ed Gein's story. In the movie, a young woman is murdered by a motel manager who occasionally cosplays as his dead mother, whose decomposing body is still in his house. The real story reveals that the film was inspired by a killer whose fascination with his mother and other qualities were mirrored in the character Norman Bates.

The Exorcist, a 1973 film, was adapted from a 1971 novel based on the story of an unidentified 13-year-old boy who exhibited signs of possession in Cottage City, Maryland, in 1949. This true event added a layer of authenticity to the horror narrative that captivated audiences.

Similarly, the 1974 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its 1974 marketing tagline "The Filthiest Film Ever Made" were loosely based on Deranged, a real-life murderer Ezra Cobb. This demonstrates how filmmakers often take real-life events and twist them for entertainment, creating narratives that are both chilling and thought-provoking.

Jaws (1975) was inspired by the 1916 deaths in New Jersey of five victims at the teeth of one ferocious rogue shark. The movie's chilling depiction of an enormous shark terrorizing a fictional New England town, Amity Island, was a direct result of the real-life tragedy that occurred decades earlier.

The Hills Have Eyes (1976) and its 2006 remake draw inspiration from the legend of Sawney Bean, a clan from the 16th century that was said to have killed over 1000 people in Scotland. The original film and its remake tell the story of a family terrorized by savages in the Nevada desert, a modern retelling of the Sawney Bean legend.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) is based on the murders that took place in Texarkana between February and May of 1946, a chilling real-life event that left a community in fear. This film was shot in Texarkana with several locals cast as extras, giving it a sense of authenticity that adds to its intrigue.

Lastly, Eaten Alive (1977) is based on the real-life story of a Texas hotel proprietor who attacked victims and fed them to his pet crocodile. This true event added a horrific twist to the horror genre, making it a memorable and chilling part of horror cinema.

These real-life events, whether tragic or bizarre, have provided a rich vein for filmmakers and authors, creating unforgettable stories that continue to scare and intrigue audiences worldwide. The line between reality and fiction often blurs, creating narratives that resonate with the human fear of the unknown and the supernatural.