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5 true stories that inspired creepy movies

  • The original poster for the 1974 horror classic includes taglines like “Who will survive and what will be left of them?,” “America’s most bizarre and brutal crimes!…” and the very subtle “What happened is true. Now the motion picture that’s just as real.” Based the on actual events of murderer Ed Gein, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” directed by Tobe Hooper, is one of the most successful and memorable films that’s based on several gruesome murders committed by Gein during the ‘50s.
    1/5

    “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

    The original poster for the 1974 horror classic includes taglines like “Who will survive and what will be left of them?,” “America’s most bizarre and brutal crimes!…” and the very subtle “What happened is true. Now the motion picture that’s just as real.” Based the on actual events of murderer Ed Gein, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” directed by Tobe Hooper, is one of the most successful and memorable films that’s based on several gruesome murders committed by Gein during the ‘50s.
  • “The Amityville Horror” (1979) Maybe the most infamous film on this list, “The Amityville Horror” is quintessential viewing when it comes to creepy movies based on true events. The film, based on the novel of the same name, was inspired by the alleged supernatural happenings of the Lutz family, who bought a new house in Amityville, New York in the ‘70s and, after moving in, started to experience supernatural events in the house that eventually forced them out.
    2/5

    “The Amityville Horror” (1979) Maybe the most infamous film on this list, “The Amityville Horror” is quintessential viewing when it comes to creepy movies based on true events. The film, based on the novel of the same name, was inspired by the alleged supernatural happenings of the Lutz family, who bought a new house in Amityville, New York in the ‘70s and, after moving in, started to experience supernatural events in the house that eventually forced them out.

    “The Amityville Horror” (1979) Maybe the most infamous film on this list, “The Amityville Horror” is quintessential viewing when it comes to creepy movies based on true events. The film, based on the novel of the same name, was inspired by the alleged supernatural happenings of the Lutz family, who bought a new house in Amityville, New York in the ‘70s and, after moving in, started to experience supernatural events in the house that eventually forced them out.
  • Speaking of Amityville, “The Conjuring” is based on the reports of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (who reportedly assisted in the Amityville account). “The Conjuring” is based on the case files of the Warren’s in dealing with the Perron family’s haunting at the home they bought in Harrisville, Rhode Island.
    3/5

    “The Conjuring” (2013)

    Speaking of Amityville, “The Conjuring” is based on the reports of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (who reportedly assisted in the Amityville account). “The Conjuring” is based on the case files of the Warren’s in dealing with the Perron family’s haunting at the home they bought in Harrisville, Rhode Island.
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  • The character of Emily Rose is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel who died in 1976 due to a performed exorcism. After trial, the court ruled the version of the events were due to undiagnosed mental problems – not possession. But it’s still creepy.
    4/5

    “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005)

    The character of Emily Rose is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel who died in 1976 due to a performed exorcism. After trial, the court ruled the version of the events were due to undiagnosed mental problems – not possession. But it’s still creepy.
  • Arguably the freakiest entry on the list is David Fincher’s 2007 film, “Zodiac,” starring Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. Based on the true events of the Zodiac Killer and Robert Graysmith’s accounts detailed in the book of the same name, the film is murder-mystery (that remains unsolved) at it’s best. The film revolves around the legendary hunt for the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the ‘60s and ‘70s.
    5/5

    “Zodiac” (2007)

    Arguably the freakiest entry on the list is David Fincher’s 2007 film, “Zodiac,” starring Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. Based on the true events of the Zodiac Killer and Robert Graysmith’s accounts detailed in the book of the same name, the film is murder-mystery (that remains unsolved) at it’s best. The film revolves around the legendary hunt for the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The original poster for the 1974 horror classic includes taglines like “Who will survive and what will be left of them?,” “America’s most bizarre and brutal crimes!…” and the very subtle “What happened is true. Now the motion picture that’s just as real.” Based the on actual events of murderer Ed Gein, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” directed by Tobe Hooper, is one of the most successful and memorable films that’s based on several gruesome murders committed by Gein during the ‘50s.
“The Amityville Horror” (1979) Maybe the most infamous film on this list, “The Amityville Horror” is quintessential viewing when it comes to creepy movies based on true events. The film, based on the novel of the same name, was inspired by the alleged supernatural happenings of the Lutz family, who bought a new house in Amityville, New York in the ‘70s and, after moving in, started to experience supernatural events in the house that eventually forced them out.
Speaking of Amityville, “The Conjuring” is based on the reports of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (who reportedly assisted in the Amityville account). “The Conjuring” is based on the case files of the Warren’s in dealing with the Perron family’s haunting at the home they bought in Harrisville, Rhode Island.
The character of Emily Rose is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel who died in 1976 due to a performed exorcism. After trial, the court ruled the version of the events were due to undiagnosed mental problems – not possession. But it’s still creepy.
Arguably the freakiest entry on the list is David Fincher’s 2007 film, “Zodiac,” starring Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. Based on the true events of the Zodiac Killer and Robert Graysmith’s accounts detailed in the book of the same name, the film is murder-mystery (that remains unsolved) at it’s best. The film revolves around the legendary hunt for the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Jordan Appugliesi

Few techniques in marketing a movie are as effective as “based on a true story,” especially when the alleged true story it is based on is actually terrifyingly true.

Since it’s October and Halloween is right around the corner, we thought we’d compile a list of the most memorable, haunting and disturbingly horrific true stories ever to be adapted to the screen. From Leatherface to the Zodiac Killer, here are the five true stories that inspired truly creepy movies.