By Cassie
The only thing that’s scarier than an excellent scary movie is the idea that the haunts are not just a figment of the writer’s imagination. So for a scare that goes the extra mile, check out these five titles that went from reality to cinema gold to give everyone nightmares. While Hollywood is well-known for taking heavy creative license when it comes to true stories, it’s the framework in this list of titles that make for the most horror. Sit back and get ready for a scream, because these movies deliver in real time.
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)
While most people would look deeply into the history of their future house before buying, the Lutz family wasn’t aware that their home in Amityville, New York had been witness to the murder by Ronald DeFoe Jr. of six of his family members. The films that make up The Amityville Horror series are based on the 28 days that the Lutz Family spent in the haunted house, and accounts of the supernatural activity within. The documentary, My Amityville Horror, is another great watch for horror buffs who love this tale. It’s a documentary about the eldest Lutz child, Daniel, when he spoke about the comings and goings of the family publically for the first time in 2012.
DAHMER (2002)
Jeremy Renner may be more well known as Hawkeye in The Avengers, but his turn in the indie film, Dahmer, is the stuff of real nightmares. Portraying actual American serial killer and rapist, Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as “The Milwaukee Cannibal,” the story includes the killing, rape, and dismemberment of 17 men and boys over a thirteen-year murder spree. Diagnosed with a variety of mental disorders, including psychotic disorder and necrophilia, Dahmer was convicted of 15 of the 16 murders that he was tried for. He was later murdered in prison by a fellow inmate.
THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT (2009)
Another tale of a house haunting its living occupants, The Haunting In Connecticut is about the Snedeker family and their unfortunate rental of a renovated mortuary back in the 1980s. While the Campbells may be a fictional family, this movie is based on the Snedeker family’s interactions with the house. This resulted in the discovery of mortuary equipment in the basement, photographs of dead bodies in the furniture drawers, and a small graveyard in the backyard after they moved to the house in 1986. In addition to creepy items and dark presences, the young cancer-stricken son, Phillip, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to a mental hospital after moving into the house. The film’s chilling gurney scene is said to have been based on true events.
OPEN WATER (2003)
Tom and Eileen Lonergan’s real story of being stranded in the open water of the Southern Pacific got told in the film, Open Water. Though the movie changes the story a little, their real tale ends as dramatically as the main character of Open Water. While scientists believe that the director took a few liberties with the sharks, there’s no evidence against the couple getting into hot water with the sharks around The Great Barrier Reef. You can be the judge when you see the movie for yourself.
MONSTER (2003)
Born in Michigan, Monster’s lead character – highway prostitute, Aileen Wuornos (played by the Oscar winning Charlize Theron) – had a schizophrenic father who was jailed for child sex offences and had a habit of causing commotions in bars. Wuornos and her partner Tyria Moore (Christina Ricci) were involved in the murders of seven men, which ended with Wuornos’ conviction and execution in 2002.
Cassie is a digital nomad who splits her time between reading her way through the stacks at Barnes & Noble and finding things to put in her Netflix queue! Whether it’s written or watchable, great storytelling is her weakness and she’s out to share her love with the world.
