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"Based on a True Story" Horror Films
Anyone who’s sat down to watch a horror movie has more than likely come across the dreaded phrase “Based on a true story.” Of course, when it comes to these tales of woe, the only people who would actually know if it’s really a true story are dead, deformed, agoraphobic or slowly dying from a mystery ailment that coincidentally affects the brain. Whether or not you choose to believe the story behind the screen is up to you, but there has been a definite surge in these films of films, such as The Mothman Prophecies, An American Haunting and this week’s release, The Fourth Kind. Here are my favorite “true stories.” Be sure to tell me yours, too!
Wolf Creek
Loosely telling the story of Australia’s infamous Backpacker murders, Wolf Creek is a raw interpretation of what could happen when backpacking in small numbers in the Aussie Outback. A modern take on horror in the vein of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this movie is extremely graphic and definitely isn’t for those with a weak stomach. If you want to really root for characters in a horror flick, pick this up. But be careful what you wish for.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
After sixty-seven exorcisms, Anneliese Michel, who’s the “real” Emily Rose, just couldn’t take it anymore. We saw all the alleged things she had to put up with in the film, but if you watch documentaries on the subject (SyFy has a great one), you REALLY get the heebie jeebies. And I thought seeing Jennifer Carpenter as a contorted version of Emily Rose was bad…
The Amityville Horror
Whether you prefer the 1979 original or its 2005 remake (I dig the latter), you have to admit this is one screwed up scenario. George and Kathleen Lutz tried to live in a house known for the murder of six people, and things didn’t go over so well. According to legend, the spirits of the slain DeFeo family refuse to leave and will force anyone out who tries to come in…even if it means possession and killing.
The Exorcist
We know that little kids in horror films are creepy. Possessed kids are even worse, but the fact that one of horror’s best films is REAL? No fucking thanks. William Peter Blatty wrote The Exorcist after hearing the story of a 13-year-old boy’s possession. Still in college at the time, Blatty made the original story ten times more terrifying, giving us the beloved film we have today.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
This movie is hard to watch. The first time I saw it, I was so uncomfortable and unnerved by it that I was afraid to eject the tape despite being in my own home. Michael Rooker, who plays Henry, gives an amazing performance that is too great for words. The film itself is based on the life of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, who reportedly killed over 600 people but was only convicted on 11 accounts.
The Serpent and the Rainbow
While I find the world and other cultures fascinating, this story is one of the reasons why I enjoy having a desk job. I love zombies just as much as the next person (or more, depending on who’s around), but I don’t have a desire to be one! This movie tells the story of anthropologist Wade Davis’s (or Dennis Alan in the movie) way-too-close-for-comfort experience with voodoo culture in Haiti.
Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs
So you’re probably wondering why I grouped these three movies together (or maybe you’re not, depending on how big of a smart guy/girl you are). These films are all loosely based on the life of killer Ed Gein. Between the custom suit made from female skin, the cannibalism, and the digging up of bodies that resembled his dead mother, it’s no wonder that he’s had so many movies made about him. That’s not including the recent self-titled film starring horror icon Kane Hodder!
Add a Comment
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Comment by iggy456 on November 4, 2009 at 9:03pm - Man this fucked up.
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Comment by Sarah on November 4, 2009 at 5:16am - Wolf Creek is SUCH an excellent film! It's absolutely terrifying.
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Comment by aharshDM on November 4, 2009 at 1:34am - DeFeo house burnt down some time ago. The foundation is still there if I remember.
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Comment by Nick on November 4, 2009 at 12:50am -
As always, stellar list. I've been meaning to check out wolf creek and the serpent and the rainbow, but haven't gotten around to it. I just may have to though.
Also unrelated, but this article reminded me of it....can ANYONE tell me why the fuck the sci fi channel is now the syfy channel? Sci Fi made sense, its an acronym for SCIENCE. FICTION. which is largely the subject matter of the station. But now they just made up a word that's spelled like the acronym sounds? wat? Am I missing something here?
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Comment by Brendan.B on November 4, 2009 at 12:32am - the amityville horror house picture looks like the iron giant from far away
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Comment by Mason Daniel on November 3, 2009 at 9:41pm - Tessa, if you like the feeling Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer gave you, then I must once again recommend Man Bites Dog. It's a hundred times more uncomfortable to sit through in my opinion. It runs regulary on IFC if you're too lazy to search for a video store that would happen to have the Criterion DVD of it.
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Comment by Zachdraft on November 3, 2009 at 5:43pm - the amityville horror definitely never happened
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Comment by Costa_K on November 3, 2009 at 5:06pm - Yeah, "Henry..." pretty much rules in the "making you patently uncomfortable" category.
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Comment by Kay on November 3, 2009 at 4:46pm - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre really go to me, but I've never been able to stomach horror movies. So, that thing about you being afraid to eject the tape- happens to me a lot.
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Comment by Zev on November 3, 2009 at 4:07pm - You forgot Ghost Busters.
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