Ever since I was a little kid, I loved being afraid . For as long as I can remember, I have been actively seeking out the most shocking , nightmare-inducing, gore-soaked films I could get my hands on.
Now that I am a thirty-something-man-boy, I like to consider myself a bit of an expert on the subject.
So for your sheer terror-ific delight, here are 10+ random horror movie facts fans didn’t know.
1. William Shatner is the inspiration behind Michael Myers in *Halloween*.
John Carpenter was brought two options from his set designer for the mask of Michael Myers: one was a clown and the other was Captain Kirk from Star Trek .
He chose the Kirk mask for its blank expression and ominous aesthetic.
2. *The Babadook* terrified one of the greatest horror directors of all time.
William Friedkin is known for many things. He’s a writer, a producer, and is closely associated with the New Hollywood movement of the early 1970s.
But of all his accolades, he is best known for directing The Exorcist .
3. Jack Nicholson improvised the line “Here’s Johnny!” in *The Shining*.
When Jack Nicholson said the line ” Here’s Johnny! ” he was quoting Ed McMahon from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson .
Since Stanley Kubrick was British, he didn’t understand the reference. As a result, the iconic line was almost cut from the film!
4. The set of *The Exorcist* was haunted.
Shortly after filming began, strange things began happening on set. The MacNeil home burned to the ground — except the room that was used to shoot the exorcism scene.
If that wasn’t creepy enough, four people died (including two actors) before filming wrapped.
5. Ed and Lorraine Warren really were paranormal investigators.
Just like they’re portrayed on film, they touted themselves as demonologists . Ed and Lorraine never took a fee for their services but were made incredibly wealthy through various book and movie deals.
The Amityville Horror , The Conjuring , and Annabelle are all based on their true events.
RELATED STORIES
6. *Scream* was inspired by a murder spree in the early ’90s.
Danny Rollings became known as The Gainesville Ripper . Over the course of four days, he murdered five Florida students.
Like the killers in the movies, Danny had a fondness for horror films and seemingly no motive for his crimes.
7. “Mmm… Corn Syrup. The same stuff they used for pig’s blood in *Carrie*.”
It turns out that Billy Lumos in Wes Craven’s Scream was telling the truth.
They really did use a mixture of Corn Syrup and red dye for the blood in Carrie — as they did in most horror movies at that time.
8. David Robert Mitchell had a very interesting ‘pitch’ for his film *It Follows*.
The director stated during a Reddit AMA session that he didn’t pitch the film at all. Instead, David made a very elaborate ” look book ” to show to the film’s financiers.
Supposedly, he thought the film’s concept was so ridiculous he wanted to avoid saying it out loud.
9. Alfred Hitchcock’s *Psycho* is based on true events.
Ed Gein was one of the most heinous and prolific serial killers who ever lived.
The character of Norman Bates was inspired by Gein, and the atrocities he commits in the film were modeled off Gein’s real-life crimes.
10. You can take a tour of Camp Crystal Lake from *Friday The 13th*…if you dare.
The camp in the film is a real-life Scout’s camp, one of the oldest in the United States. You and your friends can book a tour of the grounds and see where the film was shot.
I would just make sure to be gone come nightfall.
11. *Paranormal Activity* holds a serious box-office record.
As of 2009, Paranormal Activity was the most profitable movie ever made. On a mere budget of only $15,000, the domestic gross alone was more than $18 million.
The film raked in an additional $193 million from the international box office.
12. *Saw* is the most successful horror franchise of all time.
In 2010, Saw set a Guinness World Record . At that time, the franchise had raked in over $700 million dollars worldwide. That’s not even factoring in Jigsaw , which was released in 2017.
Plus, Spiral is supposed to hit theaters sometime in 2021. Those numbers are only going up.
The film Jaws was never intended for a summer release.
It was originally supposed to come out on Christmas in 1974. Lengthy shooting delays pushed its release back to June of 1975 and the very idea of a summer blockbuster was born.
13. *Child’s Play* is based on true events.
The inspiration for Chucky comes from Robert the Doll . Robert was once owned by a painter by the name of Robert Eugene Otto.
The doll is supposedly possessed by the spirit of a former slave, who swore revenge against Robert’s abusive family.
Today, Robert is housed at the Key West Martello Museum. But his reign of terror hasn’t ceased.
Robert is visited by hundreds of tourists every year. It’s said that if you take Robert’s picture without asking his permission, you’ll be haunted by the doll.
The museum receives apology letters on a regular basis from former guests, all begging for Robert’s forgiveness.
14. Wes Craven regrets the ending of *A Nightmare On Elm Street*.
Wes originally wanted the ending to be more ambiguous . Above all else, he didn’t want to show Freddy as being triumphant.
He felt so strongly that he did not return to direct the sequel. Though he did inevitably come back for A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors .
