Belaynesh Hadush
3 min readJul 28, 2023

10 scary movies based on true story

Welcome to the thrilling world of horror as we delve into the unsettling realm of true stories that haunted our screens. Brace yourself for this spine-chilling journey as we explore ten bone-chilling movies based on real-life events. These films will disturb your senses, as they take inspiration from dark and terrifying occurrences that once plagued our world. From haunted houses to malevolent spirits, deranged killers to demonic possessions, the line between fact and fiction blurs as we step into the sinister tales that inspired these horror classics. Prepare to be captivated and terrified, as we unravel the horrifying events behind these ten terrifying movies based on true stories.

1. The Exorcist (1973): This classic horror film is based on a true story of a 14-year-old boy who was believed to be possessed by demons in the late 1940s. The terrifying events surrounding his exorcism shocked the nation and inspired one of the scariest movies ever made.

2. Psycho (1960): Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this psychological horror film is loosely based on the true story of serial killer Ed Gein. Gein's gruesome murders and disturbing acts of necrophilia served as inspiration for the iconic character Norman Bates.

3. The Amityville Horror (1979): This movie tells the chilling story of the Lutz family, who moved into a haunted house in Amityville, New York, where a mass murder had previously occurred. The supernatural experiences they endured are said to be based on true events.

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Freddy Krueger, the iconic character of this horror franchise, is said to be inspired by a series of unexplained deaths that took place among Cambodian refugees suffering from nightmares and sleep paralysis.

5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974): Although marketed as "based on a true story," this movie is actually a fictional creation. However, elements of the story, including the use of a chainsaw and a cannibalistic family, were inspired by notorious serial killer Ed Gein.

6. Wolf Creek (2005): This Australian horror film is loosely based on the backpacker murders committed by Ivan Milat. Milat targeted young travelers in the 1990s, and his crimes were the influence for the brutal events depicted in the movie.

7. The Conjuring (2013): Based on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this movie explores their encounters with an evil spirit in a haunted farmhouse in Rhode Island. The Warrens' cases have inspired multiple films in The Conjuring universe.

8. Zodiac (2007): Although not a traditional horror film, this thriller is based on the true story of the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The unidentified killer's chilling crimes and taunting messages to the press continue to captivate audiences.

9. The Girl Next Door (2007): This disturbing movie is loosely based on the true story of Sylvia Likens, who was tortured and killed by Gertrude Baniszewski and her children in Indiana during the 1960s. The movie delves into the horrific abuse Sylvia endured at the hands of her tormentors.

10. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009): Claiming to be based on a true story, this film tells the tale of a family who moves into a haunted house that was previously a funeral home. Although there are many skeptical claims about its authenticity, it remains one of the most popular supernatural horror movies.