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35 Horror Movie Facts As Scary As the Movies Themselves

Making scary movies is scary business

35 Horror Movie Facts As Scary As the Movies Themselves

October 12, 2023

What is it about being scared? Most people don’t like it, except when they’re watching a scary movie. Here’s the thing, though: Those scary movies aren’t just scary on-screen, often times their production can be a scary movie all their own. These are some of the craziest behind-the-scenes horror movie facts that may not be as bad as a masked psycho in the shadows, but are a close second…

35

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The real doll that inspired The Conjuring was a normal Raggedy Ann. WARNING POSITIVE LORACKED .COM DO NOT In The Conjuring, and the Annabelle spin-off, the evil-possessed doll is a creepy, ventriloquist-dummy-lookingtoy with wooden skin and large, unblinking eyes. In reality, the toy that inspired the series is a regular Raggedy Ann, which is locked up in Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, CT. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The first American film that featured a working toilet was Psycho. GRAGKED.com Flushing a toilet was seen as a little too risque for mid-20th century audiences, which is why Hitchcock added it as a plot point for some extra shock in 1960's Psycho. The scene in question doesn't include a toilet in the novel that the movie is based on. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

33

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Three separate horror movies are inspired by real-world serial killer Ed Gein. CRACKEDG In the late 50's, Ed Gein confessed to two murders and was found with a house full of human remains. The horrific actions of Gein were used as inspiration in film over four decades in Psycho (1960), The Silence of the Lambs (1974), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1991). — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

32

EHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Sissy Spacek slept in her bloody clothes for three days. CRACKED.co When Spacek's character in Carrie is covered in pig's blood, it makes for quite the stunning visual. During the three days it took to finish the scene, Spacek slept in the blood-soaked clothes to not risk losing continuity. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

31

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Scream was based on actual events that happened in Florida. CRACKED.COM Danny Rolling went on a killing spree in 1991 in Gainesville, Florida, killing five students in their apartments with a knife and posing their bodies to shock investigators. Screenwriter Kevin Williamson was watching the news story when he noticed an open window in his home, which inspired him to write the Scream script. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

30

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS People thought The Blair Witch Project was real, and that the people in the movie actually died. CRACKED.co Due to the marketing around The Blair Witch Project, which described the unknown actors as missing, presumed dead, many viewers thought they were really watching the final days of the people on the screen. The mother of actress Heather DOnahue actually received sympathy cards from concerned audience members. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

29

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The voice actor for Ghostface was kept out of view of the actors. CRACKED.co In the Scream series, the voice actor for Ghostface (Roger L. Jackson) was hidden on set when he voiced his lines to keep the on-screen actors believably unsettled by him. When characters are taunted by him on the phone, he really is talking to them from somewhere out of sight. He also voiced Mojo Jojo on The Powerpuff Girls, so there's that. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

28

THE CAST AND CREW OF THE OMENNARROWLY ESCAPED MULTIPLE PLANE DISASTERS. YOUARE ONE DAYCLOSER TOTHE END OF THE WORLD. MEN Actor Gregory Peck, writer David Seltzer, and producer Mace Neufeld all flew in separate planes struck by lightning throughout production. Peck would later elude plane death once more when a flight he had just cancelled crashed, killing all those aboard. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

27

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The Exorcist is the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture. CRACKED.com It received 10 oscar nominations in 1974, including Best Supporting Actress for the 15 year old Linda Blair. It lost Best Picture to The Sting, a movie you didn't know existed until now. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

26

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The shadows under all the actors in The Ring were removed. CRACKEDG In order to give the viewer an unsettling feeling from the movie, cinematographer Bojan Bazelli used very deliberate lighting to remove shadows under the actors and have them look like they're floating in space. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

25

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Real human skeletons were used in Poltergeist, without the actors knowing. GRACKEDG The prop master on set realized it was cheaper to get some real skeletons from a medical and science supply company than to have replicas made. JoBeth Williams, who played the mother Diane, filmed with the skeletons in a mud filled pool for five days without knowing the props weren't... props. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

24

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Jack Nicholson chopped through the prop door too fast in The Shining. CRACKED.co Since Nicholson used to be a volunteer firefighter, he was so good with the axe that when it came time to take down the prop door, it went down unnaturally fast. The production had to replace the flimsy door with a real one so Nicholson could hack away at it. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

23

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The Craft hired a practicing witch to keep the film authentic. CRACKED To make sure they were getting everything right, filmmakers hired Pat Devin, the (at the time) First Officer of Southern California's Covenant of the Goddess. Devin had a great experience on set, saying that a lot of my suggestions were acted upon and virtually all of my suggestions were given careful consideration. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

22

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Those are real bees in the mouth of Tony Todd in Candyman. GRACKED.COM In the climax of the movie, Todd had to have real bees come out of his mouth, with only a dental dam blocking them from crawling down his throat. Todd had a deal with the production that he would be paid $1,000 for every bee sting (of which there were 23) over the course of filming. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

21

VERONICA CARTWRIGHT IS ACTUALLY FREAKING OUT AT THE END OF INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. From deep space... Invasion of the Body Snatchers of the Body Donald Sutherisoud Director Philip Kaufman really wanted Cartwright's reaction to be genuine, so he kept the actress in the dark about the ending. When Donald Sutherland reveals that his body has also been snatched, the shock sent her into full-blown panic mode. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

20

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The director of The Witch hates that you can see Anya Taylor-Joy's earring holes. CRACKEDO Since the movie takes place in 1630, seeing evidence of earrings could break the immersion for people REALLY concentrating on the lead actress' earlobes. The movie's director Robert Eggers said it bothered him so much, he wished he went back in with CGI to get rid of them. — Source: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About Your Favorite Horror Movies

19

SANDRA PEABODY THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BE RAPED WHILE FILMING THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. TO AVOID FAINTING ITEM It on 13 acres of earth over the very center of hell... LAST THE HOUSE ON THE LEFT IESS LICE GRANTBUEN SANDU CASLEE CURRISCIAN MAS CRANTER Director Wes Craven said Peabody was terrified throughout the shoot, suspicious of their lack of filming permits. Her male co-stars amplified her fears, with one's method acting involving pulling down her pants, fondling her, and asking Craven if he could assault her. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

18

GEORGE LUCAS GOT HIS HEAD STUCK IN THE JAWS MECHANICAL SHARK JAWS When Lucas came to visit the set, he playfully placed his head in the robot fish monster's, um, jaws. Director Steven Spielberg activated the controls and the robotic beast clamped down on Lucas and broke. He was, of course, eventually freed. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

17

RUGGERO DEODATO EMOTIONALLY TORTURED THE CAST AND CREW OF CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. UNFREM DE RUGGERO DEODATO CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST Filming in the middle of nowhere. crew members were left in tears or vomiting after being forced to perform or witness no fewer than seven animal murders. Deodato also abused the locals, making native children extras huddle inside a hut while it was set on fire. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

16

ROMAN POLANSKI MADE MIA FARROW EAT RAW CHICKEN LIVER IN ROSEMARY'S BABY. Rosemary's Baby Mia Farrow John Cassauetes In the scene where the expectant Rosemary craves raw meat, the director had Farrow eat the liver take after take, despite the actress being a strict vegetarian at the time. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

15

RUBY ROSE'S WARDROBE NEARLY CAUSED HER TO DROWN FILMING THE MEG. The actress said she STATHAM was dressed in layers to protect from the cold, making swimming very difficult. Then Rose's shoes began filling up with water, dragging her to the bottom of the tank. She drank a lot of MEG THE water before safety divers had to pull her up. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

14

GUNNAR HANSEN HAD TO WEAR A RANCID SHIRT EVERY DAY IN THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Filmmakers only made ONE Who will survive costume for Leatherface, and what and it couldn't be cleaned will be for fear of its color fading. left of them? His shirt became SO stiff and putrid after wearing it 16 hours a day, Hansen THE said after a month you TEXAS could lean my suit up CHAINSAW MASSACRE against the wall. - CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

13

HITCHCOCKTORTURED TIPPI HEDREN WITH ACTUAL LIVE BIRDS IN THE BIRDS *It could the the most terrifying motion picture have ever madel'_ ALFRED HITCHCOCKS The Birds TECHNICOLOR ROD TAYLOR JESSICA TANDY SUZANNE PLESHETTE TIPPI HEDREN HITCHOOK Hedren recalled how for days, the director would throw real birds at her, which would proceed to scratch and s#!t on the actress On the last day, the director tied birds to Hedren, with one nearly pecking her eye out. When she began crying, the crew just walked away. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

12

THE CLOWN REALLY TRIED TO STRANGLE OLIVER ROBINS IN POLTERGEIST. They're here. POLTERGEIST It know what Robins explained that while shooting the scene where his character Robbie was being attacked by the clown doll, the device got stuck around his neck under the bed. He said Steven Spielberg saw he was in trouble through the monitor and pulled him free, adding that if he hadn't, maybe I wouldn't be here today. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

11

PRODUCERS HAD TO HIRE A GUY TO PROTECT THE CREW FROM ONE CAST MEMBER IN PREDATOR. The insurance company SCHWARZENECGER was SO concerned the late Sonny Landham would go off the deep end, director John McTiernan stated they had to hire a 6' 8 bodyguard to follow Landham around 24 hours a day... PREDATOR To protect the rest of IOON THE HUNT WILL BEOIN the crew from him. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

10

KYLE RICHARDS WAS MESSED UP FOR YEARS AFTER DOING HALLOWEEN. The ethen-nunthough HALLOWEEN actress she'd done horror films before, Halloween turned her off the genre for good. I was terrified, said The Richards, adding that Night He after seeing herself in Came Home! the movie, she had to sleep with her mother until she was 15. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

9

A SCREENWRITER WAS SET ON FIRE FOR NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. THEY WON'T STAY DEAD! NIGHT LIVING OF THE DEAD They keep comins back Moodthirity just for HUMAN FLESHI... Pits the dead against the living in struggle for survivall In the scene where they're throwing Molotov cocktails at the zombies, co-writer John Russo told George Romero it would be unrealistic that none would catch on fire. When Romero said they had no stuntmen, Russo volunteered to be set ablaze, despite having no training or protective equipment for the job. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

8

BILL SKARSGARD WAS SO MISERABLE MAKING IT, HE SUFFERED FROM PENNYWISE NIGHTMARES. The actor compared the role to a destructive relationship, adding, I was SO miserable. You'll float too Skarsgard said that even after the film was done, he would have vivid nightmares about the demon clown. Every night, he came and visited, he said. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

7

LINDA BLAIR AND ELLEN BURSTYN BOTH SUFFERED BRUTAL BACK INJURIES FILMING THE EXORCIST. The lacing the device Scarlest Movie OF AS Tate this Beturned on hA Version Never Seen used to thrash Blair on the bed came undone. causing the actress serious injury to her back as she yelled for them to stop. Burstyn was thrown off her feet, back- onto a table, screaming in agony. THE EXORCIST Both shots, and their real cries of pain, were used in the final movie. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

6

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.BROKE HALLE BERRY'S ARM WHILE FILMING GOTHIKA. While filming a scene at HALLE BERRY an institution, Downey NOTALINE was supposed to be restraining the actress when he accidentally grabbed her arm the wrong way... And broke it. The actor issued a public apology to Berry, but the GOTHIKA actress reportedly still ROBERT DOWNEY the hasn't forgiven him. CRACKED.COM November 21 — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

5

A DEAD BODY WASHED ASHORE WHILE FILMING AT THE BOATHOUSE FOR THE AMITYVILLEHORROR. Actress Melissa George said filming of the 2005 remake was interrupted by police seeking Ryan Reynolds' autograph. No wait. They were there because a dead flipping body AMITYVILLE floated to the surface HORROR on the shore of the set. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

4

RIDLEY SCOTT PUT HIS OWN KIDS IN SMOTHERING SPACESUITS FOR ALIEN. A E in space no one.can here you scream After building a smaller set to fit an exploration scene into the budget, the director put a bunch of kids, including his own, into mini-spacesuits. They were so hot and poorly ventilated that the actors would pass out and need to be revived with oxygen. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

3

STANLEY KUBRICK BERATED SHELLEY DUVALL TO CAPTURE HER REACTIONS IN THE SHINING. director's AMASTERPIECE The demanding OF MODERN HORROR method for perfection involved screaming at Duvall, take after take, to 2HE get a more realistic performance out of her. It caused the actress so SHiNiNG much stress that her hair began to fall out. STUDENT seens AND R CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

2

THE CAST'S DISTRESS IN THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT WASN'T ALL ACTING. Filmmakers gave the actors supplies and basically sent them off to get lost in the woods. Brown As they grew more cold Barbara Maria and tired, the directors cut their food rations, secretly terrorized them with creepy noises, and violently shook their tents if they tried to get some sleep. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

1

SCOTT GLENN LISTENED TO A REAL CHILD MURDER TO PREPARE FOR THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. To research his role, the actor spent time with the FBI profiler that his character was based on. Glenn says he still has nightmares about the things he was shown, including a tape of a teenage girl being the silence OF the lambs tortured to death. tree CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

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