The Truth Behind the HorrorLike this list

15 items

• The Amityville Horror

  Anson, Jay, 1921-1980

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  The "true" story behind the horrors the Lutz family experienced in their new home on Long Island, although how true the story actually was is hotly debated.

• "Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?"

  Schechter, Harold

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  Serial killer Ed Gein's atrocious and horrendous acts were inspirations for several movies, most notably Psycho (1960), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

• Sister of Darkness

  the Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist

  Stavis, R. H.,

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  Exorcisms are a highly controversial, religious practice and a seemingly neverending list of movies have been made based around true stories of exorcisms, such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005).

• Behind the Horror

  True Stories That Inspired Horror Movies

  Mellor, Lee, 1982-

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  Did you know Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) was loosely based on true news stories Wes Craven heard? Mellor dives into a wide variety of horror movies and the true, or not so true, stories that they are based on.

• The Rite

  the Making of a Modern Exorcist

  Baglio, Matt

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  Journalist Matt Baglio followed Father Gary Thomas as he trained to perform exorcisms and documents Father Gary's transition from a skeptic to a true believer in the power of exorcisms. The Rite (2011) is loosely based on Father Gary's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Good Nurse

  a True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder

  Graeber, Charles,

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  Charles Cullen was a prolific serial killer who, using his access to patients, may have killed up to 300 people over more than a decade. The Good Nurse (2022) is a Netflix dramatized version of this true story.

• What Do We Know About the Winchester House?

  Berne, Emma Carlson, 1979-

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  Following her husband's death Sarah Winchester built a mysterious, sprawling mansion prompting many rumors of hauntings and supernatural occurrences. The house is real, the movie Winchester (2018) may not be quite as real.

• Monsters on the Couch

  the Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies

  Sharpless, Brian A.,

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  One of the most fascinating aspects of horror movies is trying to figure out what kind of person could possibly commit these heinous acts or experience horrific hauntings. Sharpless walks you through different real psychological conditions…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Helter Skelter

  the True Story of the Manson Murders

  Bugliosi, Vincent,

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  The muders of Sharon Tate and her friends provided inspiration for several movies including The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019) and Wolves at the Door (2016).

• Zodiac Unmasked

  the Identity of America's Most Elusive Serial Killer Revealed

  Graysmith, Robert

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  The Zodiac Killer was an incredibly violent, random killer, who taunted the police. This is made even more terrifying as he has still never been caught. Zodiac (2007) was based upon this book and one other by Graysmith.

• House of Darkness House of Light

  The True Story Volume One

  Perron, Andrea

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  Told by the daughter of Roger and Carolyn Perron, Andrea documents the paranormal hauntings they experienced in the home and the investigations conducted by Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Perron's experiences were the inspiration for The…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Death in the Air

  the True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City

  Dawson, Kate Winkler,

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  John Christie murdered six women, most or all of them in the flat he shared with his wife on Rillington Place in London. 10 Rillington Place (1971) is based around his last victim and the major miscarriage of justice surrounding it.

• Man-eater

  the Life and Legend of An American Cannibal

  Schechter, Harold

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  Alfred Packer and his crew of prospectors turned to cannibalism after being lost in the snow. Movies such as Devoured: The Legend of Alfred Packer (2005) and Ravenous (1999) were inspired by Packer's expedition. For a lighter spin on the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Twelve Days of Terror

  Inside the Shocking 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks

  Fernicola, Richard G.,

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  duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn. Jaws (1975). Need I say more?

• WorldCat InterLibrary Loan

  View on mymcpl.org

  If you're not having luck finding a movie included in this list through our catalog, make sure to check out WorldCat to request an InterLibrary Loan!