Happy Halloween: Real Houses from Horror Films & Shows
Finding a perfect house to make a home can be a difficult process, especially if you’ve been searching for a long time. After many viewings and deliberations, it’s a big move to finally put down an offer. Now imagine that you finally bought your dream property and moved in, only to discover it has a very dark past!
Hollywood writers love to transform tales of gruesome murders into blockbuster movies to tell the story of unfortunate victims. If you’ve ever watched a horror movie, you’ll know that houses are often used as spooky filming locations. Being terrorized in your own home with nowhere to go is something that gives us chills. Here are some famous houses that feature in horror films. Are they actually haunted? What are the stories behind the properties and the movies?
The “American Horror Story’s” first season Murder House
Haunted: No
Location: Los Angeles
The first series of the hit show, American Horror Story is set in a house that, yep you guessed it, is haunted. In the show, the property is known for being the location of many mysterious deaths. There is even a tour bus that visits where the current owner takes a seat and listens to stories of what happened before she arrived. This house is actually the Rosenheim Mansion in Los Angeles, designed and built by an architect, Alfred Rosenheim in 1908. This house isn’t actually haunted however, the show features many characters that were based off real murders. For example, the character “Black Dahlia” was a 22-year-old woman named Elizabeth short who was murdered in 1947.
The “Nightmare on Elm Street” House
Haunted: No
Location: Los Angeles
This famous 1982 film was filmed in a Los Angeles house with a famous red door. Back in 2008, this house was bought for a whopping $1.2 million and has undergone a serious transformation. Looking at it, it’s hard to believe it was ever in such a terrifying film. The interior is now very modern and comfortable looking. The film was actually inspired by a family who came to America. They had a young son who experienced terrifying nightmares frequently. The spookiest thing about the dreams was that when they happened, the little boy would scream in terror for his parents. One night, they came in his room to investigate and found out that he had died. It inspired the story because there’s a question of “what if nightmares came true?” and plays on this, hence the creation of Freddy Kruger.
“The Shining’s” Hotel.
Haunted: Apparently, yes.
Location: Larimer County, Colorado
This incredibly famous Stephen King novel was based off The Stanley Hotel in Colorado. The hotel first opened back in 1909 as a luxury resort and people still believe the Stanley couples’ ghosts remain there after they passed. It wasn’t until 3 years after the opening that a strange electrocution of a visitor took place in room 217. This room is now the one most famous in the hotel for being extremely spooky. It’s recorded that something unusual happens in each of the rooms of a regular basis, making it one of the haunted places to stay. Even Stephen King was inspired to write the novel-turned-movie after his stay with his wife.
The “Amityville Horror” House.
Haunted: Apparently, yes.
Location: Long Island, New York
This 1979 film was inspired by a true story which took place in that very house. In 1974, a man called Ronald DeFeo, Jr shot six members of his family in this Long Island home. Later, after his murder conviction, a couple moved into the house. Shortly afterwards, they claimed they had experienced terrifying paranormal activities, which eventually forced them to leave. During their residency, the husband said that he would wake up naturally every morning at the same time of the murders. He even discovered a hidden room completely painted red, which his dog refused to go near. Many don’t believe what this family had insisted, yet the story became that popular that it was eventually made into a book and then a film. The house today looks very different because the community didn’t favour too many visitors and decided to close it to the public.
The “Poltergeist” House
Haunted: No
Location: Long Island, USA
The classic 1982 film Poltergeist is one of the spookiest movies due to the story and what also happened to the actors. The story is based on a family who lived in Long Island that were tormented by evil spirits in their home back in 1958. The family witnessed decorations fly across the room and figures appearing which made them hire a priest to investigate. It was later discovered that near their home was the location of a native American burial. This led them to believe this was the cause of the strange activities. After the film was produced and completed, a number of cast members died from different causes (some very violent). There are regular conversations on websites about whether their deaths are related to this story. The famous house featured in the film is actually completely normal therefore, there are no hauntings going on.
The “Silence of the Lambs” Buffalo Bill’s House.
Haunted: No
Location: Fayette County, Pennsylvania
The famous novel turned movie was inspired by the true story of three serial killers named Ted Bundy, Gary M Heidnik and Ed Gein. These awful men inspired the author to combine their crimes and characteristics to create “Buffalo Bill” in Silence of the Lambs. The character lived in a house which in the film famously has a basement to keep his victims. People hoped that there is the basement however in real life, thankfully there isn’t one. The owners gave permission to use the house in the film and is now a very famous property. This beautiful victorian house was built in 1910 and this year was on the market for $300,000 after the owners decided to downsize. Many believe that Ted Bundy’s demolished home is located in Salt City Lake, Utah because of a remaining basement that still stands.
Return to blog Overview