### 20 Scariest Movies Based on True Stories
Horror movies have a way of making us feel scared and uneasy, but did you know that some of the scariest ones are actually based on real-life events? Here are 20 of the most terrifying horror movies that draw inspiration from true stories.
#### 1. **The Exorcist (1973)**
This classic horror film tells the story of a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon. The movie was inspired by a real-life exorcism of a 14-year-old boy in Maryland in 1949. The actual event was so intense that it took a full month to complete.
#### 2. **The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)**
This iconic film follows a group of friends who encounter a family of cannibals in Texas. The character of Leatherface was inspired by Ed Gein, a man who murdered and dismembered his victims, including his mother. Gein’s crimes were so gruesome that they inspired many horror movies, including this one.
#### 3. **The Hills Have Eyes (1977)**
This brutal horror movie tells the story of a family who becomes stranded in the Nevada desert and encounters a group of cannibals. The film was inspired by the legend of Alexander “Sawney” Bean, a man who lived with his family in the woods and captured and murdered travelers over a period of 25 years.
#### 4. **Poltergeist (1982)**
This film about a haunted house was inspired by a real-life story from Long Island, New York. The Hermann family reported experiencing paranormal activity, which was believed to be caused by a Native American burial ground on their property. The film’s production was also marred by strange occurrences, leading some to believe in a “curse”.
#### 5. **The Amityville Horror (1979)**
This film is based on the true story of the DeFeo family, who were brutally murdered in their home by Ronald DeFeo Jr. A year later, the Lutz family moved into the same house and reported experiencing strange and terrifying events.
#### 6. **Sinister (2012)**
This movie follows a true-crime writer who moves his family into a house where a series of gruesome murders took place. The film’s plot is inspired by real-life serial killers and the discovery of snuff films, which are actual recordings of murders.
#### 7. **Insidious (2011)**
This film tells the story of a family whose son falls into a coma and becomes trapped in a supernatural realm. The movie draws inspiration from real-life cases of people experiencing paranormal activity and being trapped in other dimensions.
#### 8. **It Follows (2014)**
This movie follows a teenager who is cursed by a supernatural entity after having sex with her boyfriend. The film’s concept is inspired by real-life urban legends about curses and supernatural entities.
#### 9. **The Ring (2002)**
This film is based on the Japanese horror movie “Ring,” which tells the story of a cursed videotape that causes the viewer to die in seven days. The movie draws inspiration from real-life urban legends about cursed objects.
#### 10. **A Nightmare on Elm Street (1985)**
This classic horror film introduces Freddy Kruger, a killer who haunts his victims’ dreams. The character was inspired by real-life serial killers who used psychological terror to torment their victims.
#### 11. **Halloween (1978)**
This film follows Michael Myers, a masked killer who stalks and murders his victims on Halloween night. The character was inspired by real-life serial killers like Ed Gein and Richard Speck.
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