Horror ClassicsNo. 1829 · The 2026 edition
The Real Stories Behind 6 Classic Horror Movies
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at history.com.
About this
A HISTORY feature by Becky Little tracing the alleged real-life origins of six classic horror films. Each entry contrasts the movie's 'based on a true story' claim with what documentary evidence and skeptical investigators actually found, from stolen Dracula copyright to admitted hoaxes and a scientist accused of fraud. Sources include researcher Mark Opsasnick, Skeptical Inquirer deputy editor Benjamin Radford and novelist Ray Garton. The page argues that 'based on a true story' is a marketing technique book publishers and filmmakers have used for decades whether or not the story holds up.
The list
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01
Nosferatu 1922
German film basically an unauthorized knockoff of Stoker's 1897 Dracula; villains renamed Count Orlok. Vampire lore predates Stoker, tied to European folk explanations for plague and tuberculosis deaths.
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02
The Exorcist 1973
Based on Blatty's 1971 novel, inspired by 1949 Washington Post reports of a Maryland boy's exorcism; investigator Mark Opsasnick concluded the boy was troubled, not possessed.
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03
The Amityville Horror 1979
Follows 1974 DeFeo family murders and Lutz family's paranormal claims, published in Jay Anson's 1977 book; a lawyer later said the story was created over bottles of wine.
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04
The Serpent and the Rainbow 1988
Wes Craven adaptation of Wade Davis's 1985 book claiming Haitian secret societies used puffer-fish tetrodotoxin to create zombies; scientists denounced the claim as fraud.
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05
The Haunting in Connecticut 2009
Inspired by the Snedeker family's 1986 claims, promoted by the Warrens; novelist Ray Garton, hired for the 1992 book, later admitted the story wasn't true.
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06
The Conjuring (and sequels/spinoffs) 2013
Turns Ed and Lorraine Warren into movie characters played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga; draws on the Perron family, haunted Annabelle doll, Amityville and Enfield poltergeist.
More photos
Photos hosted by history.com.
