In the world of horror movies, true stories are tough to come by. When a horror movie is based on true events, that relation can be tenuous at best. It is with this flexibility in mind that I list these top five true story horror movies of all time. Please keep in mind that true is purely relative in this sense, and it includes movies that are very loosely based on truth. When a horror movie has even the slightest basis of truth, then it becomes much more powerful. Here are the five horror movies that did the true angle the best.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is certainly one of the most widely debated “true” horror movies of all time. The movie is actually loosely based on the real life killer Ed Gein who killed two people in Plainfield, Wisconsin. The remake brought in Thomas Hewitt as Leatherface, and included fake police crime scene footage that had everyone thinking it was real. The footage was fake, and the whole chainsaw angle was fake. Gein never used a chainsaw on live victims to anyone’s knowledge, though he did wear human skin and was said to enjoy cannibalism. In spite of the less than true facts, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a must see for any true story horror buffs.
The Exorcist - This movie is actually based on a true story as well, though the details are different depending on who you speak to. Most people do have some level of belief in The Devil and God, and that makes this movie especially tough to watch. No movie in mainline horror movie history has been more controversial.
Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer - This movie is based on the serial killer Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, two drifters that is thought to have killed in virtually every state in America. The movie is horrifically blunt, and is one of the better cult classic movies around.
The Town That Dreaded Sundown - This is another cult classic that is said to have been a forerunner to the modern day slasher flick. The movie takes creative liberty with the true story of the Phantom killer of Arkansas. The real killer was never caught, and he killed several people in lover’s lanes. The movie is visceral in nature, though the acting leaves some to be desired. Still, it is done in a very grainy scary way.
Helter Skelter - This movie is scary if for no other reason than the actual footage of the most infamous murders in American history. Charles Manson held California and the nation at large hostage with his murdering band of hippies. The movie does a good job of showing the horror of that time period.
Though many horror movies could certainly make this list, these are my top five true horror movies ever made.
Image Credited to Flickr User defak
