Updated date: 66 Horror Movie Locations to Know for the True Movie Buff

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66 must-know horror movie locations for movie buffs.

Why should you never take a nap in Springwood, Ohio?

Why should you immediately dump your boyfriend if he suggests spending the afternoon boating at Camp Crystal Lake?

The true horror movie buff knows the answers to these questions! Here are 66 horror movie locations that have become synonymous with death, evil, or the supernatural. The mere mention of them will send tingling shivers down any film lover’s spine.

66 Notorious Horror Movie Locations

Allerdale Hall (Crimson Peak): One of the newest horror movie locations on this list, Crimson Peak’s Allerdale Hall is the post-2000 take on the classic Gothic haunted mansion. A great location for daredevils, and authors, looking to host the perfect themed party. Amity Island, New England (Jaws Franchise): In a romanticized, safe-for-children story, Amity Island would be described as having a powerful “primordial guardian.” In Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, though, the waters surrounding the rustic town is the hunting ground for a savage great white shark. Till today, “Bruce” continues to be one of the classic icons of thriller and horror movies. Amityville (Amityville Franchise): Amityville isn’t all bad, only the house at 112 Ocean Avenue is. With a façade that somewhat resembles a shocked face, this nasty haunted house has a penchant for encouraging incest, madness, and murder. In the 2005 remake, vengeful Native American spirits were stated to be the cause behind the hauntings. Antonio Bay (The Fog): Many towns have dark origins. In the case of Antonio Bay, how founders built the town invited supernatural revenge a century later. Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane (Shutter Island): There is always something frightening about asylums for the insane. However, one must not forget that such hospitals could still be places of healing. Under the right doctor, the crazy might even be encouraged to explore their delusions, rather than reject them. Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane (The Silence of the Lambs): The facility that incarcerated Hannibal Lecter, horror cinema’s most fascinating and seductive serial killer. Also, where Clarice Sterling’s complex relationship with the sinister cannibal formally began. Bates Motel (Psycho Franchise): There are certain things you should never do when staying overnight at this famous horror movie location. Things such as being nosey, hanging around the staircase, opening the icebox, or taking a shower. You should especially NOT take a shower. Belasco House (Legend of Hell House): In the 1973 film, this creepy mansion was described as the “Mount Everest of haunted houses.” That ought to give you a clear idea of the sort of scariness that dwelled within it. The severe overpopulation problem too. Black Lake, Maine (Lake Placid Franchise): A not-so-serene lake with a huge problem. It’s a beloved nesting ground for giant crocodiles. Bly Country Estate (The Innocents): The real evil of this wicked estate resides in its inhabitants or victims. However, film theorists have also insisted that the entire property is a crucible for the analysis of sexual repression. In other words, not the place to venture to if you’re been having awful dates. Boston Memorial Hospital (Coma): Other than some black market organ sales on the sidelines, there is nothing too evil about this hospital. It did, however, provide the horror and suspense movie genres with one of the most disturbing images ever. That of comatose, near-naked patients suspended in groups from the ceiling using medical tubes. Camp Crystal Lake (Friday the 13th Franchise): As one of the most notorious and famous horror movie locations ever, Camp Crystal Lake is synonymous with many things. Things such as irresponsible teens, horny teens, and creatively butchered underdressed teens. It was also the death location and original hunting ground of slasher Jason Voorhees and his mom. Definitely not the place to bring your date to, even if you are a fan of undying slashers. Castle Rock, Maine (Various Stephen King movie adaptations): Watch enough Stephen King movies, or read enough of his books, and you’d be convinced small Northeastern American towns are the scariest places in the whole galaxy. This fictitious Maine town is the setting for no less than 15 King stories as of 2019, with numerous references to it in other King works too. Needless to say, the whole town is a magnet for the macabre and the malicious, and the downright murderous. Colonial Theater (The Blob): Special effects for 1958’s The Blob are cheesy by today’s standards. Still, the spectacle of malignant ooze oozing out of a cinema while the audience shrieks and flees remains one of the most memorable moments of the horror movie genre. At the actual Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where the scene was filmed, a “Blobfest” is held annually to commemorate this iconic moment. Cuesta Verde (Poltergeist): Home buying pro-tips. Before acquiring any property, thoroughly research the history behind the land. If you cannot avoid buying land that used to be for the dead, avoid building swimming pools. Selfish as it might sound, it’s really not a good idea to share a pool with the rotting dead. Danvers State Hospital (Session 9): Danvers State Hospital was the shooting location, not the fictitious asylum, for Brad Anderson’s supremely creepy Session 9. Nonetheless, for some fans, the name represents the abandoned psychiatric hospital in the movie. It is a place where dark spirits prey on the weak and wounded. The movie also contributed a lot to the public perception of asylums as scary places. Derry, Maine (IT Franchise): If you are a cosmic, shape-shifting monster, and you decide to relocate to Earth, where would you stay? In a town like Derry, of course! Derry, with its many vulnerable adults to manipulate, and its many children to feast upon. East Proctor (An American Werewolf in London): Though it has a pub with a truly unsavory name, there’s nothing too dangerous about this town in Yorkshire, England. Instead, the real danger lurks in the moors surrounding it. Were you to encounter this menace, let’s just say, you’d next be feverishly researching the many myths about the Wolfsbane plant. Eel Marsh House (The Woman in Black): By today’s scary movie standards, Eel Marsh House would be considered rather tame; it has but one unsightly ex-resident. That said, if you’re jumpy and paranoid, that ex-resident could still get to you. The marshland surrounding the property also makes housekeeping a daily nightmare. Elite Hunting Club (Hostel Franchise): The Slovakian club in Eli Roth’s Hostel movies that offers human captives for torture and murder. A notorious horror movie location that briefly, in 2003, inspired several conspiracy theories. Evans City Cemetery (Night of the Living Dead): Pop culture regards this as the birthplace of modern “zombie fever.” It was here that we were ceremoniously introduced to the walking dead in George A. Romero’s 1968 zombie classic. Exorcist Steps (The Exorcist): A must-mention on any list about famous horror movie locations, the notorious “Exorcist Steps” at the finale of the Exorcist could easily be visited in real-life in Washington, D.C. One look and you’ll see why even a demon wouldn’t walk away easily from a fall down it. Freiburg Dance Academy (Suspiria): The atmospheric setting for Dario Argento’s 1977 Giallo masterpiece. Like hospitals and asylums, schools could also be cesspools of great evil. Gatlin, Nebraska (Children of the Corn Franchise): Another Stephen King creation, Gatlin is home to the very antithesis of the world-saving teenage team in IT. Rather than reject evil, the brats here worship it. Haddonfield, Illinois (Halloween Franchise): On Halloween night in 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers brutally stabbed his sister and her boyfriend to death in Haddonfield. Ever since, the evil has never stopped, with Michael i.e. The Shape repeatedly returning from death to continue his nasty work. In all reboots of the franchise, Haddonfield remains the hometown of this legendary 80s slasher. Hill House (The Haunting): Some houses are just bad news no matter who you are or what you do. Even if you are an experienced paranormal activity investigator, the sheer evil of this famous horror movie mansion might still overwhelm and consume you. Hobb’s End (In the Mouth of Madness): A mysterious town at the heart of the madness-inducing events in John Carpenter’s 1994 Lovecraftian adaptation. Further description is refrained from as that might drive you insane. Jerusalem’s Lot (Salem’s Lot): Regrettably, being named after the holy city didn’t stop wicked Kurt Barlow from relocating to this small town. Didn’t stop the vampire from running an enthusiastic recruitment campaign too. Kahiki Palms Motel (Devil’s Reject): The hideout of the unfriendly Firefly family in Rob Zombie’s sequel to House of 1000 Corpses. Unfriendly, being an understatement. Katie and Micah’s New Home (Paranormal Activity): Ever had neighbors that keep you up the whole night with their din? Well, this home is worse. As in, it has an unwelcomed cohabiter that wakes you then drags you out of bed. To be fair, the house itself was benign. The unwelcomed cohabiter shifted in together with the new residents. Kingston Falls (Gremlins): The town of Kingston Falls had its worst nightmare after a dad bought a pet for his son as a Christmas present. The pet itself was loving and cute. On the other hand, the creatures that popped out from its back were as nasty as nasty gets. Midwich (Village of the Damned): After a spell of mass unconsciousness, female residents of Midwich found themselves pregnant. Worse, their children were born with unnatural features, telepathic powers, and a complete lack of human conscience. A horror movie location even Professor X would hesitate to visit. Nostromo (Alien): Should you ever design a spaceship, please refrain from including too many service tunnels and ducts. Keep all your corridors well-lit too! Otherwise, what butchery would ensure should a nasty alien creature infiltrate your ship? Pet Semetary (Pet Semetary): If you have not watched the movies or read the book, you might think that this is the cursed ground in which any corpse buried within it would return as a murderous zombie. In truth, Pet Semetary is where you should bury your dead pets to ensure that they stay peacefully dead. The actual cursed ground is unnamed and beyond it. Potter’s Bluff (Dead and Buried): Despite the name, this New England town has nothing to do with Harry Potter. What happens in the town, on the other hand, is equivalent to the foulest magic in Harry's wizardry world. Racoon City (Resident Evil Franchise): The prime example of irresponsible industrialization, Racoon City was the stronghold of the unscrupulous Umbrella Corporation. On good and bad days, every corner and every sewer hides a horde of zombies dying to feast on you. Sadako’s Well (The Ring Franchise): Wells have long been dubious places in Asian folktales. While they supply freshwater, they could be poisoned to kill entire villages, or used to conceal murder. Jump forth to the 1990s, they earned the notorious reputation of being nasty places where vengeful female ghosts badly in need of haircuts could climb out of. When visiting Asia, do take the effort to keep a distance from these watering holes. Saint Cartha’s Monastery (The Nun): The world of horror movies is such a dangerous place that even buildings of worship could be lethal. This is particularly so if the building doubles as a prison for ancient demonic entities. Salò (120 Days of Sodom): The fictitious Republic that was the setting for the notorious Pasolini movie. Note that very little of “Salò” was shown in the movie. Most of the story takes place within a mansion. Sawyer House (Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise): Leatherface’s “home” in Tobe Hooper’s most shocking movie. As awful as the house was, Leatherface loves his home and takes great effort to be a good housekeeper and cook. Silent Hill (Silent Hill Franchise): Silent Hill is more of a video game scary location. That said, the 2006 movie adaptation gave movie-goers a good idea of how the town would look like in real-life. This is one dank town that truly has it all. From occultists to deformed monsters, to giant killers and decrepit asylums, to even demons. Even legendary 80s slashers like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees would think thrice before popping by this terrifying hellhole. Skull Island (King Kong Franchise): It is a stretch to consider any King Kong movie as a horror film. Still, no sane human would want to visit Skull Island. For starters, the big ape is hardly the only overgrown beast residing in it. Kong could even be considered the friendliest resident too. Springwood, Ohio (A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise): Every town has its share of black sheep, with the residents of Springwood going to extreme ends to deal with theirs. The problem though, their nightmare returned in a far worse form to enact vengeance. In short, Springwood is the original hunting ground of “Dream Master” Freddy Krueger, one of horror cinema’s vilest, most fearsome, and most insufferably talkative slashers. Stepford, Connecticut (The Stepford Wives): A fictitious Fairfield County town that is a male chauvinist’s ultimate fantasy. The “wives” here are not only utterly submissive, they are impossibly beautiful too Summerisle (The Wicker Man): A beautiful Scottish isle where local residents take agricultural production too seriously. Particularly dangerous for pious, virgin guys who burn easily. Taggart’s Farm (Jeepers Creepers 2): Taggart’s Farm is perfectly safe most of the time. However, every 23 years for 23 days, its main attraction comes alive for a blood-soaked kill-fest. Checking schedules is a must before visiting this horror movie location. The Armitage Estate (Get Out): There is nothing too sinister about this new horror movie location, or its neighboring properties, as long as you are fair-skinned. But if you are exotically dark, you run the extreme risk of having your body stolen, and your mind replaced. The Blair Witch Woods (Blair Witch Franchise): Various locations were mentioned in the mother of all found footage movies and its sequels. For example, Coffin Rock and child-murderer Rustin Parr’s hideout. The limelight, though, should still be on the creepy woods where most parts of the 1999 movie took place in. One could even say the entire woods is the Blair Witch. At the very least, every part of it is her domain. The Bramford (Rosemary’s Baby): A lovely apartment block in New York City designed with German Renaissance touches. Its only problems, the residents worship the Devil and have no respect for privacy, or your body. The Cabin (Evil Dead Franchise): As a theme park funhouse, this gloomy cabin would be loads of fun. It has an atmospheric cellar and comes with a hysterical laughing deer head. On the other hand, if you have to survive a night in it, chances are, you aren’t going to be quite the same person the next day. (That is, if you survive at all) This is so even if you, somehow, manage to decipher the demonic tome hidden in it. The Cabin in the Woods (The Cabin in the Woods): Joss Whedon’s homage to the above-mentioned Evil Dead Cabin, this death house ups the game by featuring an ever-rotating cast of supernatural nasties. Worse, it’s also equipped with insidious gadgets to ensure victims are especially vulnerable to the performers of the evening. Quite simply, one of the deadliest horror movie locations ever. One of the most imaginative too. The Carmichael Mansion (The Changeling): Which is worse about this 1980 horror movie location? The supernatural hauntings that besiege it, or the unspeakable crime that gave rise to the hauntings? Most viewers would likely state the latter. The Colony (The Howling): Today, werewolves are widely regarded as sexy and hunky shapeshifters, who would be your pet for life were you to tickle their ears correctly. Back in the 80s, however, they were universally feared as brutal man killers. An entire horde of these savage killers resides incognito at the enigmatic resort known only as The Colony. The Cube (Cube Franchise): The best way to describe the Cube is to put it as cinema’s largest gathering of hi-tech escape games. The zeal of the creators saw to it that “customers” rarely win in this futuristic thriller movie location The Dolphin Hotel (1408): A classy hotel on Lexington Avenue, New York City. For 95 years, no one has survived more than an hour inside its room 1408. The House on Haunted Hill (House on Haunted Hill): Depending on whether you watch the 1959 original or the 1999 remake, this mansion may or may not be haunted. (In the remake, the “house” was also originally an asylum for the criminally insane) Regardless, both are not places you’d want to spend a night in, even if doing so involves a money prize. To give you an idea, the 1959 version has the most unusual feature of an acid vat. Any guesses for what that is useful for? The Maitland Residence (Beetlejuice): Given the comical mood of the Tim Burton movie, this lovely country manor might not qualify as a scary movie location. That said, it does come with an unwelcomed squatter and a gateway to the afterlife. Hang on, not the afterlife, but the waiting room to the afterlife. How awful is that? The Midnight Train (The Midnight Meat Train): A late-night subway service in New York City. Avoid this like the plague unless you wish to be the main course of reptilian dinners. The Perron Farmhouse (The Conjuring): This horror movie location demonstrates again that it is a must, an absolute must, to research previous inhabitants before moving into a used property. The complicated world we live in, previous denizens could range from murderers to hags, to homicidal witches. The Overlook Hotel (The Shining): Do you read lots of reviews before staying in a hotel? Jack Torrance didn’t, the result of which is one of the scariest tragedies in cinematic history. The primary setting for both the Stephen King novel and the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick movie adaptation, The Overlook has tricks aplenty to drive anyone insane. It also owns an expansive hedge maze; one that should especially not be entered into during snowy weather. The Saeki House (Ju-on Franchise): There are many epithets for this nondescripts Japanese home. For example, Tokyo’s most haunted house, the Grudge House, etc. Whichever the description, this is one home you wouldn’t want to move into, even if you are suicidal. Even visiting could prove to be a deadly experience. The Zorba Mansion (13 Ghosts): As gruesome as they might be, ghosts in haunted houses aren’t necessarily evil. Sometimes, they just need a little help with relocating. Being supernatural, such entities might also reward you, should you graciously lend a hand. U.S. Outpost 31 (The Thing): Although Antarctica is one of the last frontiers of the modern world, it’s not the case for certain interstellar migrants. The extreme weather of the icy continent also resulted in some of these visitors being highly eager to find warm refuge within human bodies. Westin Psychiatric Ward (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3): The main setting in the third Nightmare movie. Here, victims discovered Freddy’s true background. Windward House (The Uninvited): Windward House was one of the earliest fictitious haunted houses to gain cinematic fame. Its chills of chilly drafts, creepy rooms, and upset lovers, might feel a little lame nowadays, but this is still one mansion you wouldn’t want to be alone in. Woodsboro, California (Scream): The setting for the first Scream movie. In other words, the equivalent of Haddonfield in this slasher movie revival franchise.

Recreation of Amity Island, one of the most famous horror movie locations, at Universal Studios Japan. 1 / 7

© 2019 Scribbling Geek

Scribbling Geek (author) from Singapore on November 25, 2019:

Hi bhattuc, thanks!

bhattuc on November 25, 2019:

An exhaustive list of horror movie locales. Nice article.