It’s Spooky Season: Horror Movies by State

Horror movies have a unique allure that captivates audiences year-round, but they truly come alive during the Halloween season. With spooky season upon us, many of you are likely revisiting your favorite horror films or even drawing inspiration for your Halloween costumes from them.

From iconic classics like “Scream” to lesser-known gems such as “Carnival of Souls,” we explored which horror movies were either filmed in or set within each state. Our research also delved into the real-life events or eerie tales that inspired these films.

If you’re looking for Halloween viewing inspiration, discover which horror films are woven into your state’s cinematic history.

Quick Facts

Horror-Stricken

The Fourth Kind: Although not filmed in Alaska, this film is inspired by the mysterious disappearances that occurred there, with some claiming alien abductions as the cause—a chilling premise indeed.
The Town that Dreaded Sundown: Based on real events, this film recounts the terror inflicted by a serial killer dubbed “The Phantom Killer” who targeted young couples in 1946, leaving the case unsolved and the story even more spine-tingling.
Scream: This classic horror film draws inspiration from real-life crimes committed by the “Gainesville Ripper,” who terrorized university students in Florida during a harrowing spree.
Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film was filmed in Arizona, gaining notoriety for its legendary shower scene that has haunted viewers for decades.
The Silence of the Lambs: Another classic, this film draws from the chilling tales of real-life killers, including the same figure that inspired “Psycho,” leaving audiences with an unforgettable psychological horror experience.

Bone-Chilling Movies

The horror genre often intertwines fiction with reality, making these films even more terrifying. Now that you’re aware of the locations behind some of these spine-chilling movies, you may think twice about your next travel destination—just in case. Or not!

Horror Movies by State

State	Horror Movie	Filming Location/Set
Alabama	Get Out	Filmed in
Alaska	The Fourth Kind	Takes place in
Arizona	Psycho	Filmed in
Arkansas	The Town That Dreaded Sundown	Filmed in
California	Scream	Filmed in
Colorado	The Shining	Filmed in
Connecticut	The Haunting in Connecticut	Filmed in
Delaware	Survival of the Dead	Takes place in
Florida	Jeepers Creepers	Filmed in
Georgia	Deliverance	Filmed in
Hawaii	A Perfect Getaway	Filmed in
Idaho	Idaho Transfer	Filmed in
Illinois	Halloween	Takes place in
Indiana	An American Crime	Takes place in
Iowa	The Crazies	Filmed in
Kansas	Critters	Filmed in
Kentucky	Return of the Living Dead	Takes place in
Louisiana	Interview with the Vampire	Filmed in
Maine	It	Filmed in
Maryland	The Blair Witch Project	Filmed in
Massachusetts	Shutter Island	Filmed in
Michigan	Mr. Jingles	Filmed in
Minnesota	Jennifer’s Body	Filmed in
Mississippi	The Beast Within	Filmed in
Missouri	You’re Next	Filmed in
Montana	Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County	Takes place in
Nebraska	Children of the Corn	Takes place in
Nevada	Tremors	Takes place in
New Hampshire	Yellow Brick Road	Filmed in
New Jersey	Friday the 13th	Filmed in
New Mexico	The Hills Have Eyes	Takes place in
New York	Rosemary’s Baby	Filmed in
North Carolina	The Conjuring	Filmed in
North Dakota	Leprechaun	Takes place in
Ohio	Nightmare on Elm Street	Takes place in
Oklahoma	Terror at Tenkiller	Filmed in
Oregon	The Fog	Takes place in
Pennsylvania	Night of the Living Dead	Filmed in
Rhode Island	Exeter	Filmed in
South Carolina	The New Daughter	Filmed in
South Dakota	Imprint	Filmed in
Tennessee	The Evil Dead	Filmed in
Texas	The Texas Chainsaw Massacre	Filmed in
Utah	Skinwalker Ranch	Filmed in
Vermont	Wolf	Filmed in
Virginia	Mama	Filmed in
Washington	The Ring	Filmed in
West Virginia	The Silence of the Lambs	Filmed in
Wisconsin	The Giant Spider Invasion	Filmed in
Wyoming	Close Encounters of the Third Kind	Filmed in

As Halloween approaches, the fascination with horror movies grows. Whether you’re a fan of blood-curdling thrillers or psychological horrors, these films offer a glimpse into the darker narratives associated with each state’s history. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and dive into these chilling cinematic stories that make this Halloween season truly unforgettable!

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Amanda Postma

Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.

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