Real-life events have often served as an unofficial source for horror movies. The crimes of notorious serial killer Ed Gein, for example, served as inspiration for Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs, House of 1000 Corpses, and others, lending a chilling edge to stories and characters created by the filmmakers.
But when filmmakers focus on the actual crimes, and talk directly with the participants and victims, the results can often be far more disturbing, as the following examples demonstrate.
The Act of Killing (2012)
The filmmakers examine the long-term effects of mass killings in Indonesia in the 1960s by asking the perpetrators to reenact their murderous actions. It's absolutely chilling to watch. Director Joshua Oppenheimer has a followup, The Look of Silence, heading to theaters on July 17.
Killer Legends (2014)
Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills peer into urban legends that inspired modern-day horror movies, showing exactly how the line between truth and fiction has been blurred. They cover tales such as "The Candyman" (someone giving away candy that's been poisoned to children in the neighborhood) and "The Hook Man" (a man with a hook who kills teenagers).
Serial Killer Culture (2014)
Why are we so obsessed with serial killers? This absorbing documentary visits more than a dozen people who can't help but be obsessed by homicidal monsters, for reasons that even they can't fully comperehend or explain.
Room 237 (2012)
At the boundary between film fanatic and conspiracy buff, some people are totally taken by the possible hidden meanings contained within Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel, which at its heart plunges into the twisted thinking of a homicidal maniac.
My Amityville Horror (2012)
The original book about paranormal activity plaguing the Lutz family in the 1970s sparked debate about its veracity. Eric Walter's film features interviews with Daniel Lutz, one of the children involved; reporter Laura DiDio; and paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren (see: The Conjuring).
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
It's hard to believe now but this documentary opened in theaters in October 1984 to very good success, nearly out-earning James Cameron's The Terminator and easily besting Brian DePalma's Body Double. Narrated by Donald Pleasance, it's a tribute to horror movies of the era as opposed to real-life events, but it still plays very well today.
