When audiences see a terrifying horror movie they can at least confidently say it is not real or would/could ever happen. Well, what about when it is true? While urban legends may not be entirely rooted in reality, their vagueness and mystery have established their legacies and convinced generations of folks that they may have occurred. Urban legends are especially popular in horror movies.
Movies such as The Grudge or The Legend of Boggy Creek drew in audiences with their stories being based on these legends. The Blair Witch Project especially enraptured those with its reportedly missing documentarians and urban legend before it was all revealed to be a fake. The fact these films were inspired by events that may or may not have transpired makes watching them troubling but also exciting.
The Car (1977) - 6.2
The Car stars James Brolin and centers on a malevolent driver who is attacking the inhabitants of a small, desert town. While the movie is mostly remembered for being corny, it set a precedent for car-possessed movies and TV storylines. The movie was partially based on a Route 666 (close to Route 66) urban legend.
The tale tells of an unmanned black sedan that sped up and down the infamous highway. Drivers have reported not only seeing the vehicle but also having to pull over to avoid being hit by the oncoming vehicle. Strangely, the car would then vanish in thin air.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977) - 6.3
The Hills Have Eyes is a 1977 film by Wes Craven. The story centers on a family who encounters a clan of insane and sadistic cannibals. While developing the movie, Craven came across the tale of Sawney Beane. According to legend, he and his 45-member family lived in Scotland during the 16th century.
Within 25 years, they allegedly kidnapped, brutally murdered, and cannibalized about 1,000 people. They were eventually apprehended on behalf of orders by King James of Scotland. He ordered them to be executed without a trial. Historians still debate about its factual basis.
The Mothman Prophecies (2002) - 6.4
The Mothman Prophecies features the talents of Richard Gere and Laura Linney. The film is based on the 1975 book of the same name which focuses on the legend of the Mothman. Apparently, the cryptid was reportedly sighted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia on November 12, 1966. The couple who spotted it claimed to see a man-sized bird creature.
One version of the legend includes a deformed child being born to a sorceress. The child eventually escaped and flew away. The story of its first reported sighting was sensationalized and received nation-wide attention. To this day, Point Pleasant still hosts an annual festival in honor of the creature.
When a Stranger Calls (1979) - 6.5
When a Stranger Calls stars Carol Kane as a teenage babysitter who is being phoned by a creepy and dangerous stalker. The overall film is based on an urban legend known as "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs," a story from the 60s that tells of a young babysitter receiving a call from a stranger who asked if she "checked on the children."
Fortunately, in this version, both the babysitter and the kids made it out okay. The film was fiscally successful and critically mixed. Kane has since gone on to have prosperous acting care. Since 1979, it has spawned a sequel and remake.
The Candyman (1992) - 6.6
Candyman co-stars Tony Todd as the titular villain and Virginia Madsen as a college grad student. The movie centers on Madsen's character, who is researching urban legends when she comes across the legend of the "Candyman." The ghost of an artist and son of a slave who was lynched for having an interracial relationship.
While Candyman was partially based on a character in Clive Barker's short story titled The Forbidden, his hook hand was inspired by the urban legend of the Hook Man. The story tells of a couple hearing a radio announcement of an escaped mental patient and serial killer who has a hook for a hand. Another basis for conjuring ritual may be the legend of Bloody Mary. Nia DaCosta's sequel is due for a 2021 release.
Christine (1983) - 6.7
Similar to The Car, Christine centers on a sinister, possessed vehicle that grows jealous of anyone who tries to stand in way of her and her new owner Arnie (Keith Gordon). The movie is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. King's conception of the evil car was inspired by the notoriety behind a 1964 Dodge 330 Limited Edition known as the "Golden Eagle."
Over the years, the vehicle has been reportedly responsible for 14 deaths and has influenced its previous owners, or whoever dared touched it to killed themselves or others. While Christine has gone on to become a classic, the "Golden Eagle" is still reportedly around, waiting for its next victim.
Trick r Treat (2007) - 6.8
Michael Doughtery's Trick r Treat has become a cult favorite in passing years. This anthology movie covers a latitude of spooky and cautionary tales presented over the span of Halloween night. The rules and traditions of the holiday are so critical that those who fail to abide will certainly suffer and die.
The film also features a litany of Halloween urban folklore, from checking one's candy to not blowing out a jack-o-lantern before the night is over. The movie is a visually-stunning and macabre love letter to these Halloween and its mythos. The movie is certainly worth checking out during this upcoming Halloween season.
Shutter (2004) - 7.1
Shutter centers on a couple who discover their photographs are suddenly showing peculiar shadows following a tragedy. The premise of the film was inspired by an occurrence known as spirit photography. This is where ghosts are visually captured by pictures.
The popularity of this film spawned an American remake of the same name. Meanwhile, there was an Indian remake titled Click and a Tamil remake called Sivi. Universal Studios Singapore was to feature a maze inspired by the movie for their Halloween Horror Nights event before the event was cancelled.
Black Christmas (1974) - 7.2
The original Black Christmas centered on a group of sorority sisters who were being stalked and harassed by an unknown murderer during the Christmas season. Similar to When a Stranger Calls, its premise is also partially based on "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs" urban legend. The legend is known to have multiple variations and conclusions.
The film's original screenwriter Roy Moore was also influenced by a series of grisly murders that occurred in a section of Montreal during the holidays. Since the movie's 1974 premiere, two remakes have since been released and is said to have influenced movies such as Scream and When a Stranger Calls.
Ringu (1998) - 7.2
Ringu is a Japanese horror film directed by Hideo Nakata. Its premise involves a reporter (Nanako Matsushima) watching an alleged cursed tape and attempting to solve its mystery before meeting an early demise. While Americans are most familiar with the 2002 adaptation The Ring, the original movie has been credited with igniting Japanese horror and several Western remakes.
The creature Sadako Yamamura borrows elements from two Japanese legends, Okiku and Oiwa. Okiku's influence was the ghost's tragic death and vengeful spirit, and Oiwa's contribution was its one deformed eye.