Buzz
There are times when a movie is so spine-chilling that you can't help but want to escape—whether it’s the theater, your house, or even the planet! But imagine being part of the crew during such a terrifying experience. While filming a horror movie is already surreal, some productions go beyond the ordinary, disturbing everyone involved in unexpected ways. When certain scenes require a high level of intensity, it can create stressful environments, even affecting the crew's peace of mind. Here are 10 films that left their production teams deeply unsettled during shooting.
10. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
The feeling of reality blurring with fiction is one of the most unsettling experiences a crew can face while filming a horror movie. Released in 2005, *The Exorcism of Emily Rose* was a terrifying revelation for many viewers, revitalizing the genre with an intense sense of fear. Directed by Scott Derrickson, who is known for his chilling works like *Hellraiser*, *Deliver Us from Evil*, and *Sinister*, this film raised the bar for horror cinema.
To heighten the experience, strange paranormal events supposedly took place on set during the making of *The Exorcism of Emily Rose*, leaving the cast and crew wondering whether they had unknowingly walked into a real-life nightmare. Jennifer Carpenter, the lead actress, recalled how eerie the atmosphere was, with her radio alarm malfunctioning and randomly playing Pearl Jam’s “Alive.” She even shared that on a few occasions, her radio would turn on by itself, and once, it played so loudly, it scared her. She wasn’t the only one, though; Laura’s TV also turned on by itself a few times.
Other cast members have also reported similar experiences with their radios and/or TVs switching on by themselves. Like Carpenter, they too heard the iconic Pearl Jam song. Due to the unsettling nature of these occurrences, the cast and crew requested that their hotel remove all radios.
9. The Lords of Salem (2012)
Rob Zombie has long been known for his distinctive presence in both the music and film worlds, with a history of crafting gory horror films. In his 2012 film *The Lords of Salem*, a mysterious album titled 'Gift from the Lords' is delivered to radio DJ Heidi. The sounds trapped within the grooves of the album bring back chilling memories of the bloody history tied to her town.
Jennifer Spence, the film’s production designer, has shared multiple eerie tales from the set of *The Lords of Salem*. One of her friends witnessed something so terrifying that she refused to go back to the upper floors without Jennifer’s presence, her face pale as a ghost. The unsettling atmosphere of the room and the building itself immediately gave her an ominous feeling. During production, strange noises would frequently fill the space. Rob Zombie, a filmmaker renowned for his hard rock roots and affinity for slasher, gore, and other disturbing cinematic elements, wasn’t fazed by these unsettling stories.
8. The Amityville Horror (2005)
In this 2005 remake of the 1979 horror classic, George and Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, move into an extravagant Long Island mansion, only to soon realize they are not alone. Directed by Andrew Douglas, the film is a prime example of supernatural horror at its finest. However, unsettling occurrences on set caused the cast and crew to become so frightened that they were reluctant to continue working on the film. What exactly transpired to leave them so shaken?
To start, just before filming began, the body of a dead fisherman was discovered on the riverbank near the house, a disturbing omen. Other strange happenings followed. Many of the cast and crew reported waking up at precisely 3:15 am each night, the time when Ronald DeFeo, the notorious Amityville killer, murdered his family in the house. This horrific event serves as the basis for the real-life story behind the movie. While the film has been told from various perspectives, the experiences of the cast and crew remain one of the most chilling.
7. The Shining (1980)
In Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 1980 film, Jack Torrance, a writer, accepts a job as the winter caretaker at the remote and historically significant Overlook Hotel. Jack, his wife Wendy, and their son Danny expect to be staying at a typical hotel, but soon find themselves in a terrifying situation. This Kubrick masterpiece is a cinematic landmark, forever changing the landscape of the horror genre upon its release.
As is widely known, Kubrick’s films are not your average productions, and a sense of mystery is always to be expected from such a legendary filmmaker. But the set of *The Shining* was particularly grueling for the cast, pushing them to their breaking point. Shelley Duvall, who portrayed Wendy, revealed that from May to October, she was constantly ill due to the overwhelming stress of the role. The production also faced a fire on set, leaving the crew deeply disturbed, especially considering the eerie nature of the film. Kubrick, however, found the incident rather amusing.
6. The Birds (1963)
When it comes to directors who test the boundaries of their craft, Alfred Hitchcock stands out. His 1963 film *The Birds* tells the eerie story of Melanie Daniels, a socialite who arrives in a small town, only to discover the local bird population exhibiting alarming and inexplicable behavior.
Tippi Hedren, the actress at the center of the film, has openly discussed the harsh treatment she endured during the filming of this Hitchcock thriller. She recounted how Hitchcock's aggressive behavior and disturbing tactics created a tense atmosphere. Among these, Hitchcock chose to use real birds rather than props, going so far as to attach a raven to Hedren's leg to simulate an attack. The real birds caused physical harm, scratching and wounding her, leaving her visibly shaken on set.
5. Insidious (2010)
In 2010, another chilling horror film hit the big screen, directed by James Wan, renowned for his work on *SAW* and *Dead Silence*, both considered staples of the horror genre. In *Insidious*, a family struggles to protect their ill child from malevolent spirits attempting to drag him into a dark and terrifying dimension known as 'The Further.'
Rose Byrne, who plays Renai Lambert in the film, shared that the house was so eerie it often gave her the creeps while filming. She recalled hearing unsettling, creaky noises and noticing strange, unpleasant smells. She spoke about how uncomfortable it was to be on set, particularly with all the constant noise and movement around the film crew. Given her extensive experience in thrillers and horror films, her candid reflection on the experience is especially chilling.
4. Alien (1979)
If you're a fan of sci-fi and horror or simply enjoy watching iconic classics, you're probably aware that films from the 1970s set a high standard. This franchise classic follows the crew of a commercial spaceship as they encounter a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform while investigating a mysterious signal. The series includes numerous twists and turns, including one that unsettled many of the original actors.
In one of the film's most iconic scenes, an alien bursts from a man’s chest, splattering his organs in all directions. Veronica Cartwright, covered in blood, was unaware that the cast and crew had been kept in the dark about this shocking bloodbath. This explains why the cast and crew of a film so important to their careers were left in such disarray. The stench created by the animal intestines in the chest was unbearable to everyone involved. Legend has it that after filming this scene, Yaphet Kotto locked himself in a room for hours and refused to speak to his wife about the experience.
3. IT (1990)
Clowns are often terrifying, and the remakes of Stephen King's iconic tale have reminded us all of this fear. In the 1960s, seven misfit preteens in America confront a child-killing monster disguised as a clown. Decades later, when the creature returns to their hometown, they unite once again to destroy it.
In fact, many of the crew members couldn’t even be near the original Pennywise (Tim Curry) because he was so unsettling and horrifying during filming. His makeup was so realistic that it scared both the young actors and the entire crew on set. Furthermore, the team was disturbed by the fact that certain props and equipment were so rusted that they were kept away from being touched to avoid the risk of tetanus. It’s these eerie occurrences behind the scenes that make these kinds of movies so memorable, and the cast and crew deserve immense credit for handling them.
2. The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist became a landmark in film history, leaving audiences in absolute shock with its intense, frightening scenes. Whether or not it’s considered the quintessential horror movie or simply one of the scariest ever made, this film was unlike anything seen before. If Hitchcock’s Psycho was unsettling, this movie was outright terrifying. Not only did it frighten audiences worldwide, but it also caused some disturbing incidents for the cast and crew during production.
Among these bizarre events, Regan Macneil, the actress playing the possessed girl in the film, had her home burn down during production, resulting in a six-week filming delay. Several crew members passed away during filming, and there were severe injuries, such as Chris Macneil, Regan’s mother, suffering a spinal injury. On top of that, the writers reported unsettling occurrences off set as well. Despite these oddities, this legendary film will forever be remembered in horror history.
1. Jaws (1975)
In the early years of Steven Spielberg’s career, the chaotic production of Jaws became a recipe for disaster. However, the film ultimately earned its place in cinematic history, not only for its monumental impact on the thriller genre but also for sparking a widespread fear of water. The story follows a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and a grizzled fisherman as they team up to hunt down a deadly shark terrorizing a small seaside town off Cape Cod.
Determined to make the film as authentic as possible, the cast and crew were subjected to the relentless demands of a stressed-out director, who pushed the boundaries with daring stunts, like using a real arm for the infamous scene where Chrissie’s body is discovered or nearly drowning actress Susan Backlinie with cables. At one point, their boat, which carried essential Panavision cameras, sank, nearly destroying a large portion of the footage. Despite these obstacles, the resulting chaos contributed to the creation of one of the most iconic films in history.
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