Any movie buff who loves behind-the-scenes trivia probably knows that sometimes making a horror movie can be scarier than the movie itself.
Unexpected things happen on – and off – sets all the time, and when it’s a scary movie, it’s hard not to connect the real-life events to the spooky story at hand.
Here are 16 chilling and terrifying behind-the-scenes facts about some of your favorite horror movies:
1.
Scream (1996) was partly inspired by a documentary that screenwriter Kevin Williamson saw about the Gainsville Ripper – and his own personal grisly experience that followed.
2.
Speaking of ScreamSkeet Ulrich was seriously stabbed on the set of the film.
3.
Several cast and crew members of Warned (1976) were on planes that were struck by lightning.
4.
Tippi Hedren was terrorized by real birds while filmingThe birds (1963).
5.
The bees in Such a man (1982) were real – including the ones pouring out of Tony Todd’s mouth.
6.
Lupita Nyong’o remained in character as Red between scenes during filming U.S (2019), which (understandably) scared her co-stars.
7.
Carrie (1976) star, Sissy Spacek, chose to sleep in her character’s blood-soaked prom dress for the sake of continuity.
8.
Gunnar Hansen also wore his The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) costume over and over without washing it.
9.
Mia Farrow – a vegetarian – had to eat not only raw chicken livers while filming Rosemary’s baby (1968), but also does so in several takes.
10.
You’re next (2011) star Sharni Vinson nearly lost an eye while filming a particularly chaotic scene.
12.
Robert Downey Jr. broke Halle Berry’s arm during filming Gothic (2003).
13.
The crew of The Blair Witch Project (1999) was plagued by the filmmakers.
14.
The skeletons used in the climax of Poltergeist (1982) was real.
16.
Both Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn were injured on the set of The Exorcist (1973).
Do you know any bizarre behind-the-scenes facts about horror movies? Sound off in the comments!