Any film buff who loves behind-the-scenes trivia likely knows that sometimes, making a horror movie can be scarier than the movie itself.
Unexpected things happen on — and off — film sets all the time, and when it’s a scary movie, it’s hard not to associate the real-life happenings with the spooky story at hand.
Here are 16 upsetting and scary behind-the-scenes facts about some of your favorite horror movies:
1.
Scream (1996) was partially inspired by a documentary that screenwriter Kevin Williamson saw about the Gainsville Ripper — and his own personal creepy experience that followed.
2.
Speaking of Scream, Skeet Ulrich got stabbed for real on the set of the film.
3.
Multiple cast and crew members of The Omen (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 Candyman (1982) were real — including the ones that pour out of Tony Todd’s mouth.
6.
Lupita Nyong’o stayed in character as Red between scenes when filming Us (2019), which (understandably) scared her costars.
7.
Carrie (1976) star, Sissy Spacek, opted to sleep in her character’s blood-soaked prom dress for the sake of continuity.
8.
Gunnar Hansen also wore his Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) costume over and over without washing it.
9.
Mia Farrow — a vegetarian — had to not only eat raw chicken liver while filming Rosemary’s Baby (1968), but also do it in multiple takes.
10.
You’re Next (2011) star Sharni Vinson almost lost an eye while filming a particularly chaotic scene.
12.
Robert Downey Jr. broke Halle Berry’s arm while filming Gothika (2003).
13.
The cast of The Blair Witch Project (1999) was tormented by the filmmakers.
14.
The skeletons used in the climax of Poltergeist (1982) were 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!