There are few things more enjoyable during the Halloween season than playing your favourite horror movie with all the lights off!
But did you know that some of your favourite scary movies were made right here in Hollywood North?
Whether being chased through a forest by a masked maniac or battling supernatural clowns in the sewers, some of the most memorable (and bloody) moments in horror film history were made throughout the region.
So grab the popcorn and your security blanket because here are 12 horror films you didn’t know were filmed in Metro Vancouver.
Longlegs
One of the biggest indie hits of 2004, Longlegs, starring Nicolas Cage, is a psychological horror-thriller about an FBI agent trying to solve a series of occult clues to stop a horrifying killing spree. The film, written and directed by Osgood Perkins, was filmed in Metro Vancouver and produced by locals Oddfellows Pictures.
Final Destination
One of the most popular horror film franchises of the early 2000s, Final Destination tells the story of teenagers who have managed to cheat “Death Itself” but are then picked off one by one by bizarre and deadly accidents. There are five films in the franchise, with all but The Final Destination being filmed in Metro Vancouver. Keep an eye out, and you’ll spot YVR Airport, Lions Gate Bridge, Playland, and lots more familiar locations.
The Cabin in the Woods
Considered by many to be one of the best in its genre, The Cabin in the Woods follows five college students who discover that their vacation getaway is not all it’s stacked up to be. The viewing audience sees that technicians are controlling the events from a remote underground facility, which is really BCIT’s Aerospace building. Scenes were also filmed at Coquihalla Canyon and in a Kitsilano apartment.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The chilling courtroom-possession hybrid filmed at UBC’s HR MacMillan and Douglas Kenny buildings still gives horror fans goosebumps. Combining horror and legal drama, it remains one of the most memorable horror productions shot on campus.
Jennifer’s Body
Megan Fox stars as the titular Jennifer, a popular high school girl who comes back as a demon after being killed during a botched ritual sacrifice by a hipster band desperate for fame and fortune. Jennifer’s Body co-stars Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody, with scenes filmed at the Sutton Place Hotel, Sasamat Lake, and throughout the Fraser Valley.
Halloween: Resurrection
The eighth installment in the long-running Halloween franchise starred Jamie Lee Curtis, Busta Rhymes, and Tyra Banks, among many others, trying to survive the horrific Michael Myers. The last movie in the H2O time was filmed in the Metro Vancouver area, notably including an opening scene filmed at Riverview Hospital.
The Wicker Man
“Not the bees!” Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll definitely have heard the iconic Nicolas Cage line from the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. The opening sequence was filmed in Merritt, and Saturna Island and Bowen Island were also filming locations used for the oft-maligned yet very quotable horror flick.
Horns
Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, stars in this fantasy horror about a young man who uses his new paranormal abilities to find his girlfriend’s murderer. Horns was filmed throughout the region, including in Vancouver, Surrey, Squamish, and Mission.
Slither
A sheriff, played by Nathan Fillion, tries to keep his wits and other body parts about him when an alien parasite infects the townspeople of Wheelsy, South Carolina. Abbotsford stands in for the small American town in this James Gunn film, with additional Slither scenes being filmed in Langley, Surrey, and Vancouver. Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rooker are also excellent in this cult classic.
White Noise
Michael Keaton and Vancouver’s own Deborah Kara Unger star in the supernatural horror flick White Noise, with a pivotal scene filmed at Burnaby Hospital. A sequel, White Noise: The Light stars sci-fi stalwarts Nathan Fillion and Katee Sackhoff, and it was also filmed throughout the Vancouver area.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
The eighth film in the long-running film franchise sees Vancouver act as a screen double for New York City. Jason Voorhees terrorizes a group of high school graduates on their way to Manhattan, with Britannia Beach, Vancouver’s Post Office tunnel, and other locations showing up during the slasher movie.
Backrooms
Backrooms, from director Kane Parsons, originally started as a YouTube anthology web series and has become a smash horror hit.
There are several notable Metro Vancouver filming locations, including the 2400 Motel in East Van.
The 2400 Motel has been used in many other productions, including X-Files, Smallville, and Yellowjackets.
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