12 spooky movies shot or set in West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, West Virginia – With October approaching, many horror fans are starting their list of movies to watch before Halloween. From science fiction to psychological thrillers, horror and everything in between, a number of scary movies have been shot or filmed in West Virginia. Here are 12 movies that fans of the paranormal might consider adding to their roster.

Super 8 (2011)

This science fiction film was directed by JJ Abrams (Lost, 2004-2010) and produced by Steven spielberg (AND the Extra Terrestrial, 1982). Shot in Weirton, West Virginia, the film follows a group of children who discover a supernatural phenomenon while filming an amateur zombie movie with a Super 8 camera. Among others, movie stars Elle Fanning (Maleficent, 2014), Joel courtney (The Kissing Booth, 2018), and Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, 2006-2011)

The film was well received by critics, scoring 81% on Rotten tomatoes. Despite the film featuring children’s characters, Common sense media rates the film as 13+ for violence, language and alcohol / drug content. The film is currently available for rental on Youtube for $ 2.99.

The Devil All the Time (2020)

This psychological thriller has a star cast, including Tom holland (Spider-man: Homecoming, 2017) and Robert pattinson (Twilight, 2008). While the film was shot in Alabama, it takes place in the fictional town of Coal Creek, West Virginia, after WWII. The film is based on a book of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, originally from Ohio.

The film is currently available to stream on Netflix. According to the Netflix summary: “Grim characters converge around a young man dedicated to protecting those he loves in a post-war hinterland town teeming with corruption and brutality.” While this isn’t a horror movie in the classic sense, Common sense media describes the film as “extremely graphic” and “disturbing”. The devil all the time has a 64% rotten tomato notes, corn retained a place in the Top 10 on the Netflix charts for 13 days, according to Filx Patrol.

Kecksburg (2019)

An independent film, Kecksburg was shot in Kingwood, West Virginia. The film is based on a real-life phenomenon known as Kecksburg UFO incident. IMDB The summary explains: “A reporter investigates a mysterious accident and discovers more than an object, but a massive government plot. Inspired by the real life events of December 9, 1965 and one of America’s most mysterious UFO incidents.

The film was directed by a native of Pennsylvania Cody knotts and is currently available for free streaming on Tubi. The film received a rating of 5.5 out of 10 on IMDB, with most users reporting that it is a fun watch.

Roche du Château (2018-2019)

This psychological horror television series is created by Stephen King and takes place in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. For the first season, Moundsville Penitentiary was transformed into the Shawshank State Prison in which Bill Skarsgård (It, 2017) played the role of a prisoner.

The series can currently be streamed on Hulu. According to the streaming site, “Misery has arrived. Lizzy Caplan plays a young Annie Wilkes from Stephen King’s MISERY. In the second season of this psychological horror series set in Stephen King’s multiverse, Castle Rock combines the mythological scale and intimate storytelling of characters from King’s most beloved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and darkness. light, played over a few square kilometers of Forêt du Maine. The fictional town of Castle Rock in Maine has featured prominently in King’s literary career: Cujo, The Dark Half, IT and Needful Things, along with the short story The Body and plenty of short stories such as Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption. , take place there or contain references to Castle Rock.

While not a movie, it might still be of interest to horror fans during this spooky season.

Professional Wrestlers vs. Zombies (2014)

Wrestling fans might recognize a few faces in this independent film. With captions such as Roddy piper, Matt hardy, and Kurt Angle, this film is presented as a horror comedy on IMDB. The script on the site states, “The Shane Douglas franchise accidentally kills a wrestler in the ring. The wrestler’s brother, Angus, seeks revenge by surrendering his soul to an ancient demon to gain the power to resurrect the living dead. Angus then pays for a private show in an empty prison to lure Douglas and his friend Rowdy Roddy Piper into a death trap.

The film is directed by Cody knotts and was filmed in Parkersburg. The film received a 3.5 out of 10 on IMDB, but a Bleacher Report review said, “If you’re a wrestling fan, you’re going to love this movie.” The film can currently be rented on YouTube for $ 2.99.

The Hunted (2013)

A 2013 indie thriller The Hunted was shot and filmed in Webster County. The film is the actor’s first director Josh stewart (The Collection, 2012) who was born in Diana, West Virginia and was inspired to write the film after a strange hunting experience, according to interviews.

The film can be streamed for free on Tubi. The streaming site gives the following summary: “Chasing their dream of starting their own hunting show, two friends head to the woods to capture a legendary deer, only to realize that they are the prey.” The film obtained an audience score of 32% on Rotten tomatoes. HorrorNews.netThe review of “This film is the horror film equivalent of getting up in the morning to go on a road trip, stopping at a restaurant and seeing someone’s child screaming during the meal.”

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Comedic horror film, this film is set in West Virginia. The summary, according to IMDB: “The affable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation in their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.

The film received excellent reviews with an 85% on Rotten tomatoes. According to MovieFreak.com, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is “extremely witty, has a lot more intelligence than you might originally expect.” The film can be rented on Youtube for $ 2.99.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)

This thriller is the second feature film in the X-Files franchise and takes place in rural West Virginia. According to a Google summary, “Although FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and his partner, Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) once chased things that happened at night, his tireless search for the truth has led to his professional exile. However, a missing persons case leads to the officers meeting, as well as a meeting with a priest (Billy Connolly) who may or may not have psychic visions.

The film received a score of 32% on Rotten tomatoes. It is currently available for rent on Youtube for $ 3.99.

Silent Hill (2006)

Adapted from the video game of the same name, Silent Hill is a psychological horror film set in the fictional town of Silent Hill, West Virginia, which has been abandoned due to a massive coal seam fire. According to IMDB summary, “A woman, Rose, sets out to find her adopted daughter within the confines of a strange and desolate town called Silent Hill.”

Although the film received a 32% on the TomatoMeter on Rotten tomatoes, the film had developed a cult following which earned it an audience score of 63%. The film is currently available to stream on Hulu.

Wrong Turn (2003)

Perhaps the most controversial on this list, this slasher movie takes place in the remote forest of West Virginia. The scenario, according to IMDB: “Chris Flynn drives his car for a job interview in another city. However, an accident with a trunk carrying chemicals blocks the freeway, and Chris searches for an alternate route through the mountains of West Virginia to complete his schedule. For lack of attention, he runs over another car parked in the middle of the road with flat tires. Chris meets a group of five friends, who were planning to camp in the forest, and they decide to leave the couple Francine and Evan behind, while Chris, Jessie, Carly and her fiancé Scott try to find help. . They find a strange cabin in the middle of nowhere, where three violent, cannibalistic, monster-looking mountain men live. The two couples try to escape the mountain men as they are pursued by them.

Wrong turn received a 40% on Rotten tomatoes, but had gained a cult following over the years. Many have criticism to poke fun at the poor, but the film has garnered enough interest to warrant six sequels and a 2021 remake. The film is currently available to rent on Youtube for $ 3.99

Prophecies of the Mothman (2002)

You would be hard pressed to find a native of West Virginia who does not know the Mothman legend. Set and shot in Point Pleasant, this supernatural thriller has become a West Virginia classic. The Museum of the Butterfly Man even features costumes, sets and other elements from the film. According to Rotten tomatoes, “‘The Mothman Prophecies’ examines a series of inexplicable events through the eyes – and mind – of a man. A man (Richard Gere) is brought in to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his wife’s death (Debra Messing) – and how they might relate to the strange phenomena in a town four hundred miles away.

The film received a 52% on the Tomatometer, but it’s a great watch to enjoy with pepperoni rolls. The film is currently available for rental on Youtube for $ 3.99.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This classic horror film starring Jodie foster and Ted levine Became the fifth highest grossing film from 1991 worldwide. The film was shot and filmed in northern West Virginia, as FBI agent character Clarice Starling returns to her hometown to deal with the infamous Buffalo Bill case. He is the second on five films in the franchise based on the novels of the same name.

The freshest of the films on this list, The Silence of the Lambs received a 96% on the Tomatometer. The film is currently available to watch for free on Youtube.