The Most Cursed Horror Movie Sets

By Riesa Pascal-Porro

Lights, camera… curse? Hollywood has long been a land of make-believe, but sometimes the horrors captured on film seem to bleed into real life. With Halloween just behind us and the season of the eerie still lingering, it’s the perfect time to revisit the unsettling legacy of some of cinema’s most infamous productions. Over the years, a number of spooky productions have become notorious not just for their terrifying stories, but for the strange tragedies and occurrences that followed them off-screen. Whether coincidence, bad luck, or something darker, these films have earned a haunted reputation that extends far beyond the screen.

Poltergeist (1982)

One of the most notorious examples is 1982’s Poltergeist which is often cited as one of the most cursed productions in Hollywood history. Just months after its release, actress Dominique Dunne was tragically strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend. The sequel, Poltergeist II, brought further sorrow when actor Julian Beck died of stomach cancer during production and his co-star Will Sampson passed away shortly after the film’s release due to complications from surgery. Some even attributed Sampson’s death to “bad spiritual energy” connected to his role as a Native American shaman. During the filming of Poltergeist III, child star and lead actress Heather O’Rourke died suddenly from congenital stenosis at just 12 years old. Adding to the film’s eerie legacy of deaths was the revelation that real human skeletons were used in the infamous swimming pool scene because they were cheaper than plastic replicas. Cast members were not informed until after filming. Many believe this macabre detail brought a dark energy that lingered over the entire trilogy.

The Exorcist (1973)

Another film that was plagued by misfortune and controversy both during and after production was The Exorcist. On the very first day of shooting, actor Max von Sydow’s brother died. Several cast members also died during or shortly after filming, including Jack MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros who portrayed key characters affected by demonic forces. In 1972, an electrical fire destroyed the main MacNeil house set which delayed production by six weeks while the set was rebuilt from scratch. Miraculously, the bedroom where the exorcism scenes were filmed was left untouched by the flames. Linda Blair sustained back injuries during one violent scene and even became the target of stalking and criticism from religious groups who could not separate her from the possessed child she portrayed. Throughout the productions, Director William Friedkin was known for employing extreme methods to elicit authentic performances from the actors including firing guns behind them to provoke real fear and even slapping a priest mid-scene.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

The roots of the “haunted production” narrative may trace back to Rosemary’s Baby which is often considered the original cursed film. Director Roman Polanski’s pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered by members of the Manson Family just a year after its release. The brutal details of the murder resonated with the themes of ritualistic violence and Satanic influence explored in the film. Producer William Castle was flooded with hate mail that accused him of promoting Satanism before he became seriously ill with kidney failure, which some believed was related to the movie’s supposed “curse.” Even the film’s composer, Krzysztof Komeda, died from a brain injury similar to one depicted in the movie. The film popularized ideas about Satanic cults in Hollywood and helped spark decades of conspiracy theories surrounding devil worship and Hollywood’s hidden occultism.

The Omen (1976)

When The Omen came out in 1976, it quickly joined the list of productions that seemed to attract misfortune. During a promotional trip, both lead actor Gregory Peck and screenwriter David Seltzer had their planes struck by lightning on separate flights, but during the same trip! Adding to the film’s haunted legacy were reports of a zookeeper who was mauled to death by lions shortly after working on a safari scene, and one crew member who narrowly avoided boarding a flight that later crashed. Perhaps the most chilling story is what happened to special effects artist John Richardson one year after the film’s release. Known for creating the film’s graphic decapitation scene, Richardson was involved in a car accident in which his assistant was decapitated while a nearby road sign reportedly read “Ommen – 66.6 km.” 

The Crow (1994)

The untimely death of Brandon Lee during the filming of The Crow remains one of Hollywood’s most infamous on-set accidents. Lee, who is the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was tragically killed by a prop gun that was improperly loaded with a real bullet fragment. He was only 28 at the time of his death, the exact same age at which his father had passed. Production of the film, which was about a man returning from the dead, was also said to be plagued by electrical fires, crew injuries, and rumors of a “Lee family curse” which cemented its place in Hollywood’s haunted history.

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

There are few stories as tragic as what occurred on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie back in the early 80s. During a helicopter stunt, actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed after special effects explosions caused the helicopter to lose control and crash onto the actors below. The horrifying incident led to a highly publicized trial in which director John Landis and several crew members were charged with involuntary manslaughter, though they were later acquitted. One positive outcome from this tragedy is that it prompted widespread changes in film safety regulations and child labor laws within the industry.

Annabelle (2014)

Don’t think “Hollywood’s Haunted Legacy” stops with vintage films! Even recent productions like 2014’s Annabelle have reported strange occurrences. On the set of the horror film about a demonically possessed doll, director John R. Leonetti claimed he saw a mysterious handprint on a set window that no one had touched. During the filming of a scene where a janitor is killed, a light fixture fell and nearly struck the actor portraying the demon. Crew members also frequently reported flickering lights and unexplained noises throughout production which added to the unsettling atmosphere.

The Conjuring Universe (2013)

Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring Universe of films have become a magnet for tales of paranormal activity. Farmiga described feeling uneasy throughout filming and once found unexplained claw marks on her laptop after shooting a particularly intense scene. She even refused to bring the script home for fear of the energy it might carry. Lili Taylor and other cast members also shared accounts of strange paranormal experiences off set. In response to the growing unease, cast and crew were reportedly blessed by a priest before or during filming for many productions within the franchise, especially including The Nun and Annabelle Comes Home.