How Well Do You Know Horror Movies Based on True Stories? Ultimate Trivia Quiz Challenge!

Answers Below – No Peeking!

Delve into the spine-chilling realm of horror films rooted in real events that will test even the most devoted fans. From infamous possessions and hauntings to grisly crimes, these 20 questions range from easy warm-ups to expert-level brain-teasers about movies like The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, and The Conjuring. Grab some paper, put your knowledge to the test, and see if you can conquer them all!

20 Trivia Questions on Horror Movies Based on True Stories

Question 1: Which real-life case inspired William Peter Blatty to write the novel for The Exorcist?

A. The Enfield Poltergeist of 1977
B. The Perron family haunting of 1971
C. The Smurl family haunting of 1986
D. The possession of Roland Doe in 1949

Question 2: In what year did Ronald DeFeo Jr. murder his entire family, the event that inspired The Amityville Horror?

A. 1971
B. 1974
C. 1977
D. 1979

Question 3: Who directed the 1979 original The Amityville Horror?

A. Tobe Hooper
B. Stuart Rosenberg
C. Wes Craven
D. William Friedkin

Question 4: The Conjuring franchise is based on the paranormal investigations of which real-life couple?

A. Zak Bagans and Aaron Goodwin
B. Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson
C. Ed and Lorraine Warren
D. Lorraine and Ed McWarren

Question 5: The Enfield Poltergeist, central to The Conjuring 2, occurred in which country?

A. United States
B. Ireland
C. Germany
D. England

Question 6: The possessed doll in the Annabelle films is modelled after a real-life what?

A. Antique porcelain doll
B. Raggedy Ann doll
C. Voodoo doll from New Orleans
D. Chucky-like Good Guy doll

Question 7: Which real-life killer’s gruesome acts inspired both Psycho (1960) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)?

A. Ted Bundy
B. John Wayne Gacy
C. Jeffrey Dahmer
D. Ed Gein

Question 8: Who directed Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho?

A. Alfred Hitchcock
B. Robert Bloch
C. Joseph Stefano
D. Anthony Perkins

Question 9: In what year was Ed Gein arrested for the murder of Bernice Worden?

A. 1957
B. 1964
C. 1974
D. 1984

Question 10: Which film offers a dramatised portrait of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas?

A. Texas Chain Saw Massacre
B. The Silence of the Lambs
C. Copycat
D. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Question 11: The Entity (1982) is based on the alleged invisible assaults suffered by which real woman?

A. Carolyn Perron
B. Janet Hodgson
C. Anneliese Michel
D. Doris Bither

Question 12: The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) draws from the tragic death of Anneliese Michel in which year?

A. 1970
B. 1982
C. 1976
D. 1990

Question 13: The Bell Witch legend, featured in An American Haunting (2005), tormented which Tennessee family in the early 1800s?

A. The DeFeo family
B. The Lutz family
C. The Bell family
D. The Snedeker family

Question 14: Which 2012 horror film is based on the real story of a cursed Dybbuk box bought on eBay?

A. Annabelle
B. Oculus
C. The Unborn
D. The Possession

Question 15: Fire in the Sky (1993) depicts the alien abduction of Travis Walton in which US state?

A. New Mexico
B. Oregon
C. Arizona
D. Colorado

Question 16: The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) stems from the alleged demonic hauntings experienced by which family?

A. Perron family
B. Hodgson family
C. Lutz family
D. Snedeker family

Question 17: Director Bryan Bertino stated The Strangers (2008) was inspired by a real childhood memory of which type of incident?

A. Manson Family-style cult murders
B. Home invaders who said they came ‘because you were home’
C. The Villisca axe murders
D. Random serial killer spree

Question 18: The Rite (2011) was inspired by the real-life experiences of which Vatican-trained exorcist?

A. Father Gabriele Amorth
B. Father Vincent Lampert
C. Father Gary Thomas
D. Father Malachi Martin

Question 19: The Fourth Kind (2009) is set in which Alaskan town plagued by real unsolved disappearances?

A. Barrow
B. Anchorage
C. Fairbanks
D. Nome

Question 20: Which film in the Conjuring series centres on the real 1977-79 Enfield Poltergeist case?

A. The Conjuring
B. Annabelle: Creation
C. The Nun
D. The Conjuring 2

Answers

  1. D. The possession of Roland Doe in 1949 – Blatty learned of the 1949 exorcism of a Maryland boy (pseudonym Roland Doe, real name Ronald Hunkeler) via Jesuit priests, forming the basis of his novel. The others inspired different films like The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring.
  2. B. 1974 – On 13 November 1974, DeFeo killed his parents and four siblings in their Amityville home, later haunting claims by the Lutzes inspired the film. Other years relate to different cases.
  3. B. Stuart Rosenberg – Rosenberg helmed the 1979 adaptation starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The others directed horror classics like The Exorcist or Poltergeist.
  4. C. Ed and Lorraine Warren – The Warrens documented the Perron haunting and others depicted in the franchise. The others are from TV shows like Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures.
  5. D. England – The 1977-79 case involved the Hodgson family in Enfield, London. Others are American or German cases.
  6. B. Raggedy Ann doll – The Warrens’ museum houses a real Raggedy Ann doll they claimed was possessed. Others are fictional or unrelated.
  7. D. Ed Gein – Gein’s 1957 crimes, including grave robbing and murders, influenced Norman Bates’ mother obsession and Leatherface’s cannibal family. Others inspired later films like Dahmer.
  8. A. Alfred Hitchcock – The Master of Suspense directed the iconic 1960 adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel. Others were writer, screenwriter, or star.
  9. A. 1957 – Gein was arrested on 16 November 1957 after Bernice Worden’s body was found in his shed. Later dates tie to other killers or films.
  10. D. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer – John McNaughton’s 1986 film loosely portrays Lucas (as Henry) and partner Otis. Others feature different killers.
  11. D. Doris Bither – Bither’s 1974 Culver City claims of poltergeist assaults by entities were investigated by Barry Taff, fictionalised as Carla Moran. Others from Conjuring films.
  12. C. 1976 – Michel died on 1 July 1976 in Germany after exorcisms; her case led to a manslaughter trial shown in the film. Other dates unrelated.
  13. C. The Bell family – From 1817-1821, the spirit tormented John Bell Sr. and family in Adams, Tennessee. Others from Amityville or Conjuring.
  14. D. The Possession – Inspired by Kevin Mannis’ 2003 eBay Dybbuk box story, claiming Jewish spirit possession. Others involve mirrors or ghosts.
  15. C. Arizona – Walton vanished 5 November 1975 near Snowflake, Arizona, claiming alien abduction. Other states had UFO incidents but not this case.
  16. D. Snedeker family – The Snedekers claimed demons in their Southington, Connecticut home (1986-88), probed by Warrens. Others from other films.
  17. B. Home invaders who said they came ‘because you were home’ – Bertino recalled a 1980s news story of masked intruders explaining their motive this way. Others are unrelated murders.
  18. C. Father Gary Thomas – Thomas, a US priest trained in Rome, shared his exorcism experiences with writer Matt Baglio, basis for the film. Others are notable exorcists but not this story’s source.
  19. D. Nome – The film alleges alien abductions tied to real 2000s Nome disappearances. Other cities have crimes but not this focus.
  20. D. The Conjuring 2 – Directed by James Wan, it dramatises the Hodgson sisters’ Enfield case with flying furniture and voices. Others cover different Warrens’ cases.

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