Turns out that no matter where you live, terror can find you. And it will. Check out these blood-chilling, fear-inducing horror movies by state. Find your home state horror—and then all the others, of course!
ALABAMA
Body Snatchers (1993)
Look out for the pod people. They’re coming for you and your loved ones! You know, if they haven’t gotten them already …
ALASKA
30 Days Of Night
As if endless cold and Sarah Palin weren’t enough, NOW you’re dealing with vampires who never have to hide. Great. Just PEACHY.
ARIZONA
Psycho
Luckily for you, Norman would never hurt a fly. Just skip the shower.
ARKANSAS
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Hey, did you know this movie was based on a true story? And that they never caught the Phantom Killer? Good luck sleeping tonight, Arkansas.
CALIFORNIA
Poltergeist
I really struggled between this and Scream but c’mon, that tree. The clown. The TV People! Gotta go with Carol Anne on this one.
COLORADO
The Shining
You’ve always been the caretaker, Colorado.
CONNECTICUT
The Haunting In Connecticut
The title is sort of a slam dunk but it’s also based off a true story I heard from a ghost hunter who helped investigate the case, which is sort of cool. Also SPOOKY SEANCE!
DELAWARE
Survival Of The Dead
George A. Romero’s horde of zombies takes this state. Best prepare for the apocalypse now, Delaware!
FLORIDA
Jeepers Creepers
From what I remember, the Creeper only hunts every 23rd spring, so looks like you’re all safe until 2024. Enjoy the 8 years you get to keep your eyes!
GEORGIA
Deliverance
Before you try to tell me this isn’t a horror movie watch it again, carefully, then tell me you wouldn’t be scared shitless in their position. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
HAWAII
A Perfect Getaway
Sure, people are bound to die in horrible ways, but Timothy Olyphant is there and also one of the Hemsworths so at least you’ll enjoy some beauty along the way. Oh, and the views of course.
IDAHO
Idaho Transfer
Not gonna lie, never heard of this movie but it seems to be literally the ONLY semi-budgeted horror movie to ever take place there. Sorry, Idaho.
ILLINOIS
Halloween
Illinois was nearly a three-way tie between Halloween, Child’s Play, and Candyman but I had to go with the ultimate classic slasher film. Practice your Jamie Lee Curtis screams and maybe you’ll be the Final Girl/Guy one day!
INDIANA
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Aliens? No thanks. No thanks.
IOWA
The Crazies
Oh hello there again Timothy Olyphant, we seem to keep running into each other. What a sexy coincidence. Anyway, Iowa, you’re looking at realistic zombification without death but heavy on the violence. So like, zombies that can think. Sorry, sounds like you’re screwed.
KANSAS
Dark Places
Between this and In Cold Blood, sure seems like families in Kansas are getting mass-murdered a lot. (I’m kidding, I’m sure it’s lovely there.)
KENTUCKY
Return Of The Living Dead
Zombies, drugs, and rock n’ roll! Also a lady gets naked in a cemetery. Kentucky knows how to get down.
LOUISIANA
The Skeleton Key
I’m honestly surprised there aren’t more movies set here to cover the creepy subject of voodoo but that’s the way of it so here you go, Kate Hudson in a bayou.
MAINE
Pet Sematary
Remember, Maine: sometimes, dead is better.
MARYLAND
Silence Of The Lambs
I could make all sorts of chianti jokes here but let’s get real: the VHS cover for this movie gives me nightmares as a kid. It’s fantastic.
MASSACHUSETTS
Session 9
One of the most underrated horror films of our time, in my opinion. “I live in the weak and the wounded … Doc.”
MICHIGAN
It Follows
Be careful who you sleep with, Michigan. Because, well … It follows, I guess.
MINNESOTA
Jennifer’s Body
Uh, the advice for Michigan applies here as well.
MISSISSIPPI
Straw Dogs
Home invasion is one of the most realistic fears, so invest in a good security system and don’t piss off the locals.
MISSOURI
You’re Next
See Mississippi. Except, in this case, also invest in some serious survival training.
MONTANA
Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County
Sorry, Montana, this is the best I could do. Your very own alien version of The Blair Witch Project! Yay?
NEBRASKA
Children Of The Corn
If you’re over 18 you’re out of luck. But seriously, kids shouldn’t be that hard to kill, right? I mean, not for fun or anything, just if you needed to? Like, if they were being controlled by a corn demon? Okay I’ll stop now.
NEVADA
Tremors
I’ll let the picture speak for itself. With those things underground, you better hope Kevin Bacon is around to save your ass, Nevada.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Dead Zone
The creeping terror of psychopath Greg Stillson (coughDonaldTrumpcough) being elected as POTUS is probably even scarier than Johnny’s dark premonitions of the future.
NEW JERSEY
Friday The 13th
I’d say you could survive by not getting drunk or having sex but hey, this is New Jersey we’re talking about. Also, that’s no fun. So party hard before Jason (or his mom) takes you out.
NEW MEXICO
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
If you’re out in the desert and you spot the people from the Hills I mean, just, I don’t know. I can’t help you, New Mexico. I’m smart enough to know I wouldn’t survive in these cases, I just provide moral support and the occasional joke.
NEW YORK
American Psycho
Between the gory murders and the inability to get reservations at Dorsia, NYC is a pretty scary place. How many Patrick Batemans are out there as we speak? Who are we kidding, I’ll still vacay there any time I get the chance because BROADWAY!
NORTH CAROLINA
I Know What You Did Last Summer
What did you do last summer? Was it something bad? You’d better hope it wasn’t, North Carolina, or you’re toast.
NORTH DAKOTA
Leprechaun
Not even a young, fresh Jennifer Aniston can make me summarize this movie for you other than in a few words: silly as fuck.
OHIO
A Nightmare On Elm Street
As much as I’d like to give this spot to Trick ‘R Treat I have to acknowledge the true winner: Wes Craven’s masterpiece that started it all. RIP, Mr. Craven.
OKLAHOMA
Bug
Go crazy with Ashley Judd or, as is my suggestion, don’t?
OREGON
The Ward
Amber Heard brings it in this solid asylum movie that proves John Carpenter can also still bring it.
PENNSYLVANIA
The Sixth Sense
There are probably ghosts everywhere but apparently there are a FUCKTON of ghosts in Pennsylvania, so if you’re clairvoyant, be careful. And definitely don’t go into that weird little room at the top of the stairs.
RHODE ISLAND
The Conjuring
I should warn you to stay away from obviously haunted houses but I would jump at the chance to own one so instead, why don’t you shoot me an email if you find one, Rhode Island? Let’s be neighbors.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Slither
Ew. EW. YUCK. YUUUUUUUUCK. Whatever it is from this movie, please, PLEASE keep it in South Carolina. It’s no offense to South Carolina, I just don’t want it anywhere near me.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Badlands
Sorry, South Dakota, it was either this or a movie from the ’50s I’d never heard of or The Revenant. I mean, the story itself is pretty unnerving (especially since it’s mostly true) but if that doesn’t do it for you just pretend Sissy Spacek is Carrie.
TENNESSEE
The Evil Dead
Spring break gone so, so wrong. And yet, the world was introduced to Bruce Campbell as Ash, so perhaps it’s gone so, so right?
TEXAS
Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Let’s step back for a second and acknowledge how absolutely beautiful the title of this franchise is. So simplistic, so pure. Anyway, you can’t trust anyone in Texas, or at least that’s what these films taught me. Sheriff? Evil. Nice ladies in trailer? Evil. All the people at SXSW? Most likely evil.
UTAH
Carnival Of Souls
An oldie but a goodie. I would tell you to be wary of creepy carnival music but if you’re not already then you were never meant to survive a horror movie, Utah.
VERMONT
What Lies Beneath
Another standard haunting with a star-studded cast. Maybe all the states just need to invest in a really, REALLY big stash of sage?
VIRGINIA
Cherry Falls
This one puts the standard slasher cliche on its head: the killer only targets virgins. Congratulations, Virginia, you’ve got the most fun way to avoid certain death!
WASHINGTON
The Ring
Stay away from any and all unmarked VHS tapes. You know what? It’s 2016, you have no business picking up VHS tapes of ANY kind. I’m watching you, Washington.
WEST VIRGINIA
Wrong Turn
Movies like this make me terrified to get lost anywhere. And in this one, they’ve got ARROWS! I know it’s a terrible stereotype of the backwoods “monster” but you know, maybe just stick to the main roads.
WISCONSIN
Dawn Of The Dead (2004)
Ahh, yes, the terrifying birth of the FAST zombie. Because that was the only way any of us had a shot to survive the apocalypse, you know—hoping to outrun/outsmart them. Sorry Wisconsin, you seem to be ground zero for this infection. Get to the local mall, stat!
WYOMING
Joy Ride (2004)
Caaaaaaandy caaaaaaane. This one’s easy, guys, just don’t mess around with truckers on their CB radios! I mean, I know it’s fun but they’re just doing their jobs. And one of them might murder you. Aww, go ahead, Wyoming, have some fun! I’m sure it doesn’t end in murder EVERY time.
WASHINGTON D.C.
The Exorcist
So D.C. isn’t technically a state but I knew I’d get crucified if I left off the scariest movie ever. Our proud capital deserves its own entry! (Even though the original story technically happened in St. Louis but you know, whatever …) I can’t emphasize this enough: avoid Pazuzu and all other forms of demon at all costs. That’s a free tip from me to you.
This story was first published on Creepy Catalog.
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Still from "Body Snatchers via Warner Bros.; Still from "30 Days Of Night" via Columbia Pictures; Still from "Psycho" via Paramount Pictures; Still from "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" via Orion Pictures; Still from "Poltergeist" via Warner Bros. Ent.; Still from "The Shining" via Warner Bros.; Still from "The Haunting In Connecticut" via Lionsgate; Still from "Survival Of The Dead" via Magnet Releasing; Still from "Jeepers Creepers" via United Artists; Still from "Deliverance" via Warner Bros.; Still from "A Perfect Getaway" via Rogue Pictures; Still from "Idaho Transfer" via Cinemation Industries; Still from "Halloween" via Falcon International Productions; Still from "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" via Columbia Pictures; Still from "The Crazies" via Overture Films; Still from "Dark Places" via A24; Still from "Return Of The Living Dead" via Orion Pictures; Still from "The Skeleton Key" via Universal Pictures; Still from "Pet Sematary" via Paramount Pictures; Still from "The Silence of the Lambs" via Orion Pictures; Still from "Session 9" via USA Films; Still from “It Follows” via Northern Lights Films; Still from "Jennifer's Body" via Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Still from "Straw Dogs" via Screen Gems; Still from “You’re Next” via HanWay Films; Still from "Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County" via Dick Clark Productions; Still from "Children Of The Corn" via New World Pictures; Still from "Tremors" via Universal Pictures; Still from "The Dead Zone" via Paramount Pictures; Still from "Friday the 13th" via Paramount; Still from "The Hills Have Eyes" via Fox Searchlight; Still from "American Psycho" via Lions Gate Films; Still from "I Know What You Did Last Summer" via Columbia Pictures; Still from "Leprechaun" via Trimark Pictures; Promotional still for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" via New Line Cinema; Still from "Bug" via Lions Gate Films; Still from "The Ward" via Echo Lake Entertainment; Still from "Sixth Sense" via Buena Vista Pictures; Still from "The Conjuring" via New Line Cinema; Still from “Slither” via Gold Circle Films; Still from "Badlands" via Warner Bros.; Still from "The Evil Dead" via Renaissance Pictures; Still from "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" via New Line Cinema; Still from "Carnival Of Souls" via Harcourt Productions; Still from "What Lies Beneath" via DreamWorks; Still from "Cherry Falls" via Rogue Pictures; Still from "The Ring" via DreamWorks; Still from "Wrong Turn" via Summit Entertainment; Still from "Dawn Of The Dead" via Universal Studios; Still from "Joy Ride" via New Regency Pictures; Still from "The Exorcist" via Warner Bros.
