Horror movies often explore themes such as cults, demons, the paranormal, black magic, and possession, which is typical for the genre. Most of the time, the production of these films goes smoothly, similar to most movies in any other genre. However, occasionally, films like these experience bizarre misfortunes that lead the cast and crew to question whether their bad luck is truly coincidental.
Indeed, many individuals involved in these films are convinced that some dark forces beyond human comprehension have placed a supernatural curse on the production, condemning everyone involved to endure tragic events, misfortunes, or paranormal occurrences. While skeptics may dismiss these incidents as mere coincidences, those who have experienced them believe there is much more at play. From injuries and illnesses to unexplained phenomena and even deaths, these films are regarded as some of the most notoriously cursed in cinema history.
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‘The Conjuring’ (2013)
Image via Warner Bros.
<em>The Conjuring </em>is one of those horror films that is reportedly based on a true story, recounting the experiences of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two paranormal investigators who gained fame for their numerous terrifying cases and surprising skepticism. They managed to explain many of their cases through common occurrences attributed to the paranormal, which made the ones they believed were real carry even more weight. One such case involved their investigation in Rhode Island regarding allegations of a vengeful spirit haunting the Perron family and their daughters, which is depicted in the film.
The set was afflicted by a peculiar series of coincidences. For instance, most of the crew members reported waking up at 3 a.m., a time often referred to as “the witching hour,” when spirits are believed to be most active. Crew members reported objects moving on their own accord, even launching themselves off shelves. More alarmingly, one actress, Vera Farmiga, sustained painful and visible scratches on her back from an unknown source. Some of these occurrences continued into The Conjuring 2, albeit at a lesser intensity. Although no fatalities occurred during this production, one cannot overlook the eerie happenings behind the scenes. It reportedly became so troubling that the filmmakers decided to invite an actual priest to the set in hopes that divine intervention would alleviate their misfortunes.
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‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)
Image via Paramount Pictures
Rosemary’s Baby faced significant backlash at its release due to its satanic themes involving cults, demons, and possession. Anyone familiar with cursed Hollywood films knows this type of movie tends to attract negative attention — particularly from demons or evil spirits. The film was produced by William Castle, a seasoned figure in the horror genre whose health began to decline rapidly following the production of Rosemary’s Baby. His health deteriorated progressively until he passed away just nine years after the film’s release at age 63. Additionally, composer Krzysztof Komeda died unexpectedly just months after the film’s release due to severe head injuries sustained from falling down a flight of stairs.
Some even link the murder of Sharon Tate by the Manson family cult in 1969 to this film since it was directed by Tate’s partner, Roman Polanski. The eeriness is heightened by the fact that Tate was pregnant at the time, mirroring the plot of the movie. With three fatalities associated with this production, concerns about a potential curse have been raised. While it can easily be dismissed as a series of unfortunate events and coincidences, many who worked on this film are convinced something darker was at play.
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‘Poltergeist’ (1982)
The Poltergeist trilogy has been surrounded by allegations of a curse, and for believers, there may be substantial reasons for this belief. In the first film, there is a well-known scene featuring a dirty swimming pool filled with skeletons. It is rumored that these skeletons were not props but actual human remains because they were cheaper to obtain than fake skeletons — an unsettling choice that could easily provoke anger from those whose remains were used.
One notable tragedy linked to this franchise was the death of Heather O’Rourke, who appeared in all three original films. She tragically passed away at just 12 years old due to complications from Crohn’s Disease. However, her death was deemed unusual by medical professionals since she exhibited no significant symptoms before her passing — they appeared suddenly without warning. Three additional cast members also died under sudden and unexpected circumstances amidst rumors of strange happenings on set. Although unconfirmed reports suggested an exorcism was performed during filming, evidence remains scarce. Whether or not this trilogy was genuinely cursed continues to be debated.
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‘The Omen’ (1976)
The Omen is another film that delves into themes of occultism and demonic possession, which likely contributed to its reputation as a haunted and cursed production behind the scenes. During filming, lead actor Gregory Peck experienced an incident where his plane was struck by lightning while flying to London. This could be seen as mere coincidence until it happened again — first to executive producerMace Neufeld, then again while filming in Rome when producerHarvey Bernhard narrowly escaped being struck.
Mace Neufeld also narrowly avoided being caught up in a bombing at a restaurant shortly after directorRichard Donner experienced a bombing at his hotel right after filming concluded. While no fatalities occurred during these incidents — which could be considered fortunate — things took an even darker turn when some rottweilers used in filming attacked their trainers unexpectedly. Additionally, one zookeeper was tragically killed by one of the large cats used for filming shortly after production ended. Perhaps most notably, special effects designerLiz Moore died shortly after filming concluded due to a horrific car accident. Subsequent remakes and sequels have also faced similar tragedies associated with them.The Omen continues to stand out as one of the most infamous curses plaguing horror movies today.
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‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
