Many homes have appeared in movies about demons, ghosts, witches, and killers. Many of these homes are old estates that have been used as sets in numerous movies. Others are real-life homes that have changed significantly since they were movie stars.
These 10 movie houses are easy to recognize, but others have little in common with the real thing. Warning! Spoiler alerts.
Dennison home in Salem Mass. Hocus Pocus (1993).
This whimsical colonial was built on the North Shore, Salem, Mass. and served as the home for brother and sister Max Dennison, in 1993’s Disney classic “Hocus Pocus.” Today, the house that was built in 1870 looks the same as it does onscreen. Fans will recognize the location where the Dennisons, their friends, and the Sanderson witches planned to stop them on Halloween night, despite landscaping updates.
The U.S. Embassy is located in the United States. Ambassador Thorn, Woking Surrey, England: The Omen (1976).
Pyrford Court is a 21-acre English estate in Georgian style built in the early 20th Century. It was used as Robert Thorn’s home in “The Omen,” a 1976 horror film. Much of the home, which was built in Surrey for Lord and Lady Iveagh, a Guinness family couple, was abandoned at the beginning of filming. The haunted house in Ohio is now a private residence that has been restored and boasts nine bedrooms as well as six reception rooms. The film’s iconic image of Damien, five years old, hanging from his nanny on the top floor will be a familiar sight to anyone who has seen it.
Hatley Castle in Colwood, British Columbia Canada: The Changeling (1980).
Hatley Castle in British Columbia was the setting for Senator Carmichael’s home in “The Changeling,” a 1980 film starring George C. Scott. The movie is about a composer who meets a murdered child and other eerie secrets. This 82-foot tall structure was built in 1908 and is now Royal Roads University’s administrative center. It is also a National Historic Site. It is no stranger to the movie industry or the faux supernatural. The structure also appeared in the “Poltergeist”, television series, from 1996 to 1999, and the “Smallville,” television series, from 2001 to 2011, as well as the X-Men movies.
Mrs. Pickman’s Hotel in Toronto, Ontario Canada: In The Mouth of Madness (1994).
Valley Halla Estate is a charming estate in Toronto, Ontario. It was built in 1936 by Robert Jackson, the inventor of Roman Meal Bread. The Toronto Zoo now owns and maintains it. It does not have any occupants. John Carpenter, director of “In the Mouth of Madness,” used it in 1994 to film Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator. He uncovers the real-world consequences of horror novels on their readers. Valley Halla is the location of Mrs. Pickman’s Hotel, where the elderly sweetheart turns into a ruthless killer. It looks almost identical today, while still retaining its creepy off-the-beaten-path quality.
MacNeil, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., The Exorcist (1973).
The Exorcist was shot in this unassuming Washington, D.C. townhouse. The set was designed according to the story’s requirements. There were some temporary modifications to the property including a false roof and a whole side wing connecting the house to the famous outdoor stairs that Burke Dennings died. A tall wooden fence has been installed to replace the fence railings in the movie. This is presumably to discourage tourists from planting crucifixes and sneaking into the property.
Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, England: The Haunting (1999).
Belvoir Castle, pronounced “beaver”, is one Leicestershire, England location of the 1999 remake “The Haunting.” It is believed to have been the home of three witches. Richard Jones, the haunted castle researcher, claims that three 17th-century women worked at the house and cursed it after one was fired for stealing. The film is made possible by digital magic, which enhances the 150,000-square foot home of the Duke. Belvoir was also featured in films like “The DaVinci Code,” and “The Young Victoria.”
Nancy’s Los Angeles home: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Although the film was shot in Springwood, Ohio in 1984’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, the exterior of Nancy Thompson’s house was shot in West Hollywood. After extensive renovations by the previous owner, this 1919 home was sold for $2.1million in March. Except for a red front door, the exterior remains the same as it was in the movie. It was seen in eight Freddy Krueger films, including “New Nightmare” (Freddy vs. Jason. It is not surprising that the most recent home listing didn’t include photos of the basement.
Louis’s estate (Oak Alley Plantation), Vacherie, La. Interview with the Vampire (1994).
Many locations were used to film “Interview with the Vampire,” but the Oak Alley Plantation was one of the first. It served as the home for Brad Pitt’s character, Louis de Pointe du Lac, before he burned it to the ground. Built-in 1839, the restored antebellum mansion was named after its 300-year-old avenue of oak trees that leads to the front door. Another haunted film location is this one. The staff has reported hearing screams from the house, seeing candles flying, lamps illuminated, and the spirits of a young man and woman. Oak Alley’s reputation for being haunted is not only a reason why it attracts so many people but also because of its roles in films like “Primary Colors” or “The Long Hot Summer”.
Greystone Park, Beverly Hills, Calif.: Eraserhead (1977).
The American Film Institute used to call the 16-acre Gothic-style Greystone Estate home. It now belongs to Beverly Hills, Calif. The stables were used by David Lynch, the acclaimed director, to film his 1977 post-apocalyptic feature movie “Eraserhead.” The mansion’s location and connection to the film industry mean that it can be seen in over 100 movies and TV shows including “The Big Lebowski,” “There Will Be Blood,” “The Social Network” and “Austin Powers: Goldmember.” Although they may share a common location, only “Eraserhead”, however, has a creepy mutant baby.
Michael Myers’s house, Pasadena, Calif.: Halloween (1978)
Michael Myers, the frightening killer in “Halloween,” a 1978 John Carpenter film, is one of horror’s most iconic characters. This charming, two-story house in South Pasadena was used as the location for the film’s main character. It has since been relocated from 707 Meridian Avenue to 1000 Mission Street. It is now a doctor’s practice with few exterior modifications — though regrettably, it belongs to surgeons and not chiropractors. Hillsborough, N.C. has a replica of the Myers home and hosts events that are related to the film.
Bonus: The Murder House Los Angeles: American Horror Story
The Rosenheim house was known in Los Angeles before it featured prominently on the first season of “American Horror Story”. The Country Park house, measuring 10,440 square feet, was built by Alfred Rosenheim in 1908. It is still used as a private residence (it was sold). The stained glass windows of the home were left unaltered in the pilot, making for beautiful interior shots that explained why the Harmon family bought it. However, the exterior was altered to make it look creepier and less neglected in some scenes.
