From Screen to Scream: Horror Film Sites and Haunts in North Carolina

'Cabin Fever' & 'Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever'

The hit horror comedy film "Cabin Fever" (2002) features a group of college students who rent a cabin and develop a flesh-eating virus. The cabin used in the film was located in Camp Raven Knob, a 3,200-acre scouting reservation near Mount Airy. To stock up on fresh sandwiches and fried pies, stop by Priddy’s General Store in Danbury – it’s where we meet Dennis, the boy who likes pancakes and biting people. Take your time perusing the old-timey quaintness, which is as accurate in real life as it is in the film. For the sequel, so much fake blood was used on the set at historic Williston Middle School that the storm drains were said to be running red (it was harmless food-based dye).

'The Conjuring'

Released in 2013, "The Conjuring" is a supernatural horror film based on the experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they assist the Perron family with disturbing events in their farmhouse. The home in the film is a two-story, 5,000 square-foot house along the Black River in Currie (a half hour northwest of Wilmington), but it was used only for exterior shots. A replica of the house was then built on a sound stage. Other filming locations include the Carolina Apartments, the Kenan Memorial Fountain, UNC Wilmington’s campus and the Carolinian Inn. Take a Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington tour to stroll past sites used for this film, plus other burial grounds and haunted homes.

'Evil Dead II'

Mostly shot in and around Wadesboro, "Evil Dead II" (1987) is a dark comedy horror film with a cult following. A cabin was built in the woods specifically for this film, and it was used for exterior shots while much of the interior shots took place in a nearby junior high school. Take a walk in the Wadesboro woods – if you dare – including heavily wooded Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge to put yourself into the setting. There’s also an added bonus for film buffs: Steven Spielberg filmed "The Color Purple" (1985) in Wadesboro just a couple of years before, and the large white farmhouse on Diggs Road that’s immediately recognizable from the film also acted as the production office for "Evil Dead II."

'Honeymoon'

Director Leigh Janiak needed the look and feel of a Canadian lake community to bring her dream-turned-nightmare horror flick to life – and she found the perfect spot in Lake Summit near Hendersonville. Though the lake is private, you can still delve into the production and eat like the cast and crew – which included Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway – did with a visit to nearby Hubba Hubba Smokehouse (it promises to become your “happy place”).

'Alien Abduction'

Please note: Pisgah National Forest is temporarily closed due to the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Presented as a “found-footage” science fiction horror film, "Alien Abduction" portrays a family on a camping trip to Brown Mountain in Pisgah National Forest – where one night they see flashing lights that definitely aren’t stars. Director Matty Beckerman was reportedly inspired to make the film while living in North Carolina and hearing stories about the fabled Brown Mountain Lights, inexplicable and mysterious lights emanating from the mountains that are still seen by locals and travelers today.

• Explore More Mountain Mysteries in NC

'Cat's Eye'

Released in 1985, this horror-thriller film is a Stephen King original shot throughout Wilmington. It starred huge names such as Drew Barrymore and James Woods. The plot revolves around three twisted tales connected by a mysterious cat, including one about a troll living in young Barrymore’s home on Forest Hills Drive. The First Presbyterian Church on South Third Street is also where Dick Morrison visits his daughter’s school, Saint Stephen’s School for the Exceptional, in “Quitters, Inc.,” one of the tales in the film.

'Silver Bullet'

Stephen King’s work is once again shown on the screen in "Silver Bullet," a cult classic. Film sites are littered across Wilmington and nearby Burgaw, including the Burgaw Courthouse Square, Pender Memorial Park, and Greenfield Park (where fireworks are shot off, plus where Jane, Marty and Uncle Red made the silver bullet). Trade in horror for magic when you catch a concert at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater under hundred-year-old oak trees. But for more in terror from the expert himself, additional King screenplays filmed in the area include "Firestarter," "Maximum Overdrive" and "The Night Flier."

1 Replica of the Michael Myers House

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Take a tour of a life-size replica of the famous Michael Myers house from John Carpenter's 1978 classic "Halloween." The visit includes a 15-minute tour of the outside with a brief history lesson about the original house. Be sure to check the attraction’s website for visit schedule updates.

3 Pinhead's Graveyard

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If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to step into a horror movie, Pinhead’s Graveyard is your chance. This outdoor haunted attraction features iconic characters such as Freddy, Jason and Leatherface, ready to make your worst nightmares a reality. As you wander through the eerie woods, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported straight into the heart of Hollywood horror – only this time, there’s no director yelling “Cut!” Pinhead’s is strictly for those brave souls aged 12 and up, so maybe leave the little goblins at home for this one.