Top 10 Behind the Scenes Horror Movie Secrets

Top 10 Behind the Scenes Secrets of Famous Horror Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Behind the Scenes Secrets of Famous Horror Movies.

For this list, we’ll be looking at notable tidbits from the sets of famous horror movies. This includes anything from the production side of things that was insightful, strange, or dare we say… horrifying. Since some of these entries deal with key moments, here is your spoiler warning.

What are some of your favorite horror movies? Let us know in the comments below.

#10: The Blood Is Chocolate Syrup

“Psycho” (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock was known for his many innovative techniques in the thriller and horror genres. With “Psycho” in 1960, the director pulled out all the stops to create an influential masterpiece. While filming the iconic shower sequence, Hitchcock needed a lot of blood to appear after the protagonist Marion Crane gets stabbed. Shot in black and white, the traditional fake blood didn’t have the visual impact Hitchcock needed. In a stroke of horror genius, the director chose to replace the blood with Hershey’s chocolate syrup. The rich, brown syrup showed up just as the director intended, capping off the famous scene that arguably created the slasher genre.

#9: Matthew Lillard’s Improvisation

“Scream” (1996)

“Scream” once again showcased director Wes Craven’s subversive take on the horror genre. For the first film in the series, the twist comes when Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard’s characters both reveal themselves as Ghostface. The murderous duo then explains their scheme before stabbing each other to make themselves look like victims. When Neve Campbell’s heroine turns the tables on them, they end up on the wrong end of a phone call. As Ulrich’s hands were covered in slippery fake blood, he accidentally slammed the phone into his scene partner’s head. Lillard’s reaction is completely real and the subsequent line was unscripted. Not only does this speak to Lillard’s dedication, but it also shows how improvisation can make a scene that much more impactful.

#8: Tony Todd’s Method Bee Acting

“Candyman” (1992)

Before the 2021 sequel, there was the original “Candyman” film, based on Clive Barker’s short story and starring Tony Todd as the titular, supernatural villain. As the result of a tragic backstory, one of Candyman’s unsavory features is his attraction to bees. For one of the film’s most iconic scenes, Todd decided to have real bees placed on him and inside his mouth. But if you’re thinking he did it just for the sequence, he reportedly received a $1,000 bonus for each sting. And deservedly so, seeing as he racked up a whopping twenty-three of them. Not only did Todd make it through the scene in one piece, but his stunt really sells the moment, making the Candyman’s presence that much more terrifying.

#7: Stun Gun Grapes

“A Quiet Place” (2018)

Every film relies on technicians known as Foley artists to record additional sounds that couldn't be captured during production. This is especially important for “A Quiet Place,” a movie that uses sound in such a sparse yet distinct way. For the film’s alien creatures, the filmmakers needed a specific noise to represent their advanced hearing ability. The only natural solution: a mix of grapes and a stun gun. By zapping grapes and slowing down the audio in their editing software, the Foley team stumbled on the trademark clicking noise. It’s exactly this sort of inventive idea that proves how essential every craft department is in creating a movie. Who would’ve thought that electrocuting fruit would make for such a memorable movie sound.

#6: Vomit Misfire

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Still terrifying to this day, “The Exorcist” is chock full of iconic horror setpieces. Little do people know, the filmmaking process didn’t come easy for director William Friedkin and company. Problems varied from cast injuries to an on set fire. One particular mishap was less dangerous, but made for one of the film’s most horrific moments. As Father Karras talks to the possessed Regan, she vomits into his face. Originally, the pea soup vomit was set to fire into actor Jason Miller’s chest. Since it wasn’t planned, Miller’s reaction was completely natural. Considering nobody got hurt, it’s not out of line to say this enhanced the scene with something memorably visceral and disgusting.

#5: Stanley Kubrick Gave “Shining” Outtakes to Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”

“The Shining” (1980)

Controversial as he was, Stanley Kubrick turned “The Shining” into a legendary horror film. One scene from the film, wherein Jack drives to the hotel, features many helicopter shots of the car and surrounding mountains. Around the same time, Ridley Scott was filming “Blade Runner.” While discussing each other’s films, Scott mentioned that the studio ordered a happier ending wherein Harrison Ford’s and Sean Young’s characters drive off into the sunset. Scott asked Kubrick if he could use any of the director’s extra helicopter footage. To Scott’s surprise, Kubrick sent over hours of helicopter outtakes that made it into the theatrical version of “Blade Runner.” At least Scott didn’t have to do too much extra work on what is universally deemed an inferior ending.

#4: Alfred Hitchcock Tormented Tippi Hedren

“The Birds” (1963)

At the height of his fame, “The Birds” saw Alfred Hitchcock crafting a superb nail-biter. For lead actor Tippi Hedren, however, she came to realize the director had a dark side. In one of the film’s bird attack scenes, Hitchcock ordered real birds to interact with her rather than the planned mechanical ones. However, her resulting facial injuries didn’t mark the beginning of the director’s controlling behavior, as Hitchcock had reportedly made passes at Hedren. And this wasn’t the first reported instance of the director being obsessed with a leading lady. While Hedren worked with Hitchcock again, she never forgot the treatment she received from him. In the end, her story reflects the corrupt power structures still at work in Hollywood.

#3: Pinhead’s Accidental Fame

“Hellraiser” (1987)

Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” series features a number of truly unforgettable and horrifying monsters. Chief among them is Pinhead, the signature villain and flagship character. Surprisingly enough, Pinhead was not intended to become the icon of “Hellraiser.” Making his debut near the end of the first film, the striking monster appears alongside a group of other unsightly beings called Cenobites. Due to the heavier makeup and prosthetic work on the other actors, Pinhead was in a unique position to deliver more lines. Actor Doug Bradley didn't have anything hindering his speech, allowing Pinhead to become a defining villain of the horror canon.

#2: Practical Chucky Doll

“Child’s Play” (2019)

For the remake of the 1988 horror film, the production of “Child’s Play” wanted to maintain the practical effects of the original. The special effects artists at MastersFX designed a fully functional Chucky doll with a robotic interior. The only catch was that the puppet needed to be operated by several puppeteers at the same time. With only minor CGI adjustments, the resulting invention produced a highly accurate doll. Not only did this help sell the physicality of the toy, it allowed the actors to perform with a living representation of the murderous plaything. While the remake might not reach the heights of the original, the special effects created a suitably scary and believable Chucky doll.

#1: The Skeletons Are Real

“Poltergeist” (1982)

“Poltergeist” might be among the more cursed productions in film history, as a number of accidents, deaths, and other mysterious happenings can be traced back to the 1982 film. For those who believe, it’s often argued that the supposed curse stemmed from filming with actual skeletons. Specifically for the climactic pool scene, the real skeletons were supplied in part because of their cost effectiveness. We’ve heard of realistic makeup and effects, but this might’ve been a step too far. Wherever you land on this morbid application or the so-called curse, it’s all undeniably added to the film's everlasting horror legacy.