8 Horror Movies Filmed in NC

Jan 26, 2020 | Featured, Horror History, Horror in NC

North Carolina horror fans, let’s roadtrip! Here’s eight horror movies with filming locations right here in our home state.


Cabin Fever

Released in 2002, this film stars one of our 2020 celebrity guests, Jordan Ladd, plus Rider Strong, and James DeBello. Five recent college grads rent a cabin in the woods and a horrifying flesh-eating virus begins to attack them, drawing attention from some dangerous locals. The sequel, Cabin Fever 2, was also filmed in NC.

You might recognize:

  • Cabins in Mt. Airy
  • Town shots in Mocksville, specifically 59 Court Square
  • Streets of Windston-Salem,
  • High Point area
  • Priddy’s General Store at 2121 Sheppard Mill Road in Danbury
  • The dam in Coleridge

The Conjuring

This 2013 movie features a pair of paranormal investigators working to help a family whose farmhouse is tortured by a dark presence. Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Ron Livingston, this entire horror movie is shot in NC.

You might recognize:

  • Carolina Apartments in Wilmington
  • Currie area exteriors
  • 405 Canetuck Road in Currie

Maximum Overdrive

A group tries to survive when machines come alive- and are looking to kill. Written and directed by Stephen King, this 1986 horror film stars Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, and Yeardley Smith.

Possibly one of the most interesting stories, as the iconic Green Goblin Head from the movie was purchased in 1987, by our friend Tim Shockey and saved from a salvage yard. In 2011, Tim started restoration and worked nights and weekends for 2 years and finally, it made its first appearance in almost 30 years. Our first ever horror convention in NC was the first time the Green Goblin Head was returned to its home in Wilmington.

You might recognize:

  • Supply Truck Stop on Highway 17
  • Wilmington exteriors

Evil Dead 2

A 1987 cult classic, starring the incomparable Bruce Campbell as the sole survivor of possessing spirits, holed up in a cabin with strangers played by Sarah Berry, Kassie Depaiva, Red Raimi, Denise Bixler, Dan Hicks, and more. Though most of this Sam Raimi directed film was shot in studio, some on location filming was done here.

You might recognize:

  • Wadesboro area

I Know What You Did Last Summer

From 1997, a tragic accident unites four friends who are brought back together by a mysterious hook maniac in a small seaside town. Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Anne Heche, most of the filming locations of this horror movie are in North Carolina:

You might recognize:

  • 308 W West Street in Southport (Helen’s House)
  • 209 Short Street in Southport (Julie’s House)
  • Duke University in Durham
  • Amuzu Theatre in Southport
  • Fishy Fish Cafe on 106 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport
  • Old American Fish Company in Southport
  • 107 South Wright St in Burgaw
  • 405 Canetuck Rd, Currie (Missy’s House)
  • Wilmington area

Hannibal

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman, this 2001 classic about Hannibal Lector trying to reconnect with Agent Clarice Starling and ends up being the target for revenge. This horror movie was filmed in both Virginia and NC.

You might recognize:

  • the Biltmore Estate
  • the surrounding Asheville area
  • Richmond, VA
  • Montpelier, VA

Jessabelle

This 2014 horror filmed here in NC, starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, and Joelle Carter, the titular character returns to her childhood home in Louisiana to find herself facing a tormented spirit with no intention of allowing her escape. Despite being set in Louisiana, this entire film was shot in studios and on location in Wilmington.


Trick or Treat

A beloved classic horror movie, this 1986 film was shot entirely in Hanover County, including some studio shots in Wilmington. Starring Marc Price, Tony Fields, Lisa Orgolini, and Dog Savant.

You might recognize:

  • 105 Borden Avenue, Wilmington (Eddie’s House)
  • 734 Forest Hills Dr, Wilmington (Tim’s House)
  • Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
  • John T. Hoggard High School
  • Trask Coliseum
  • New Hanover High School

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