Midwestern Horror: Why Are So Many Horror Movies Set in the Midwest?

Hello all. In honor of Halloween, I will be talking about the spookiness of the Midwest and giving a general overview of some Midwest horror movies. This month, I have ONLY been watching horror movies because duhhh. Watching horror movies with friends has led to some of the best movie watching experiences I have had.

I found myself wondering why there are so many horror movies set in the Midwest, but then I remembered that the Midwest is naturally spooky and is home to many haunted places. It provides a perfect backdrop with its rolling corn fields, dark forests, and gothic elements. It is easy to feel isolated and scared in an environment like this. Not only is rural Midwest represented in horror movies, but Midwest suburbia is also a popular setting.

Film critic Hope Maddan explains why it is common to see Ohio as a setting for horror movies, but I think it holds true for all of Midwest suburbia:

"(It) feels so normal and maybe even wholesome. So it makes it easy … it seems like your kids are going to be safe, you're going to be safe, and then all of a sudden, you're not. So it really I think plays into the idea of, ‘You're not really safe anywhere.’"

It is such a good environment for villains, evil spirits, and other creepy creatures to manifest.

Many early classic horror movies are set in the Midwest, which I will show here!

Halloween (1978) - Haddonfield, Illinois

Sourced from Halloween (1978)

I have actually never watched Halloween, but I just learned it was an independent film! The movie was directed by John Carpenter and written by him and Debra Hill. This is a classic horror movie and set the standard for many to come. Michael Myers is a costume I see every year.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Springwood, Ohio

Sourced from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Another classic horror movie! Like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger is always something that people dress up as on Halloween. Personally, I don't care much for this movie, but to each their own. I do love the vibes of Halloween in the suburbs though. A Nightmare on Elm Street was written and directed by Wes Craven.

It Follows (2014) - Detroit, Michigan

Sourced from It Follows (2014)

It Follows has been on top of my list of horror movies to watch for a long time, but I have never gotten around to it. It follows a young woman as she is haunted by a supernatural creature/entity. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, It Follows is another independent film (like most horror movies).

Children of the Corn (1984) - Gatlin, Nebraska

Sourced from Children of the Corn (1984)

The first time I watched Children of the Corn was with my best friends, Lloyd and Mick, in Michigan. Every shot was so beautiful, and I really liked the dynamic between the couple. My mom is terrified of this movie though; it traumatized her when she was in high school, and she has been afraid of scary movies ever since. I recently got this movie on DVD, and the menu is sooooo sick. Children of the Corn is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name and was directed by Fritz Kiersch.

Scream 2 (1997) - Somewhere in Ohio

Sourced from Scream 2 (1997)

Again, I unfortunately have not watched Scream 2 BUT I have watched the original Scream which I love. Wes Craven, Ohio native and A Nightmare on Elm Street director, directed the film. In Craven's filmography, you can tell he loves choosing his home state as the setting for many of his films.

Candyman (1992) - Chicago, Illinois

Sourced from Candyman (1992)

Candyman's story is based off of a Chicago urban legend dating back to 1987: the mystery of Ruthie Mae McCoy's murder. Ruthie Mae McCoy reported multiple incidents of someone trying to break into her home through the mirror in her bathroom. Because of her history with paranoia and the limited access to resources for people of color during the 80s, her reports were overlooked. She was later murdered in her home. If you would like to learn more about her story, I heavily recommend reading this article with Dometi Pongo, a true-crime podcast host: "The real story behind 'Candyman': Dometi Pongo's journey into this urban legend."

These are just a few of the horror movies that take place in the Midwest. Feel free to comment below any more you can think of! Have a HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! I know I'm going to have a ton of fun, and I hope you do too.