Who doesn’t love a good scary movie on Halloween night? Bring out the stash of Halloween candy and popcorn balls because we’ve rounded up some of the best horror films shot in Chicago and across Illinois for a perfect Halloween fright night.
Here’s a list of films to keep you on the edge of your seat all night, along with information on the filming locations. It’s always fun to check out the end credits to see how many Chicago crew members you know. You’ll find my name on several of these films!
Candyman (1992)
One of the most influential horror films of the last 40 years, Candyman grounded Clive Barker’s urban legend. For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; HBO’s Watchmen, Us) and his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, The Photograph), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. Director Bernard Rose filmed heavily inside and around the former Cabrini-Green housing project, along with additional locations on the Near North Side and along the Chicago River. Its commitment to real Chicago locations is a major part of its legacy. Production offices and stages were at Chicago Studio City.
Child’s Play (1988)
A single mother gives her son a much sought-after doll for his birthday, only to discover that it is possessed by the soul of a serial killer. The killer-doll classic is one of the most iconic Chicago-set horror films ever made. Exterior work was done in Lincoln Park, downtown along Wabash Avenue, and on CTA ‘L’ platforms and trains. Production offices, interior sets and practical-effects sequences were filmed at Chicago Studio City.
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Stir of Echoes is a highly atmospheric 1990s supernatural horror film adapted from a Richard Matheson novel. Tom Wiztky (Kevin Bacon) is a normal, hard-working family man whose life is turned upside down when he is hypnotized at a neighborhood party. He starts seeing things he cannot explain and the visions get more graphic and horrific. He then begins to realise that the visions are of an unsolved crime. When his nightmares start to come true, Tom has had enough, only to find that the more he wants out the more he wants to solve the crime. David Koepp’s supernatural thriller used Wicker Park, Bucktown, and Ravenswood to create the blue-collar Chicago neighborhood atmosphere essential to the story. Shot before the area’s redevelopment boom, the film captures late-90s Chicago in a way few others do. Production offices and stages were at Chicago Studio City.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Recently released from prison, the nomadic Henry (Michael Rooker, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Walking Dead) finds temporary abode in the rundown Chicago lodgings of a former jail acquaintance and small-time drug dealer, Otis (Tom Towles). Hiding behind his unremarkable employment as a pest exterminator, Henry leads a double life, prowling the streets by night on a brutal and apparently motiveless killing spree. As the bodies mount up, Otis finds himself inducted into Henry’s dark secret world, but when Otis’ sister Becky (Tracy Arnold) moves in, herself fleeing from an uncomfortable domestic situation, it quickly becomes apparent that two’s company, but three’s a crowd. It is a landmark in gritty indie horror, Henry was shot guerrilla-style on Chicago’s West Side with an ultra-low budget. Real apartments, alleys, and industrial zones shape the film’s disturbing realism and its cult reputation.
The Relic (1997)
RELIC tells the story of Edna (Robyn Nevin), an elderly and widowed matriarch who goes missing, and her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) who must travel to their remote family home to find her. Soon after her return, they start to discover a sinister presence haunting the house and taking control of Edna. A rare major-studio creature feature set entirely in Chicago, The Relic was filmed extensively inside the Field Museum and around the Museum Campus. Production offices, interior builds, effects sequences, and controlled-environment shots were completed at Chicago Studio City.
Poltergeist III (1988)
Carol Anne is staying with her aunt in a high-rise building, where the supernatural forces haunting her make their return. This sequel turned Chicago’s vertical architecture into a haunted playground. Exteriors were filmed at the John Hancock Center, Water Tower Place, and throughout Streeterville and the Gold Coast. All major interior sequences, including the film’s elaborate mirror-effect builds, were shot at Chicago Studio City, which handled the production offices and soundstage work.
Sinister 2 (2015)
Although the story unfolds in rural isolation, Sinister 2 filmed across Illinois, including Forest Park (notably 946 Beloit Ave.), Kankakee, Grant Park, and St. Anne. First photography began in Chicago before moving to rural locations. Production offices and stages were at Chicago Studio City.
The Unborn (2009)
A young woman fights the spirit that is slowly taking possession of her. Shot throughout Chicago and Evanston, including the University of Chicago campus, the film blends supernatural scares with distinctly local architecture. Chicago Studio City provided production offices and stages for interior builds and effects work.
Munger Road (2011)
On the eve of the annual Scarecrow Festival, two St. Charles police officers search for a return killer the same night four teenagers go missing on Munger Road. A true Illinois indie, Munger Road was filmed entirely on location in St. Charles, Geneva, Elburn, and Sugar Grove. Its suburban backroads and forest preserves give the film its tension and regional identity.
Damien: Omen II (1978)
Damien, a 13-year-old boy, is the Antichrist, and lives with his uncle and aunt. However, a chain of evil and unexpected events follows after he finds out his real identity. This studio sequel set part of its narrative in Illinois, filming at Lake Forest Academy, downtown Chicago civic buildings, and along LaSalle Street. Its blend of North Shore and Loop locations gives the film a distinctly Midwestern backdrop. Chicago Studio City provided production offices and stages for interior builds and effects work.
Enjoy your Halloween fright night! These films showcase just how much our state has contributed to the horror genre. Illinois has long been a magnet for filmmakers, and these productions prove that the Midwest delivers more than its share of unforgettable chills.
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