10 Bizarre And Shocking Things That Happened On Film & TV Sets
8. The Director Of The Bell From Hell Dies In Strange Circumstances
The story behind the making of The Bell from Hell is a weird and disturbing one. This self-consciously sordid horror film, which was the brainchild of Spanish director and screenwriter Claudio Guerín, relies heavily on the central image of the titular bell tower - the same bell tower that would later contribute to Guerín’s mysterious death.
It was the final day of shooting, and Guerín was atop the bell tower going about his work. It is not entirely clear what happened next. All that is known is that he suddenly fell from its apex, plunging 20 metres to ground. His body was devastated upon impact, causing 34-year-old Guerín to perish nearly immediately.
The director’s death remains a widely debated subject even today. Did he commit suicide? Did he simply lose his balance? Was something more sinister afoot?
It is unlikely that the cause of his fall on that fateful day in 1973 will ever be confirmed. Although it can conceivably be written off as an unfortunate accident, there is no denying that the circumstances surrounding Guerín’s demise are odd, especially considering that The Bell from Hell's protagonist dies in an almost identical manner.