10 Horror Films Based On Shocking True Events

Most horror fans will have watched the iconic, classic release of The Exorcist, which was unleashed into the world in 1973 to much excitement and religious fevor. It was directed by William Friedkin and starred Linda Blair as the sweet girl who is eventually tormented and possessed by a demon. The film ranks high on the creep-factor, so it is quite startling to hear that some of the occurrences portrayed in the movie were, in fact, rooted in real-life events.

There are some differences and changes to the accounts depicted in the film, and the real events are alleged to have happened in the 1940s. Instead of a young girl, the true story is said to have happened to a young boy, known as Roland Doe. He was only 13 at the time, and distressing experiences began happening to him after the death of his aunt.

The boy was apparently possessed by demons and underwent exorcisms to rid him of the dark torment he was experiencing. As we know, the novel and subsequent movie based on the real events were scary enough - if they truly happened, that's enough to scare any horror fan.