15 Horror Movies That Inspired Real-Life Crimes

You’d think it would be nigh on impossible to copycat a horror villain whose modus operandi is invading people’s dreams and killing them in their sleep but you’d be wrong.

In 2006, Nightmare on Elm Street fanatic Jason Moore attacked his friend with a homemade Freddy Kreuger-style glove he’d fashioned himself out of a few sharp blades and a gardening glove. The friend survived but sustained several slash wounds during the attack and probably won’t be watching any of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies anytime soon.

Just recently, 22-year-old Sam Contreras was arrested in connection with a shooting at a 2016 Halloween party in San Antonio, Texas during which five people were injured. Contreras was dressed like Freddy Krueger during the incident, but given the time of year this seems more of a costume choice rather than Contreras taking inspiration from the villain. Plus, Freddy isn’t exactly known for dispatching his victims with guns.

But the most tragic Freddy Krueger related case occurred in 2004 when a British man named Daniel Gonzalez who fantasised about living as Freddy Krueger for a day went on a killing spree that claimed the lives of four people.