6 Real Serial Killers That Defined The Horror Film Genre

Another Australian on the list, Ivan Milat is cited as an influence on the critically acclaimed film Wolf Creek and its sequel, and infamous for his ‘Backpack Murders’ which saw him end the lives of seven young backpackers travelling through New South Wales.

Both films draw influence from Milat’s crimes, depicting British and German tourists being abducted and attacked as they traverse the long, often abandoned roads of Australia.

The nationalities and travel circumstances match those of Milat’s victims, as well as the discovery of used campsites that Milat would have spent time with his abductees at. Suddeling travelling doesn’t seem such a fun idea after all.

Operating for four years between 1989 and 1993, Milat is currently serving seven life sentences, and is still alive at the ripe old age of 73, despite attempted self-mutilation more than once. Perhaps most scary of all is that his great-nephew committing a copycat crime in 2012, stabbing a 17 year old to death in the same national park Milat operated in.

His influence over the world of film could be argued to be rooted in quality over quantity, but with others drawing inspiration from his work - it’s probably best it stays that way.