The setting and location of ahorrormovie can sometimes make or break the success of that film. Depending on the story, the setting can almost be a character in and of itself. The Midwestern United States offers a lot of potential as locations for horror movies, and the region has been used to great success throughout the history of horror. There are parts of the Midwest that lay baron and empty, once bustling blue collar cities. There are also parts where not much of anything can be done or seen for miles, like the rolling corn fields of Kansas and Nebraska. The Midwest provides a great canvas for horror movies. Let’s examine the best horror movies based in the Midwest.
10The Crazies - Iowa
The Craziesis an Iowa-based remake of the classic George Romero film starring Timothy Olyphant. When the town of Ogden Marsh becomes overrun with infected individuals reeking havoc on the residents, viciously attacking and killing them, the town is cut off from the outside world with their sheriff there to protect the town. The isolation felt in this Iowan farm town helps lend to the sense of dread throughout the movie.
9The Crow - Michigan
Winning overa generation of goths, this 1994 horror film tells the story of an undead and vengeance-filled man who returns from the dead asThe Crowto avenge his death and the death of his fiancé. This gothic-themed movie uses its story location of Detroit to perfection, and the Midwestern city in Michigan is flush with architecture in the gothic style set forth by the movie. Brand Lee, the leading man of the film, was sadly wounded and later died during production, casting an air of tragedy over the film that still remains to this day.
8Children of the Corn - Nebraska
The ’80s were a ripe decade for movie adaptations of Stephen King novels, one of those being the Nebraska-basedChildren of the Corn. The movie finds all the adults in the fictional town of Gatlin being murdered by the children, led by nine-year-old Isaac Chroner. When a couple finds themselves broken down on the outskirts of Gatlin, they soon become the newest fixation of the children of the corn. The sprawling corn fields featured heavily in the movie add and element of uncertainty to this already suspenseful horror movie.
While George Romero’s originalDawn of the Deadtakes place outside of Philadelphia, PA on the east coast of the United States, the 2004 Zack Snyder remake takes place in the fictional town of Everett, Wisconsin. While the Midwestern city does little to add to the story of this remake, it does take the apocalyptic zombie prospect to the suburban environment that most audience members find themselves living in.
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6Scream 2 - Ohio
While the highly successful original movie inthe franchisetakes place in California, thetop tier sequel,Scream 2shifts its focus to the fictional Windsor College located in Ohio. Despite her move more than halfway across the country, the lead character of Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, finds herself being terrorized by the Ghostface killer once again. The Midwest setting of Ohio was no doubt chosen by director Wes Craven, who himself was born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio.
5Candyman - Illinois
Candymanbroken down to its base level, has some remarkablecommentary within itregarding racial inequality. The movie uses its location of Chicago, Illinois, and more specifically, its projects to help tell the terrifying story of The Candyman.
4Red Dragon - Missouri
This 2002 film is based on the novel of the same name and is a part of the Hannibal Lector series written by Thomas Harris.Red Dragonacts as a prequel to the stories and films,Silence of the LambsandHannibal. The film takes place in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, and while the setting does not add much to the overall story, much like previous entries, it shows that evil can lurk in any corner of the world.
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3It Follows - Michigan
It Followsis a fantastically eerie and slow-moving horror film, much like the monstrous entity featured in the movie. The movie remains one ofthe scariest moviesto come out of the 2010s, and its setting in a suburban town in Michigan lends a realism to this terrifying tale.
2A Nightmare on Elm Street - Ohio
Another nod to his Ohio routes, Wes Craven’sA Nightmare on Elm Streetbrings Freddy Krueger’s terror to the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio. All directors seemingly pull from their own experiences while dropping pieces of them into their films. For Craven, his Ohio lineage is on display in almost all of his films, especially Nightmare.
1Halloween - Illinois
The entire premise of John Carpenter’sHalloweencenters on evil coming home as Michael Myers returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, on Halloween night to kill again. The town of Haddonfield is a picture-perfect portrait of a quiet Midwestern town, full ofmorality and repression. It could be anyone’s hometown that grew up in that part of the country. Michael Myers could be your brother, uncle, or friend. Evil could lurk in your quaint Midwestern town.
