You may have heard of some of the horror movies filmed in Alabama over the years – 1980’s “Death Ship,” 1988’s “Friday the 13th Part VII,” 1993’s “Body Snatchers.”
But did you know about all the spooky activity going on in Alabama since new tax laws and the turn of a new millennium? The 13 movies listed below were filmed partially or entirely in Alabama. Many are available on streaming services. This is a great time to check them out.
1. Dead Birds, 2004
Synopsis from IMDb: “A group of Confederate soldiers hole up in an abandoned plantation after robbing a bank and find themselves at the mercy of supernatural forces.”
Filmed: Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook, plantation homes in Eight Mile.
Noteworthy: Jackson Lake Island is home to the set of a small town abandoned after filming. It was used as the town of Spectre in “Big Fish.” When “Dead Birds” was filmed, all of the building facades were still standing. Several of the brick-clad buildings later burned but much of the town remains and is open to visitors. It stars Henry Thomas, who starred in “E.T.” as a child.
2. Frankenfish, 2004
Synopsis on IMDb: “A genetically-altered fish wreaks havoc on a small fishing town.”
Filmed: Mobile.
3. The Collector, 2009
Synopsis on IMDb: “Desperate to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con plots a heist at his new employer's country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property, and rigged it with a series of deadly traps.”
Filmed: Mobile and Louisiana.
Noteworthy: Based on an urban legend.
4. The Final Destination, 2009
Synopsis on IMDb: “After a young man’s premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end.”
Filmed: Race scenes filmed at Mobile International Speedway.
Noteworthy: This was the fourth in the “Final Destination” film franchise and billed as the last, but Final Destination 5 debuted in 2011.
5. After, 2012
Synopsis on IMDb: “When two bus crash survivors awake to discover that they are the only people left in their town, they work together to unravel the truth behind the strange events.”
Filmed: Bessemer, Decatur, Birmingham, Ala., and Franklin, Tenn.
Noteworthy: The iconic neon sign on Decatur’s historic Princess Theater is featured in the film.
6. Oculus, 2013
Synopsis from IMdB: “A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.”
Filmed: Mobile and Fairhope
Noteworthy: Directed by Mike Flanagan, who also made the “Haunting of Hill House” series and the upcoming “Shining” sequel, “Dr. Sleep.” Flanagan likes shooting in the South and often chooses sites in Alabama and Georgia to film his movies.
7. Convergence, 2015
Synopsis on IMDb: “A detective must fight for the redemption of his soul when he finds himself trapped in a mysterious hospital that serves as a gateway between heaven and hell.”
Filmed: Mobile.
Noteworthy: Stars Alabama native Clayne Crawford.
8. Before I Wake, 2016
Synopsis on IMDb: “A couple adopt an orphaned child whose dreams – and nightmares – manifest physically as he sleeps.”
Filmed: Fairhope
Noteworthy: This is another Mike Flanagan film.
9. Hush, 2016
Synopsis on IMDb: “A deaf and mute writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window.”
Filmed: Fairhope
Noteworthy: This film is also directed by Mike Flanagan and stars his wife, Kate Siegel.
10. Gerald’s Game, 2017
Synopsis on IMDb: “While trying to spice up their marriage in their remote lake house, Jessie must fight to survive when her husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her handcuffed to their bed frame.”
Filmed: Mobile and Point Clear.
Noteworthy: This adaptation of the Stephen King novel is another film directed by Mike Flanagan. It stars several actors who appear in “The Haunting of Hill House:” Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino and Kate Siegel.
11. Get Out, 2017
Synopsis on IMDb: “A young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.”
Filmed: Mobile and Fairhope. (Read more about the filming here.)
Noteworthy: The film is one of six horror films nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, including 1973’s “The Exorcist,” 1975’s “Jaws,” 1991’s “Silence of the Lambs, 1999’s “The Sixth Sense” and 2010’s “Black Swan.”
12. Truth or Dare, 2017
Synopsis on IMDb: “Eight college friends head to a ‘Haunted Rental’ for Halloween. But when they replay the game that made the house infamous, they awaken an evil spirit intent on stealing their souls.”
Filmed: Bessemer
Noteworthy: The home used in the film was built by the Sweet family and therefore is known as the “Sweet Home,” Alabama.
13. The Fanatic, 2019
Synopsis on IMDb: “A rabid film fan stalks his favorite action hero and destroys the star's life.”
Filmed: Birmingham, Ala., and Hollywood
Noteworthy: John Travolta was filming this movie and “Trading Paint” at the same time in Birmingham.