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Dark Irony: Real Life Scream Inspired Killings

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This past year we celebrated a full twenty years since the release of Wes Craven’s blockbuster hit Scream.  This horror film not only redefined the genre with its quick and witty dialogue and innovative script, it also added a new monster to an industry that was in desperate need of new blood.  However unlike in its predecessors, this movie’s monster was not the boogeyman under your bed or the possessed toy in your closet, this villain was as human as you and I.  The new monster was the horror fan.
The film takes place in Woodsboro, a sleepy California town tucked into the foothills of the Golden State.  Woodsboro is far away from the big city lights and everyday big city crime.  Life in Woodsboro is simple, filled with football games, tests, and young love for its high school students focused upon in the plot.  Yet all of that is about to change when a rash of killings breaks out among the young student body of Woodsboro High.

Scream from Dimension Films

As the co-eds are picked off in extremely gory and graphic fashion, the cops scramble helplessly in their clueless quest to catch the perpetrator.  Little do they know their killer is not one individual, but two.  Two high school students began this rampage together, and it all started with their infatuation with horror films.

The success of Scream spawned three sequels, Halloween costumes, countless toys, and a television series that is currently in its second season.  However, its influence has reached far beyond the world of entertainment.  The ghost face killer has inspired at least three real life killings.

In a world where movie writers love to make films “inspired by true events” the tables have been reversed in these real life crimes.  In fact, when one of these assailant’s went to trial and explained he was motivated by the Wes Craven movie, the judge responded by saying the movie is “a very good source to learn how to kill someone.”  Chilling.

Scream from Dimension Films

Perhaps the most well-known Scream inspired killing involves two sixteen year old killers: Brian Lee Draper and Torey Michael Adamcik.

The boys were just high school students themselves when they murdered their classmate Cassie Jo Stoddart ten years after the film’s initial release.

On September 22, 2006 the two Idaho teenagers stalked Stoddart.  She was house sitting for her aunt at the time.  After patiently waiting for Stoddart’s boyfriend to leave the home Draper and Adamcik cut the power to the dwelling and entered.  While it is unclear who did what once the boys were inside, their actions resulted in the horrific killing of Stoddart who suffered 29 knife wounds.

Later under police interrogation Adamcik revealed he was inspired to commit the crime by the movie Scream.  Furthermore, both boys were motivated by the thought of potential fame they would acquire after the murder.

Brian Lee Draper and Torey Michael Adamcik

Another Scream motivated killing occurred in 2001 when 15 year old Allison Cambier exchanged some videotapes with her 24 year old neighbor, Thierry Jaradin.  Inside Jaradin’s residence the two were friendly and chatted for a while.

Soon into the conversation Jaradin made advances towards the young girl.  When Cambier rejected his advances he excused himself from the room.  When he returned Jaradin was dressed in the iconic black tunic and ghost face mask from the movie.  He then preceded to stab the 15 year old 30 times, taking her life.

Thierry Jaradin in court

A third Scream inspired killing is the murder of Gina Castillo.  Castillo was killed by her 16 year old son and 15 year old nephew.  If the act of matricide isn’t bone chilling enough, the boys confessed they were going to use the proceeds of the murder to fund their killing spree that would replicate the first two Scream movies.

In a world where four little words, “inspired by true events,” has so much power when drawing audiences to theaters, movie makers probably don’t stop to consider what would happen if their fiction inspired real life horrific events.  Do these movies cause violence?  Would perpetrators cause crimes if such movies didn’t exist?  We are left to wonder if horror movies really do create killers, or as Billy Loomis from Scream states “Movies don’t create psychos; movies make psychos more creative.”  We would love to know what you think in your comments!

To read about movies inspired by true life events check out fellow iHorror writer Craig Mapp’s article about 25 horror films based on true stories! 

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‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt

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Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.

In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.

The Strangers

This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.

The Strangers

Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.

“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”

The Strangers

The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”

The Strangers

The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.

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‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time

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It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?

It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.

Fede Alvarez and Ridley Scott

Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.

Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.

Great Movie Ride

The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.

It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.

Alien Romulus
Alien (1979)

The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.

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Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween

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Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.

The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.

Home Depot Skeleton Prop

This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.

This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.

“This year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.”

Home Depot Prop

But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.

This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.

Terror Dog Prop
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