Horror Films Centered On Iowa, Wisconsin And Illinois
Sure, we've seen zombies overrun Pittsburgh. Who can forget the aliens blowing up New York City landmarks? Stephen King has given us plenty to be afraid of up in Maine. But what if you're looking for a killer flick set right here in the midwest?
Halloween is upon us and you probably have your Netflix cue full of horror classics, but if you're looking for a few scares that hit a little closer to home, you might want to try one of these!
Iowa:
Children of the Corn (1984)
Written as a short story by author Stephen King, both the 1984 and 2009 versions of this flick were set in the great state of Iowa. The original film was actually filmed in spots like Sioux City, Hornick, and Whiting, Iowa. (If you've seen this movie, chances are you still get a little freaked out driving past those huge fields of corn!)
The Crazies (2010)
While the first version of this film, written by "Night of the Living Dead" creator George A. Romero, was made in 1973 and set in Pennsylvania, the much better remake was done in 2010. This version was set in Iowa and stars the great Timothy Olyphant.
George A. Romero does have a quick cameo in the remake, and sharp-eared locals will hear former KCRG-TV anchor Bruce Aune's voice at the end of the movie. All I'll tell you is stay away from the coffee!
Illinois:
Halloween (1978)
The John Carpenter classic starring Jamie Lee Curtis is still one of my all-time favorites. Killer Michael Myers walking around the fictitious town of Haddonfield, Illinois places the action in the midwest, although watching the film carefully you'll see palm trees in some of the scenes... revealing the filming actually took place in South Pasadena, California.
Candyman (1992)
The film is based on a book called "The Forbidden," by Clive Barker, which is set in the town of Liverpool. For the movie, producers used the Cabrini-Green area of Chicago for this terrifying flick starring Virginia Madsen.
Tony Todd, a perennial horror movie fixture plays the Candyman, a spirit who can be summoned when his name is uttered five times in front of a mirror. (Of course, this never turns out well for the person saying his name.)
Child's Play (1988)
Chucky was a harmless "Good Guy" doll that Andy receives from his mother, Karen. Unfortunately, the doll is possessed by the evil spirit of a serial killer and voodoo practitioner named Charles Lee Ray, who gets mortally wounded after being shot in the chest by a police officer. It's hokey and hilarious, but all the action goes down in Chicago.
The Brewster Apartments are a Chicago landmark located at Diversey Parkway and Pine Grove Avenue and served as the location of the apartment where the film's family lived.
Wisconsin:
Dahmer (2002)
Before he got the role of Clint Barton... AKA Marvel superhero Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner starred in this low-budget, fragmented biopic about the late serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
The film is told in a series of flashbacks, with the majority of the story told in the town of Milwaukee.
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Another remake of a George A. Romero classic, Dawn of the Dead was reimagined in 2004 and quite different from the 1978 version.
The first version of the movie was also set in Pittsburgh, just like the original version of "The Crazies."
The 2004 version had the location changed to Milwaukee. It starred Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, and Ty Burrell. It was written by James Gunn. (Yeah, the guy who did the Guardian's of the Galaxy movies.) It was directed by Zack Snyder. (Yeah, the guy who did the Justice League movie.)
The zombies in this version were much faster and scarier, and the opening ten minutes of the flick are possibly the scariest moments you'll ever see.
So if you're looking for a Halloween movie that hits just a little closer to home, try one of these classics!