As the heart of Hollywood, Greater Los Angeles has brought some of cinema’s most memorable nightmares to life. This Halloween, explore our list of 10 horror movie favorites and their filming locations, from classic slashers to chilling recent releases, all filmed in L.A.
Filmed in LA: Halloween Edition
Explore FilmLA’s list of 10 horror movie favorites, all filmed in L.A.
Halloween (1978)
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Classic Slasher | Filmed in: South Pasadena and West Hollywood
Michael Myers terrorizes a seemingly ordinary suburban neighborhood in John Carpenter’s genre-defining slasher. The leafy streets of Greater LA stood in for Haddonfield, Illinois.
Filming locations: The Myers house, South Pasadena; Orange Grove Avenue, West Hollywood.
Poltergeist (1982)
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Supernatural Horror | Filmed in: Simi Valley and Culver City
A family’s suburban home becomes the gateway to terrifying paranormal activity in this supernatural horror story directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written/produced by Steven Spielberg. The film is a quintessential example of Southern California playing a Midwestern suburb.
Filming locations: The Freeling family home in Simi Valley; MGM sound stages in Culver City.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
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Supernatural Slasher | Filmed in: Hollywood and Los Feliz
Wes Craven’s infamous Freddy Krueger invades teenagers’ dreams in a film that transformed ordinary LA residential streets into the nightmare-filled town of Springwood.
Filming locations: Nancy’s house in Hollywood; John Marshall High School in Los Feliz; and Lincoln Heights Jail.
Prince of Darkness (1987)
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Supernatural Horror | Filmed in: Downtown Los Angeles
A group of scientists and graduate students investigate a mysterious cylinder hidden beneath a church, only to discover an ancient evil that threatens humanity. John Carpenter blends apocalyptic dread with eerie, atmospheric horror.
Filming location: Former Japanese Union Church, 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Downtown Los Angeles.
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
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Psychological Horror | Filmed in: West Adams and Hollywood
A young boy breaks into a wealthy family’s home and discovers a terrifying secret hidden behind its walls. Wes Craven’s unsettling horror film combines suspense, dark humor, and social commentary on atrocities hiding behind a veneer of normalcy.
Filming locations: The Thomas W. Phillips Residence, Los Angeles; Ren-Mar Studios in Hollywood.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
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Supernatural Horror | Filmed in: Downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, and Tarzana
Sam Raimi delivers a dark revenge story about a loan officer whose life unravels after she refuses a customer’s request for an extension.
Filming locations: Union Station; the Doheny Mansion, Los Angeles; and Christine’s home in Echo Park.
Insidious (2010)
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Haunted-House Horror | Filmed in: Mid-City and Downtown Los Angeles
When a family’s young son falls into an unexplained coma, terrifying supernatural forces begin to invade their home. James Wan’s film is an excellent example of LA architecture becoming part of the horror story.
Filming locations: The Lambert family’s first home, Victoria Park neighborhood; the historic Herald Examiner Building in Downtown.
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
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Supernatural Horror | Filmed in: City of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley
A widowed mother and her two daughters use a Ouija board for their séance business, accidentally inviting a malevolent spirit into their home. Directed by Mike Flanagan, this prequel is a well-received, modern supernatural horror pick.
Filming locations: The Zander family home exterior, Highland Park; Fair Oaks Pharmacy, South Pasadena; Sierra Madre Elementary School; and Occidental Studios, Los Angeles.
Nope (2022)
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Sci-fi Horror | Filmed in: Agua Dulce, North Hollywood, and Burbank
A brother and sister running a horse ranch encounter something terrifying in the sky. This modern horror spectacle from Jordan Peele blends Western imagery with the dread of the unknown.
Filming location: Firestone Ranch, Agua Dulce; Jimmy’s Burgers, North Hollywood; and Fry’s Electronics, Burbank.
Obsession (2025)
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Supernatural Horror | Filmed in: The San Fernando Valley
A dark wish-fulfillment story turns into a nightmare when a young man’s desire for the woman he loves takes a sinister supernatural turn. Written and directed by Curry Barker, this recent indie horror film explores the frightening consequences of getting exactly what you wish for.
Filming locations: The Green Man, Burbank; Little Toni’s, North Hollywood; and Cassell’s Music, San Fernando.
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