Most people avoid watching horror films because they say that they can't tolerate seeing ghosts and ghouls on the screen. A serial killer waiting in the house at night is their worst nightmare. All movies that you've seen have been inspired from a small discussion, a highly acclaimed novel or a real life incident. Most of the horror movies are full of violence and scary scenes; content not at all suitable for children. There are some movies that don't have that scary makeup, blood and visual effects, but there's something about them that gives us the creeps. The Exorcist If you got scared watching Linda Blair's spinning head you haven't seen enough. Considered as one of the best horror movies, The Exorcist is based on a real life story which was read by William Peter Blatty while he was in college. The incident stated that an exorcism was performed on a 13-year-old boy in Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1949. This article appeared in the Washington Post in 1949 and hence the writer was inspired to write a novel and the subsequent screenplay for the film. Citizen X Counted as one of the great horror movies, Citizen X had a plot which still makes several people cringe. The kidnappings and murders of runaway children was very popular in Russia in the 80s. Andrei Chikatilo, an unassuming killer, had a need for kidnapping street children from train stations for his hideous pleasures. Citizen X is one of the most disturbing movies ever. Signs An excellent horror movie inspired by true events, Signs is directed by the master man M Night Shyamalan. The plot of Signs is set in 1970s, where mysterious crop circles appear overnight in a field. This movie is inspired from the alien-human debate that has been in discussion for years. Mel Gibson plays a farmer whose farmhouse has been a victim of crop circles which were made by aliens. The Girl Next Door, 2007 Not suitable for everyone, The Girl Next Door tells us a story of a young girl who is kidnapped by her neighbor. She is tortured, raped, and killed in the basement by the other neighborhood kids. Gregory Wilson is an efficient director as he portrays and captures the horror well. The weird part is if you go and look at the case files, you wouldn't believe all the torture the young girl went through. The Exorcism of Emily Rose Most of us won't recognize the name Anneliese Michel, but you probably must have heard of Emily Rose. Anneliese Michel was a German woman, who many claimed was possessed by demons and evil souls. Through the process of her exorcism she died a painful death in 1976. The Exorcism of Emily Rose should always feature in the list of best horror movies. The Conjuring This blockbuster released in the year 2013 and was one of the most talked about movies of the year. Made with only a $20 million budget, the movie uses eerie camera angles, creepy lighting and camera tricks to creep the audience out. Much is left to the audiences' imagination. In that respect it stands out from the sudden-shock run-of-the-mill horror films. This movie is based on the real life hauntings suffered by the Perron family when they moved into their new home in Harrisonville, Rhode Island. A very mean spirit of a dead lady haunted the house resulting in many unpleasant experiences by the family members. Paranormal Investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren helped with the cleansing of the house and relieving the family of the haunting. A must watch for horror enthusiasts. The Amityville Horror Both, this movie and the Conjuring will make you think twice before you move into a new home. This movie too is based on the real life experiences of the Lutz family when they moved into their new colonial home in Amityville, Long Island, New York. The father was possessed in this case and attempted to murder his wife and two children. This movie does portray the tension and haunting very satisfyingly. And the fact that both these movies are based on true incidents, a lot of back stories and documentation is available on the Internet. Since the facts such as the names haven't been changed and the sets are designed to resemble the actual houses, people really get scared. The Silence of the Lambs A masterpiece of a movie, it went on to win 5 Academy Awards. It is known for its top-notch acting, well-paced screenplay and crisp dialog which stay with you long after the movie. Although no paranormal presence is shown, the audience does feel the presence of an evil entity in the eyes of Hannibal Lecter as he converses in a poetic manner with the FBI agent, Clarice Starling. Anthony Hopkins does the job so well, that goose bumps are a sure event while watching this one. This movie is loosely based on the exploits of the serial killer, Ted Bundy. There are many more horror movies of this kind, and some worth mentioning are listed below:

• Jaws
• Audrey Rose
• The Hills Have Eyes
• The Entity
• The Blob
• Deranged - Confessions of a Necrophile
• Eaten Alive
• A Nightmare on the Elm Street
• Dead Ringers
• Monster
• The Ghost and the Darkness
• Ravenous
• From Hell
• The Mothman Prophecies
• An American Haunting

So these were some famous scary films based on real events. Make sure you pick up these DVDs and make your weekend a scary one.