(Craigdarroch Castle / Photo by Don Baltazar – instagram.com/donbltzr/)
Ready to get into the Friday the 13th spirit?
We’ve all heard that Victoria is the most haunted place in the Pacific Northwest, but did you know that a handful of horror movies and TV shows have also been filmed in the capital?
Greater Victoria is clearly the perfect backdrop for horror cinema.
Victoria’s spooky reputation has been around for years. So this Friday the 13th, why not celebrate the notoriously crazy day with a movie marathon with a local flair.
We’ve compiled a list of scary movies and shows that we recommend you get comfortable and check out, so without further ado, here are 9 scary movies and TV shows filmed in and around the Greater Victoria area:
The Changeling (1980)
The Changeling (IMBD)
This haunted mansion tale about a ghost that follows a troubled man uses Hatley Castle in Colwood as the location for the senator’s home.
The Boy (2016)
A spooky doll causes trouble for Lauren Cohan’s character in the spooky film, which once again uses the Craigdarroch Castle set.
The Poltergeist: Legacy (1996-1999)
This mid-90s series, based on the cult film of the same name, used Hatley Castle for their 1996 episode titled The Legacy.
Ripper (2001)
This lesser known film about a massacre survivor who studies serial killers and is then hunted by a copycat of Jack The Ripper was shot entirely in Victoria. In particular, it showed – you guessed it – Hatley Castle.
Scary Movie (2000)
Reveling in late ’90s pop culture references and classic horror films, this horror movie spoof was filmed all over the city, mostly at Victoria High School.
The Girl in the Photos (2015)
This indie film used Wellburn Market as both an indoor and outdoor location for one of the main character’s grocery jobs.
The Mist (2005)
John Carpenter’s remake of the 1980s ghost story used Cowichan Bay and Tofino instead of California for some of its haunting locations.
Lake Placid
Before the 2019 alligator horror movie Crawl, there was another movie that discouraged people from getting in the water (besides Jaws).
The New York Lake in this movie was actually Shawnigan Lake, which is fortunately free of alligators in real life.
The Last Target (2000)
Death stalks Devon Sawa and friends in this terrifying tale of inevitable fate. The death of the main character takes place near Bastion Square, which is believed to be haunted in IRL too!
Did we miss something? Comment below to let us know!
With files from Joel Brewster
