14 Horror Movies Set In The Pacific Northwest

SPOOKYEATTLE, WA - The Pacific Northwest can be a scary place. Several of the most infamous serial killers were from here, there's the whole Sasquatch thing, and those rainy forests of Douglas fir can be pretty creepy at dusk (or dawn). So the region makes a pretty good setting for horror movies. There aren't too many famous horror flicks made here, but we scoured IMDB and other parts of the internet to find some good ones (or just ones).

If you're in the mood for a scary movie this October, check out these local selections:

The Ring (2002) - The most obvious horror movie set in the Pacific Northwest, and for good reason. It's a remake of the 1998 Japanese movie "Ringu," which made famous the scary-little-girl-with-black-hair-and-a-white-dress thing (see any J-Horror movie or American remake). In particular, this movie features the scary little girl being creepy near a well in the woods. The filmmakers rightly chose Washington's drizzly, dense forests and Puget Sound shorelines to recreate the atmosphere of the Japanese version. Water plays a big role in the movie, and we certainly have plenty of that.

The Vanishing (1993) - Boy, this movie is so terrible, which really stinks because the original Danish one ("Spoorloos," 1988) is so good. The U.S. remake was filmed in North Bend, but who cares? See the original; it has one of the most horrifying endings of any movie ever made.

Death Note (2017) - This movie, a version of a popular series of Japanese manga books, "takes place" in Seattle. It only "takes place" here because they clearly shot it in California or somewhere and then threw in some b-roll of Seattle. Fans of the Japanese books are rightly critical of the lack of Asian actors in the movie. But the cast, including Willem Dafoe as a jokey grim reaper who kills people at the whim of a psychotic high schooler, is still pretty good.

The Stepfather (1985) - Mostly filmed in British Columbia, "The Stepfather" is about a man who kills his entire family and then marries into a new one. A skeptical stepdaughter figures him out and violence ensues. The psycho stepfather, by the way, works as a real estate agent in Seattle.

Clown (2007) - According to IMDB, "Clown" was filmed in Cle Elum. Not sure if it's any good, but it's probably, you know, not. It's about a clown who stalks and kills some teens spending a weekend in a cabin out in the woods.

The Ward (2010) - This is the most recent movie directed by John Carpenter who is behind some of the most terrifying movies ever ("Halloween," "The Thing," "The Fog"). "The Ward" is not one of his best. It's set in Oregon, but was mostly filmed in the Spokane area, Eastern State Hospital in particular. It's about a woman (Amber Heard) who gets consigned to a creepy insane asylum with ghosts. Or is she just crazy?

Green Room (2015) - An absolutely insane and nerve-destroying movie. It's about a broke punk band on tour in Oregon that agrees to play a show at a secluded white supremacist compound for some extra cash. They witness a murder and have to fight their way out of the green room (where bands hang out before performing) against Nazis, pit bulls, and a very scary Patrick Stewart, who plays the Nazi leader.

Wendy and Lucy (2008) - This isn't a horror movie, per se, but it is scary. It's about a woman, totally broke, traveling through Washington (or maybe Oregon) to a job in Alaska. Her car breaks down in some nameless place and she's suddenly stranded with just her dog. Soon, her dog is taken and she's suddenly all alone in the world with nothing. This movie demonstrates what it feels like to have everything taken away - deeply unsettling. Any of director Kelly Reichardt's other movies, which are mostly set in the Pacific Northwest, are also worth a watch (her "Meek's Cutoff" about the Oregon Trail is scary in its own way).

Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me (2003) - There are about 100 movies about the notorious Seattle-area serial killer Ted Bundy, and they're all terrible. This movie is not the best, but at least it's told from the perspective of true crime writer Ann Rule, who actually worked and was friends with Bundy in early 1970s Seattle (Rule lived much of her life in Seattle and Burien). Hopefully Ted Bundy will someday fade from memory, but Ann Rule should never be forgotten.

Harry and the Hendersons (1987) - Think a family movie can't be scary? Harry is definitely a friendly Sasquatch, but it might be scary for youngsters to see how cruelly he's treated by humans - kind of like the end of "ET." If you don't already know, this is a movie about a Seattle family (their fictional house is at 4214 Burke Ave North in Seattle) that accidentally hits the titular Sasquatch with their car and then adopts him as part of the clan. In the end, the dad of the family, played by John Lithgow, tries to kick Harry out of the house. Your kids might not be the same after this beautiful, heartbreaking movie is over.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) - Certainly the creepiest movie on this list, and of all the ones it deserves a trigger warning. The movie begins with a sexual assault that leads to suicide that leads to the creation of a psychotic nanny who exacts revenge on the original assault victim. But! The movie mostly takes place at home along Yakima Avenue in Tacoma.

Stand By Me (1986) - Stephen King's non-horror horror movie (there's a dead body at the center) was filmed around Eugene, Ore., and exudes the Pacific Northwest. There are ferns, Douglas firs, and scrubby Eastern Oregon vistas throughout the movie.

Cabin Fever (2016) - For whatever reason, someone thought it would be a good idea to remake Eli Roth's 2002 skin disease horror-comedy for, you know, 2016's kids. The original is way better and weirder, but the remake was filmed in Oregon. That's the only reason it's on the list. See the original.

The Changeling (1980) - This is a sleeper haunted house movie. If you liked "The Conjuring" or similar movies, check this one out. Part of it was filmed at the Stimson-Green mansion on First Hill - plus there are plenty of shots of Seattle including the Rainier Tower.

Patch Reader Suggestions:

Lovers Lane (2000) - This slasher/revenge flick was filmed in Redmond, Issaquah, Fall City, and North Bend. It's also the first movie Anna Faris (who is from Edmonds) appeared in before going on to star in the horror-comedy "Scary Movie" series, and better movies like "Lost In Translation" and "Brokeback Mountain." Even better, "Lovers Lane" is streaming FREE on Amazon Prime.

Shredder (2003) - From the makers of "Lovers Lane" comes "Shredder," which is about masked skier stalking an Idaho ski resort looking for victims. Sounds grim, but maybe pair it with the ridiculous comedy "Ski School" next time to you spend a weekend up at Steven's Pass.

Is there a movie on this list we missed? Email neal.mcnamara@patch.com to have your local favorite added to the list.

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