On Creepy Street
A virtual tour of horror movie and TV locations in Southern California
Some of the most frightening horror scenes were filmed in Southern California. With Halloween events canceled or modified for social distancing this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, one way to enjoy the season would be to stay at home and take a virtual tour of locations used in horror movies, TV series and an iconic video for a COVID-19- safe experience.
Sean Clark is an Orange County-based writer, producer, talent agent and horror location expert who created the “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” YouTube series. He’s done research and given tours of horror filming locations, especially those in John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, “Halloween,” and he’s been featured in the bonus content for several of the “Halloween” Blu-ray releases.
Clark said a lot of these iconic locations were chosen because they had a Midwestern, small-town vibe — despite actually being in bustling Southern California.
“In North Hollywood where the babysitter houses in ‘ Halloween’ are located, it has those trees that sort of engulf the entire street. So when you turn off of Sunset, it’s like you’re in a different state,” he said. “When you’re watching the movie, it’s so hard to believe that Sunset Boulevard is right up the street.”
Though these locations are iconic because of their place in horror cinema history, most are not public spaces and are owned by real people. So here’s a way to look at the homes, soak up the nostalgia online and not disturb the homeowners. If you do happen to cruise by the sites, please keep your distance and be respectful of people and property.
“Imagine if you had to deal with that constantly, every day. I can see how that could get old,” Clark said.
“Some people totally embrace it and some are kind of negative about it,” he said of his experience filming “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds.” “The people that live in the Strode house are so nice. They even put pumpkins out so fans can pose with them.”
OK, ready? Make sure there’s no one looming behind you in a mask and let’s go on a virtual tour of some of the most famous horror houses of movies, TV and music video fame in Southern California.
‘American Horror Story’: murder house, Westchester Place, Los Angeles
Used as “the murder house” for the first season of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” this Victorian-style behemoth definitely puts out some creepy vibes. It’s a gorgeous building with stunning stained glass windows. Since it’s still used as a filming location, it is surrounded by a chain-link fence to keep fans off the lawn.
‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’: Nancy Thompson’s house, North Genesee Avenue, Los Angeles
Although it was the centerpiece in one of the most iconic slasher movies of the ’80s, this little, tucked-away, two-story home is actually adorable. In 1984, it was the home of Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) in the Wes Craven horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” where she fought off knife-gloved villain Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) in her nightmares.
‘Charmed’ house, Carroll Avenue, Los Angeles
Just two doors down from another filming location (see Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” location later in the list), this house was the dwelling of the witches in the WB and CW television series “Charmed.” The house seemed so massive on screen, but in real life, it’s actually pretty narrow and cute.
‘Halloween’: Laurie Strode’s family home, Oxley Street, South Pasadena
It’s hard to fathom that Michael Myers once stalked this quaint and quiet neighborhood. The home of “Halloween” heroine Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) still very much looks like it did in the 1978classic.
‘Halloween’: Michael Myers’ family home, Mission Street, South Pasadena
This home, where Myers’ murderous journey began, has been relocated from its original location in Pasadena.
However, it’s now business offices and sits next to railroad tracks. But it is located adjacent to the building used as the hardware store Myers steals from in the film.
‘Halloween’: Lindsey Wallace’s house, North Orange Grove Avenue, Los Angeles
Three of Strode’s friends met their demise courtesy of Myers at the Wallace house. It’s also where Myers donned Bob’s glasses and dressed as a ghost with a bedsheet before he did in Lynda (P.J. Soles). In real life, the house is across the street from the next one on the list, Tommy Doyle’s, just like in the movie.
‘Halloween’: Tommy Doyle’s house, North Orange Grove Avenue, Los Angeles
The house where Strode took the worst babysitting gig of all time is on a beautiful, tree-lined street in North Hollywood. It’s the location where she boldly fought off Myers with a wire hanger and a kitchen knife. Of course, no one checked to see if he was actually dead, and we got a bunch of sequels out of that.
‘Insidious’: first family home, Victoria Park Drive, Los Angeles
The Lambert home, which is featured on the official movie poster, was where all the trouble started for this mega-franchise. It’s a standout in the neighborhood with its baby blue trim, and it certainly appears more cozy than sinister.
‘Insidious’: second family home, South Point View Street, Los Angeles
After their son falls victim to the demons in their first home, the Lamberts move to a new, more scaled-down location. However, even in a fresh space, things escalate and they have to call in parapsychologist Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) to shake the monsters.
‘Poltergeist’ house, Roxbury Drive, Simi Valley
The facade of this family home got quite a bit of screen time in the 1982 film, which was directed by Tobe Hooper and written by producer Steven Spielberg.
‘The People Under the Stairs’ house, South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles
This historical, L.A.-area home kept a dark secret in Wes Craven’s 1991 film, “The People Under the Stairs.” It’s actually a beautiful space, but watch out for those cannibals in the basement.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ house, Carroll Avenue, Los Angeles
In 1983, “An American Werewolf in London” director John Landis and Jackson teamed to make the nearly 14-minute music video for Jackson’s monster hit “Thriller.” The house used in the video is in the Angelino Heights neighborhood and still stands, spooky as ever.