Welcome to Truth Behind the Terror, the podcast that digs into the “based on a true story” claims behind your favourite horror films. Host Carissa dives deep into the backstories, legends, and real-life events that supposedly inspired iconic scary movies — from haunted hotels to demonic possessions to monsters born from myth. Each episode separates fact from fiction to reveal what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and what’s pure Hollywood imagination. If you love horror, research, or just debunking spooky stories, this is the podcast for you.
Send us Fan Mail How much of Wolf Creek actually happened? Greg McLean’s 2005 Australian horror film opens with the ominous claim that it is “based on actual events.” But Mick Taylor is fictional, and there was no massacre of three backpackers at Wolfe Creek Crater. The crimes that helped inspire the story, however, were terrifyingly real. In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, we examine the Backpacker Murders committed by Ivan Milat, as well as the murder of British traveller Peter Fal...
2 Aug 2026
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Monster America Created
Send us Fan Mail The Texas Chain Saw Massacre opens with one of horror’s most enduring claims: that the events we are about to see really happened. They didn’t, not as the film presents them, anyway. But the truth behind Tobe Hooper’s 1974 nightmare may reveal something even more unsettling than a single true-crime case. In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, we look at the making of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the turbulent America that shaped it, and the crimes of Ed Gein, the real m...
2 Jul 2026
Cold Cases: The Truth Behind Zodiac
Send us Fan Mail What makes an unsolved mystery so difficult to let go? This month on Truth Behind the Terror, we're diving into David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), one of the most acclaimed true crime thrillers ever made, and the infamous real-life Zodiac Killer who terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s. But the Zodiac wasn't the first killer to captivate the public imagination. We'll also travel back to Victorian London to explore the enduring mystery of Jack the Ripper and ask a bigg...
3 Jun 2026
Because You Were Home: The Truth Behind the Strangers
Send us Fan Mail This month on Truth Behind the Terror, we're taking a look at one of the most unsettling home invasion films ever made: The Strangers (2008). Inspired by a collection of real-life crimes, The Strangers taps into a uniquely human fear, the idea that danger can arrive uninvited at your front door. This episode discusses murder, home invasion, cult activity, online exploitation, child sexual abuse material, self-harm, sextortion, animal cruelty, and other disturbing subjects. Wh...
24 Apr 2026
Just When You Thought It Was Safe… The Truth Behind Jaws
Send us Fan Mail Jaws didn’t just change movies…it changed how we see the ocean. In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, we dive into the film that created the modern blockbuster, and the fear that followed. From the chaotic production and the mechanical shark that barely worked… to the real-life events that inspired the story… to the lasting impact the film had on sharks themselves… This is the story behind Jaws. Because while the movie made us afraid of sharks…the truth is far more comp...
27 Mar 2026
The Conjuring Universe: Possession, Panic, and the Warrens
Send us Fan Mail Who were Ed and Lorraine Warren, and why are their stories still shaping how we think about hauntings, possession, and evil? In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, we step into the world of the Warrens, the real-life paranormal investigators behind The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun, to explore the cases that made them famous, and the stories that made them controversial. From the Perron family haunting in Rhode Island… to the unsettling case of the Annabelle doll… to...
27 Feb 2026
Love Hurts: Scream & The Rules of Horror
Send a text In this month’s Love Hurts episode, we dive into Scream (1996), the slasher that didn’t just revive horror, but rewrote its rules. From Ghostface’s iconic phone calls to Randy’s infamous survival guidelines, Scream turned horror into self-aware meta-commentary. But where did those rules come from? And why do we need them? We explore: The evolution of slasher tropesThe concept of the “Final Girl”Wes Craven’s comeback to horrorThe real-life crimes that inspired Scream, including the...
30 Jan 2026
The Wendigo, Ravenous (1999), and the Hunger That Never Ends
Send us a text What happens when hunger doesn’t stop — even after survival? In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, I explore the Wendigo: a terrifying figure from Algonquian First Nations folklore associated with winter, starvation, greed, and the loss of humanity. More than a monster, the Wendigo serves as a moral warning — one that draws a sharp line between survival and excess. From there, we dive into the 1999 cult classic Ravenous, a darkly comedic horror western inspired by real hi...
25 Dec 2025
Shadow of the Solstice: The Truth Behind Krampus
Send us a text 🎙️ Truth Behind the Terror — Episode: Shadow of the Solstice: The Truth Behind Krampus (2015) Episode Description Every winter, a horned creature stalks the snowy villages of the Alps — rattling chains, dragging birch branches, and punishing the misbehaved. But how much of that legend actually made its way into the 2015 horror-comedy Krampus? In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, Carissa descends into pre-Christian folklore, Alpine winter rituals, and centuries-old moral ...
9 Apr 2024
Episode 6 - The Blair Witch Project
Send us a textHappy New Year ... in April!! We are back with our first episode of 2024 and it's a fun one! Join us as we look at a movie that had one of the most creative marketing campaigns in movie history ... it's based on a true story ... but it actually isn't. It's also a bit of winding path as we explore a truly indescribable movie from the 70s that was actually the pioneer of the modern found footage film genre. And we leave you with some true crime/true horror ...
24 Dec 2023
Episode 5 - Black Christmas
Send us a textMerry Christmas, ya filthy animal! Happy holidays to you! Need a break from your Festivus celebrations? Looking for that perfect holiday film to cuddle up with the whole family? Need some topics of conversation to get through all of the awkward family dinners? You are in luck! Join us on the winding path of our latest podcast as we cover such topics as:✅ Why were all of the horror movies of the early 2000's such 💩?✅ Serial killers ...
5 Nov 2023
Episode 4 - The Exorcist
Send us a textOne of the most terrifying movies of all time, "The Exorcist" was based on the true story of a 14 year old boy, which also inspired the novel by William Peter Blatty. Join us as we explore the myths surrounding the "cursed" movie, the theology behind exorcisms, the true story of Roland Doe, and to what extent demonic possession can be linked to mental health.Show Notes:- Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay- https://www.history.com/news/exorcisms-christianity-go...
22 Jul 2023
Episode 3 - Part 1 - The Last of Us
Send us a textIn the first part of our special two-part episode, we take a look at the hit HBO show and video game, "The Last of Us". Even though the show is not based on a true story, it has led to much speculation about the role that fungi may play in future pandemics. In Part 1, we look at the history of zombies in pop culture, take a look at some "true" cases of zombies, and look at how this latest instalment in the post-apocalyptic genre holds up. References...
16 Jul 2023
Episode 3 - Part 2 - The Last of Us - The Interview
Send us a textIn the second of our special two-part episode, we take a deep dive into the world of fungi with mycologist and Teaching Professor Emerita from the University of Calgary, Heather Addy. What is a fungus? What is the Cordyceps fungus? Could the Cordyceps fungus ever evolve to infect humans? Are there any fungi that are dangerous to humans? Is there anything that humans can do? We look at these questions and many others as we look at one of...
10 Jun 2023
Episode 2 - The Amityville Horror
Send us a textIn December of 1975, newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz moved into a house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, setting off what would become one of the most famous haunted house stories of all time. The house, the site of a grisly mass murder, had a history that the Lutzes were not concerned about, but just 28 days later, they were fleeing for their lives with only the clothes on their back. Based on the 1977 best selling novel by Jay Anson, "The Amityville Hor...
7 May 2023
Introducing "Based on a True Horror Story"
Send us a textWe've all seen those movies that are supposedly "based on a true story" or "inspired by true events", but what does that mean? How much of the story is actually true and how much is just Hollywood? Join Carissa and Tara as we explore horror movies, both old and new, to see how much of the true story is actually true.
7 May 2023
Episode 1 - The Shining
Send us a textPublished in 1977, the popularity of Stephen King’s gothic horror novel, “The Shining”, is outmatched only by the 1980 film adaptation by legendary director Stanley Kubrick. Jack Torrance has been hired to be the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, a grand hotel with a violent past, located high up in the Colorado mountains. Along with his wife, Wendy and their son Danny, the Torrance family settles in for what is supposed to be a peaceful winter of family togeth...
Host of Based on a True Horror Story?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
