Within the world of horror movies, there is a spine-tingling subgenre that is inspired by real events, making the hearts of viewers quiver with stories that ring close to reality. Hulu, a leading streaming service, features a range of bone-shuddering films that explore the darker foundations of actual stories.

From supernatural experiences to violent crimes, these films dilute the line between reality and fiction, heightening the fearfulness with their chilling backstories. Here in this article, we dive into horror films on Hulu, based on the disturbing accounts of real occurrences, taking audiences on a spine-tingling expedition into the unknown.

7. Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story (2019)

‘Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story’ is true, based on the ghastly real-life story of eight-year-old Beth Stauffer and her mother Mary Stauffer, who were abducted on May 16, 1980, by 29-year-old Ming Sen Shiue in Roseville, Minnesota. Mary was raped repeatedly over the next 53 days before she finally escaped with Beth. The Jim Donovan film depicts all that the mother-daughter duo went through at the hands of the sadistic psycho when the police were looking for them. Starring Alyson Hannigan as Mary Stauffer, Daphne Hoskins as Elizabeth Stauffer, and Howie Lai as Ming Sen Shiue, ‘Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story’ presents another of those true-story-based stories where the audience is left guessing as to whether what they are watching is indeed what occurred, so believable is the dramatized account. You can see the movie here.

6. It Lives Inside (2023)

Directed by Bishal Dutta, ‘It Lives Inside’ is taken from a story that Bishal Dutta had heard his grandfather tell about a Pishach, a corporeal embodiment of evil present in Indian mythology and from the mythology itself. The movie tracks Samidha (Megan Suri), also known as Sam, an Indian-American teenager whose desire to assimilate, if not absorb, Western culture reaches its nadir when her ex-best friend, Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), is attacked by a supernatural presence that turns out to be a Pishach. Sam is therefore forced back to her Indian heritage and seek a means of rescuing her friend from the tortures of the demon. ‘It Lives Inside’ performs quite well in providing a mythological twist to a teen soap and is a watch worth the binge. You can watch it here.

5. Girl in the Bunker (2018)

Directed by Stephen Kemp, this crime/horror drama is based on the true story of the kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf. She was taken from Lugoff, South Carolina, on September 6, 2006, by a guy named Vinson Filyaw. He then took her to an underground bunker where he raped her for 10 days, after which she managed to escape. The question is how? The movie depicts how Elizabeth, although appalled by Vinson, befriended him to make him trust her until the ideal time to call someone for assistance. But does it even exist to befriend a psychopath? Julia Lalonde and Henry Thomas play Elizabeth Shoaf and Vinson Filyaw perfectly, and thus the movie is worth watching. You can stream ‘Girl in the Bunker’ here.

4. The Inhabitant (2022)

In ‘The Inhabitant,’ a horror/thriller directed by Jerren Lauder and written by Kevin Bachar, Odessa A’zion stars in the leading role of Tara Haldon. The movie unfolds the tale of a teenage girl struggling with the creepy idea that she could be behind a series of brutal murders terrorizing her town. Adding to the complexity is her ancestral connection to notorious character Lizzie Borden, providing depth and tension as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. ‘The Inhabitant’ masterfully interweaves a fictionalized account based on the infamous Lizzie Borden case for its unsolved secrets and gruesome history. Drawing from the real-life events surrounding Borden’s alleged axe murders of her father and stepmother in 1892, the film crafts a chilling tale of suspense and intrigue. Feel free to stream it here.

3. Haunting of the Queen Mary (2023)

Directed by Gary Shore and starring Alice Eve and Joel Fry, ‘Haunting of the Queen Mary’ is a British horror film that explores the creepy corridors of the notorious ocean liner. The film develops with a mix of past and present, as the ominous happenings of a family’s ill-fated journey on Halloween night in 1938 get entangled with the eerie experiences of another family on the ship in the current era. With a setting of an atmosphere of mystery and brutality, the movie delves into the interconnected fates of these two families in the face of the haunting history of the Queen Mary. ‘Haunting of the Queen Mary’ takes its lead from the actual paranormal incidents on board the RMS Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner in Long Beach, California. The vessel, which has a storied past and alleged ghostly activity, is the setting for the movie’s chilling tale, intermingling true events with paranormal sightings in a hair-raising tale of suspense and terror. You may view the movie here.

2. Boston Strangler (2023)

Matt Ruskin directed and penned the historical crime drama ‘Boston Strangler.’ The movie depicts the role of Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), along with Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), in overcoming the rampant sexism of the early 1960s to cover the horrific killings blamed on the Boston Strangler. The movie enlightens us about McLaughlin’s trailblazing investigative reporting, which initially linked the dots and broke the news of the serial killer stalking Boston. Based on real events, the movie explores the horror reign of terror unleashed by the Boston Strangler, who murdered thirteen women during 1960s Boston. You can view the film here.

1. The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)

Loosely inspired by the life of Father Gabriele Amorth, one of the Vatican’s lead exorcists, ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ features Russell Crowe as the titular character. Commissioned to investigate the alleged possession of a boy in Spain, he and a local priest, Father Tomás Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto), report for duty at the boy’s residence, the San Sebastian Abbey. In no time, Father Amorth clashes with a powerful demon involved in a centuries-old Vatican conspiracy. But before he and Father Tomás can engage the demon, they need to forgive each other their sins, and that is where the real “fun” starts. Based on Father Gabriele’s books ‘An Exorcist Tells His Story’ and ‘An Exorcist: More Stories,’ the film is an otherwise-decent binge-watch specially designed for fans of horror and Russell Crowe, who single-handedly saves the day. You can witness the “exorcism” right here. Read More: Best Horror Documentaries on HBO Max