October is the perfect month to engage with spooky films and TV or read a classic horror novel. Why not go beyond the screen and pages by looking into some of the real-life locations that inspired these stories? 

Dracula by Bram Stoker: Transylvania and Whitby 

The places mentioned in this 1987 gothic horror are used to encapsulate the novel’s elements of fear and suspense, which build as the protagonists unveil more about Dracula’s powers. The story moves between two settings, Transylvania (modern day Romania) and England. 

Transylvania is renowned for being the home of vampire Count Dracula. It is rich with history and dramatic landscapes. Although there is no evidence that Stoker was inspired by Bran Castle in Transylvania, it has become a popular tourist destination for those visiting the region and is regarded as Dracula’s home. Constructed in 1377, Bran Castle is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains and forested areas providing beautiful scenery. It attracted 720,000 visitors in the year 2022, offering a range of events which are accompanied by qualified guides. 

The coastal town of Whitby, in North Yorkshire, is another location featured in Dracula which greatly inspired Stoker’s writing. This town sets the stage for Dracula’s arrival in England and enhances the novel’s gothic elements, using the ruins of Whitby Abbey and St. Marys Churchyard. The 199 steps which lead up to the churchyard offer stunning views of the coast and clifftops. Whitby also hosts ghost walks, exploring the locations which inspired Dracula and sharing historical facts about the town. 

The Blair Witch Project: Seneca Creek State Park, Maryland 

The Blair Witch Project (1999) centres around the journey of three film students shooting a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend who leave only their footage behind. Although this movie had a micro-budget, it became an instant sensation, with audience members tricked through its marketing campaigns. Presented as a ‘true story’ before its release, the film had a website which looked like a true-crime page, featuring missing person reports and interviews with “locals”. This chilling film was primarily filmed in Maryland, specifically Seneca Creek State Park which portrayed the haunted forest where the characters searched for Blair Witch. Near the village of Burkittsville, the park is comprised of 6,300 acres, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking and cycling. 

The Watcher: Westfield, New Jersey 

Netflix’s 2022 thriller ‘The Watcher’ drew lots of attention for its unsettling storyline, based on actual events which occurred in suburban New Jersey. The series is centred around a family who moves into 657 Boulevard, a stately six-bedroom residence. They soon find themselves the targets of a series of threatening letters from ‘The Watcher’ who claims to be in charge of the house. Although the house featured in the series is located in Rye, New York, the actual house tied to the cold case is still standing and has attracted many fans of the show. Built in 1905, the house has a ‘shingle style’ design, a front porch with ionic columns and a gambrel roofline. The family who received threatening letters from ‘The Watcher’ found it difficult to secure a buyer due to its infamous reputation. In 2019, 657 Boulevard was finally sold to a young couple at a significant discount. 

The Woman in Black: Osea Island, Essex 

This supernatural horror film, released in 2012, was based on the 1983 novel by Susan Hill. In the story, a young lawyer is sent to settle the affairs of a recently deceased woman. While he investigates her isolated mansion, he is haunted by noises and sightings of a woman dressed in black. 

This movie was filmed entirely in the UK. Osea Island and Colne Valley Railway in Essex was used to create a dark atmosphere, with its surrounding salt marshes offering the perfect landscape. Since the early 2000s it has been owned by Nigel Frieda, a renowned music producer. He has since developed it into a luxury retreat, offering a variety of accommodation such as cottages and grand houses. It has a diverse wildlife population and allows visitors to switch off as they explore its five miles of private beaches. It is even possible to hire the whole island for private events! In the film, this location was used to portray the journey to Eel Marsh House, represented by Cotterstock Hall in Northamptonshire. 

Photocredit: Bran Castle on Unsplash