Amid the current global health crisis, you may be wondering if there’s any need for additional fear. However, with Halloween approaching, the answer is a definite yes! The eerie essence of October and the thrill of abject terror are inseparable. Jump scares are just as essential as candy during this spooky season. Keeping this in mind, we embarked on a quest to uncover some of the most spine-chilling locations in Canada that could easily double as settings for horror movies.
From iconic cult classics to hidden gems, these films feature chilling scenes shot in various locations across Canada, ranging from Cape Breton Island to Victoria.
Explore the list, watch the films – we’ve highlighted some of the most haunting moments (spoiler alert!) – and then compare these eerie scenes to their real filming locations. For the daring souls, consider visiting these locations in person. We’ve also included nearby attractions to help you unwind after the frightful experience.
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Known as an ’80s slasher classic, My Bloody Valentine has been described as “a movie made by the mentally warped for the mentally warped” by John Dodd of the Edmonton Journal. The plot revolves around Valentine’s Day festivities disrupted by a serial killer donning a gas mask and wielding a pickaxe.
Real-life filming location: Sydney Mines, a quaint community on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, serves as the eerie town of Valentine Bluffs, the primary setting for this iconic horror film. While the Princess Colliery, which was transformed into the movie’s Hanniger Mine, no longer stands, you can still visit various filming locations, such as the intersection at Clyde Avenue where a banner promoting the ill-fated Valentine’s Day celebrations was displayed.
Where to unwind: Although the Cabot Trail doesn’t feature in My Bloody Valentine, it’s worth taking a 30-minute drive from Sydney Mines to experience the breathtaking beauty of Cape Breton’s coastal cliffs, especially during the vibrant fall season.
Blood Quantum (2019)
This ultra-gory Canadian zombie film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and garnered accolades at the Canadian Screen Awards, focuses on an undead uprising within a Mi’kmaq reserve.
One particularly gruesome scene features reanimated corpses meeting a grisly fate at the J.C. Van Horne Bridge, linking Pointe-Ã -la-Croix, Que., to Campbellton, N.B., in the fictional towns of Hollarbaster and Red Crow.
Real-life filming location: While Blood Quantum was shot in Quebec and New Brunswick, some of the most intense scenes, including chainsaw massacres and zombie encounters, take place on