Massachusetts: “Jaws” (1975)
Plenty of great supernatural/witchcraft-type horror movies are set in Massachusetts, but we gotta go with the one that defined the modern blockbuster as we know it. Also, I just looked in the mirror and I’m Richard Dreyfuss now. Curse you spirits!
Michigan: “It Follows” (2014)
A great state-based horror movie plays into the most frightening elements of the place they are set, and in Michigan, that’s STDs. This movie boldly asked the question “What if STDs were ghosts?”
Minnesota: “Jennifer’s Body” (2009)
Diablo Cody followed up “Juno” with this bloody supernatural horror movie. There’s plenty of scares, but nothing as creepy as Jason Bateman’s character was to Juno.
Mississippi: “Mississippi Burning” (1988)
Straight up not a horror movie, but it is scarier than any film on this list.
Missouri: “You’re Next” (2011)
This movie starts with the relatable horror of meeting your partner’s family and then somehow gets scarier. “You’re Next” is a fun, refreshing treat for horror fans. It takes one of the genre’s oldest tropes, the final girl, and turns it on its head by basically making her Rambo the whole time.
Montana: “The McPherson Tape” (1989)
One of the earliest examples of the “found footage” genre, “The McPherson Tapes alleges to be a real home movie that captures an alien encounter. Many viewers thought the footage was real, despite the movie having credits and listing all the actors. Those people all went on to become QAnon.
Nebraska: “Children of the Corn” (1984)
Creepy kids are creepy, and this movie has the creepiest kids in the business. This movie was made as a lobbying effort to prevent Nichelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards from ever happening. Sadly it failed, and we’ve been living in a dystopian nightmare ever since.
Nevada: “Leprechaun 3” (1995)
Before he went to space or even the hood, Leprechaun found himself in Las Vegas and had the time of his life. This movie is so much goddamn fun. There’s an exploding ass. There’s a 1995 computer that comes with an interactive presentation about leprechauns for some reason. There’s a wereleprechaun subplot. If you haven’t seen it, stop what you’re doing and watch “Leprechaun 3.” Keep reading this article though, and send it to friends.
New Hampshire: “In the Mouth of Madness” (1994)
New Hampshire is the setting of John Carpenter’s most underrated movie. Some people say his most underrated movie is “Prince of Darkness,” but those people are stupid and probably on bad drugs. “In the Mouth of Madness” is a time capsule, harkening back to when people thought Stephen King might actually be sinister.
New Jersey: “Friday the 13th Part 2”
Even though Jason doesn’t even have his hockey mask yet, “Friday the 13th Part 2” is the strongest movie of the series and arguably one of the best slasher films of all time. This was a tough choice for me, and I think it’s paying off curse-wise. My testicle that turned into a mummy Madball is back to being a testicle again.