Ghost towns, with their abandoned buildings and haunting silence, provide a perfect backdrop for horror films. This curated list of 10 ghost town horror movies offers a chilling journey through desolate landscapes, where the past lingers and the unknown lurks. Whether you're a fan of classic scares or modern thrills, these films will immerse you in the eerie atmosphere of forsaken places, making you question what lies hidden in the shadows.

The Haunting (1963)
Description: A classic ghost story set in Hill House, which, while not a town, embodies the eerie isolation of a ghost town with its haunting presence.
Fact: The film was remade in 1999, but the original is celebrated for its subtlety and psychological horror.


The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Description: A family traveling through the desert encounters a clan of cannibalistic mutants in an abandoned mining town, creating a terrifying ghost town scenario.
Fact: Wes Craven, known for "A Nightmare on Elm Street," directed this film, which was remade in


The Fog (1980)
Description: A supernatural fog rolls into a small coastal town, bringing with it the vengeful spirits of mariners who died in a shipwreck a century ago.
Fact: John Carpenter, the director, also composed the film's eerie score, enhancing the ghostly ambiance.


The Dead Zone (1983)
Description: While not entirely set in a ghost town, the film features a teacher who wakes from a coma with psychic abilities, leading him to a town with a dark future.
Fact: The film is based on Stephen King's novel, and Christopher Walken's performance is often cited as one of his best.


Session 9 (2001)
Description: A crew working in an abandoned asylum encounters supernatural forces, turning the desolate building into a ghost town of its own.
Fact: The film was shot in the Danvers State Hospital, a real-life abandoned asylum with a dark history.


The Descent (2005)
Description: Although primarily set in caves, the film's premise of isolation and the unknown mirrors the eerie feeling of a ghost town, with its own set of horrors.
Fact: The film has two different endings, one for the UK and one for the US, each offering a different resolution to the story.


The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Description: Set in a morgue, this film explores the supernatural as a father and son uncover the secrets of a mysterious corpse, creating an atmosphere akin to a ghost town.
Fact: The film was praised for its suspense and the chilling performance by Olwen Kelly as Jane Doe.


The Last House on the Left (1972)
Description: While not set in a ghost town, the film's setting becomes a haunting landscape as a family seeks revenge in their isolated home.
Fact: The film was remade in 2009, but the original is known for its raw and gritty approach to horror.


The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
Description: This film is loosely based on the true story of the Phantom Killer, who terrorized Texarkana in 1946, creating a ghost town atmosphere as fear grips the community.
Fact: The film was remade in 2014, but the original remains a cult classic for its eerie depiction of a town under siege.


Silent Hill (2006)
Description: Based on the popular video game, this film follows a mother searching for her lost daughter in the ghostly town of Silent Hill, where nightmarish creatures and dark secrets abound.
Fact: The film was shot in Canada, with the town of Brantford standing in for Silent Hill. The fog effects were created using a combination of dry ice and smoke machines.
