PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Cheese, brats, beer, and serial killers? America’s Dairyland has been home to some of the most infamous and prolific serial killers the world has ever known. With the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein haunting the heart of the Midwest, it’s only fitting that other horrors come from the state. Like cows to the slaughter, filmmakers have taken an interest in Wisconsin as the go-to location for their scenes of macabre and terror. It’s not hard to see why as Wisconsin’s temperamental weather provides the perfect backdrop for horrors all throughout the year.
We’re looking through four of the grate-est and cheesiest horror films that are rooted in America’s 30th state!
- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Set in Milwaukee, WI
While horror remakes were all the rage in the early 2000s, Zack Snyder (Justice League, 2017) was tasked with remaking one of the most quintessential zombie films of all time. The first major change Snyder made was plucking the setting from Philadelphia to Milwaukee, WI. While the remake was larger, brasher, and louder than the original in every single way, the more modest setting of Milwaukee helped to emphasize the idea of an everyday American city under attack.
Fun Fact: Zack Snyder is a fellow Wisconsinite as he was born in Green Bay, WI.
2. Silent Night (2012)
Set in Cryer, WI (Fictional Town)
Speaking of horror remakes, Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) was remade in 2012. The film now takes place in the fictional town of Cryer, WI. Instead of getting into the holiday spirit, one scrooge has made it their mission to take care of all the “naughty” townsfolk. While the sleepy town was busy wrapping gifts for under the tree, the coroners were busy unwrapping body bags to see who ended up on Santa’s naughty list. Silent Night single-handedly proved that nothing is better at spreading the warmth of Christmas cheer than a flamethrower.
Fun Fact: The original Silent Night, Deadly Night was pulled from theaters within a week as it was deemed too shocking and offensive. The protests that led to major public backlash for the film started in Milwaukee. Concerned parents were upset by a TV spot airing on a Saturday afternoon during a football game with the Green Bay Packers. This led to the formation of the group Citizens Against Movie Madness and the film was soon pulled from theaters.
- Jigsaw (2002)
Filmed in Green Bay, WI
A group of art students are tasked with creating individual pieces of a mannequin that best resembles who they are. Once put together, they lovingly refer to it as Jigsaw. Shockingly to no one, Jigsaw turns out to be so hideous that they decide to burn it. Unfortunately for them, this awakens the mannequin and causes it to take revenge upon its creators. Fortunately for Jigsaw, they decided to give it a saw blade for a hand.
The true monstrosity of Jigsaw is not the titular monster, but the film itself. Jigsaw is bad. Think of this movie as moldy cheese. Not moldy in a delectable sense, but more so a kind of mold that needs to be discarded for fear it could ever come in contact with another human and put them in harm’s way.
Fun Fact: Jigsaw was the last film to be released by Full Moon Pictures before they rebranded to Shadow Entertainment in 2002. They would eventually rebrand once again to Full Moon Pictures in 2004.
4. Blood Beat (1983)
Filmed in Spring Green, WI
A young woman goes to spend the holidays with her boyfriend’s family in the woods of Wisconsin. Little does she know, she will soon be haunted by the spirit of an ancient warrior. Nothing screams rural Wisconsin quite like the disembodied and angered spirit of a Japanese samurai roaming through the woods. Keeping in line with the nonsensical plot setup, It’s also worth noting that the samurai spirit possesses the lead character’s orgasms. Despite it being nonsensical in just about every single aspect, Blood Beat has a rustic charm that makes one feel like they’re spending Christmas in the woods with their family.
Fun Fact: Blood Beat was shot in fullscreen instead of widescreen as the director of photography thought the film was being made for television.
From zombies to homicidal mannequins, Wisconsin has it all! While it might not have the flash and flair of more well-known areas, it has the heart of the Midwest. That can go a long way when it comes to creating a flick that feels relatable to the average moviegoer. And of course, it has plenty of cheese.
