Truth Behind the Terror
Welcome to Truth Behind the Terror, the podcast that digs into the “based on a true story” claims behind your favourite horror films. Host Carissa dives deep into the backstories, legends, and real-life events that supposedly inspired iconic scary movies — from haunted hotels to demonic possessions to monsters born from myth. Each episode separates fact from fiction to reveal what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and what’s pure Hollywood imagination. If you love horror, research, or just debunking spooky stories, this is the podcast for you.
Truth Behind the Terror
Episode 6 - The Blair Witch Project
Happy New Year ... in April!! We are back with our first episode of 2024 and it's a fun one! Join us as we look at a movie that had one of the most creative marketing campaigns in movie history ... it's based on a true story ... but it actually isn't. It's also a bit of winding path as we explore a truly indescribable movie from the 70s that was actually the pioneer of the modern found footage film genre. And we leave you with some true crime/true horror stories that are sure to add a little something extra to your next camping trip!
Episode warning: This episode contains discussions of animal cruelty, child abuse, violence against children, violence against First Nations, and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.
References and Sources
- Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5iF5psCp28 - Blair Witch Mythology: The Burkittsville 7 (Documentary/Mockumentary)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmUpmA27QI - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 1) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mUYmyxlCw - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 2) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”
- The Blair Witch Project. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, performances by Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard, Haxam Films, 1999.
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/movies/blair-witch-project-1999.html
“‘The Blair Witch Project’ at 20: Why It Can’t Be Replicated”
Jake Kring-Schreifels
The New York Times
July 30, 2019
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/8xzy4p/blair-witch-project-oral-history-20th-anniversary
“The Terrifying True Story of How ‘The Blair Witch Project’ was Made”
Tatiana Tenreyro
Vice
July 16th, 2019
- Blair Witch Online Message Boards - https://blairwitch.proboards.com/
- Blair Witch Project - Documentary Prequel - https://youtu.be/NxmoQrF6Zik?si=r0D9YseBlYeWQaNQ
- Cannibal Holocaust Directed by Ruggero Deodato, performances by Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, and Perry Pirkanen, F.D. Cinematografica, 1980.
- https://collider.com/cannibal-holocaust-production-history-explained/
“The Fascinating Story Behind One of Horror’s Most Disturbing Films, “Cannibal Holocaust”
Luna Guthrie
Collider
December 29th, 2022
- https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/15/cannibal-holocaust
“Cannibal Holocaust: ‘Keep filmint! Kill more people!"
Steve Rose
The Guardian
September 15th, 2011
- https://listverse.com/2022/10/14/10-brutal-crimes-committed-against-campers/
“10 Brutal Cr
