Amid the ongoing global health crisis, with Halloween approaching, the urge for extra fright seems inevitable. The spooky season and the thrill of terror are inseparable. Jump scares are as essential as candy during this time of the year. To embrace the Halloween spirit, we embarked on a quest to unearth some of the eeriest locations in Canada that could double as settings for horror movies.
From cult favorites to indie darlings, noteworthy remakes, and an upcoming blockbuster, these films showcase chilling sequences filmed in various Canadian locations, spanning from Cape Breton Island to Victoria.
Explore the list, delve into the films — we’ve spotlighted some of the most spine-chilling moments (spoiler alert!) — and juxtapose these hair-raising scenes with their filming locales. If you dare, experience them in person too. We have you covered with suggestions on nearby activities to ease your nerves afterward.
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
An iconic ’80s slasher film dubbed “a movie made by the mentally warped for the mentally warped” by John Dodd of the Edmonton Journal, My Bloody Valentine revolves around a pickaxe-wielding serial killer disrupting Valentine’s Day festivities.
The actual site of the horror: Sydney Mines, a small town on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, stands in for Valentine Bluffs, the film’s eerie backdrop. While the Princess Colliery, transformed into the movie’s Hanniger Mine, where much of the terrifying action unfolds, is no longer present, you can still explore filming locations like the Clyde Avenue intersection on Main Street.
Where to unwind: Although the Cabot Trail doesn’t feature in My Bloody Valentine, it’s a short 30-minute drive from Sydney Mines. Witness the vibrant fall hues along Cape Breton’s coastal cliffs for a soothing experience.
Blood Quantum (2019)
This gruesome Canadian zombie flick, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and acclaimed at the Canadian Screen Awards, depicts the rise of the undead on a Mi’kmaq reserve.
In a standout scene, a group of reanimated corpses meets a grisly fate at the J.C. Van Horne Bridge, linking Pointe-à-la-Croix, Que., and Campbellton, N.B.
The real filming location: While Blood Quantum was shot in Quebec and New Brunswick, the intense scenes, including chainsaw mayhem and zombie encounters, unfold on the J.C. Van Horne Bridge.
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