via Pinterest

#TBT: Terror Ensues on the Silver Screen in 10 SF Horror Films

26 October 2017

V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi

It's no surprise that weird, and sometimes eerie things happen in the city.

Scenic San Francisco has long been the backdrop to many a cheery movie. But, as the dark fog rolls in, and the shadows cross over senescent architecture, the city also becomes part of a more sinister plot. Explore, if you dare, 10 of scary movies films that take advantage of old SF to induce fright.

Based on the novel McTeague by Frank Norris, Greed chronicles the life of San Francisco dentist Dr. John McTeague. The doctor and his wife lose everything when she wins the lottery, making this story a great look into how wealth cause destruction. The life they knew slowly comes apart from her growing paranoia and the stratagem of a felonious friend. The main set for the movie was a Victorian at 601 Laguna Street, where, on the second floor, they created McTeague's Dental Parlor. At the time, in the 1920s, shooting on location was a luxury, and the original version ran nearly 10 hours.
▲

The House on Telegraph Hill is a film noir that takes place in—you guessed it—Telegraph Hill. Viktoria decides to assume the identity of her friend Karin, and start a new life in San Francisco. After coming into a sizable inheritance, Viktoria starts to believe her new love may have eyes for more than her money. Although The House on Telegraph Hill was filmed mostly in L.A., the outside of the house was created around the Julius' Castle restaurant, at 1541 Montgomery Street. There are also shots on the lawn of Coit Tower, at One Post Street, at 301 Union Street, and the runaway car scene in the Telegraph Hill area.
▲

There seems inevitable that our city's great landmarks will face destruction in films. In sci-fi throwback It Came From Beneath the Sea, the Golden Gate Bridge comes under imminent peril when a giant, radioactive octopus emerges from the deep. The Golden Gate Bridge, Ferry Building, Fisherman's Wharf, and The Embarcadero are all targets, and no one is safe.
▲

There's no list of San Francisco thrillers without including Alfred Hitchcock's classic, Vertigo. In the film, detective Scottie Ferguson is forced to leave the police force after suffering from vertigo. He is soon given the task of following Madeleine, who appears to be possessed by the spirit of her great-grandmother. Deception, obsession, and madness ensue. In addition to the iconic scene at Fort Mason, other San Francisco locations in Vertigo include Union Square, Mission Dolores, and Ernie's Restaurant. You can see a full list of locations here.
▲

There is nothing scarier than someone trying to kill you, especially without knowing why. This is the premise of mystery thriller Midnight Lace, which although takes place in Europe, was partially shot at the Fairmont Hotel. However, the made-for-TV remake of the film in 1981 was set entirely in San Francisco.
▲

As anyone with experience knows, angry cats can be terrifying. In Eye of the Cat, a throng of them are ready to attack a nephew and his girlfriend as they plan to rob his rich aunt in her San Francisco mansion. City scenes include the Paris Theater on Market Street, and the corner of Octavia and Washington.
▲

San Francisco stands as the backdrop to the 1978 remake of the classic 1956 sci-fi horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. When a local health inspector finds out that humans are being replaced with replicas, chaos ensues. Notable locations are 720 Steiner Street, the Golden Gate Bridge toll booth, Chinatown, City Hall, and the Broadway Tunnel.
▲

The rental situation in San Francisco is scary enough, but in 1986, an apartment in the movie Troll held terrors beyond soaring tariffs. A mythical creature is seeking for a ring that will turn him back into human. In the process of scouring the apartment, he begins turning people into trolls. Although the movie was filmed in Italy, it was set in SF.
▲

Scoring a house in Pacific Heights is a dream come true. Or so we thought. In the movie Pacific Heights, a couple buys their dream home, and decides to rent out the first floor. The tenant, however turns out to be a con artist who tries to swindle them out of their property. The couple takes drastic measures to keep their home while he tries fervently to drive them out. Despite the title of the film, the house was actually located on the corner of 19th and Texas Street in Potrero Hill.
▲

In Interview with the Vampire, a San Francisco reporter gets the scoop of the century when a bloodsucking immortal tells him his life story. The interview takes place at a fictional hotel, located at 1020 Market. Other SF locations in the film include the Golden Gate Bridge, a scene at Taylor Street and Golden Gate Avenue, and other shots along Market Street.The film is based on the novel by Anne Rice, who lived in San Francisco and wrote the book here.
▲

Related Articles