Amid the ongoing global health crisis, one might ponder whether there’s a need for more fear. However, with Halloween approaching, the answer is a definite yes! The eerie essence of October and sheer terror are synonymous. Jump scares are as vital as candy during this season. In light of this, we embarked on a quest to uncover some of the most spine-chilling locations in Canada, eerie enough to be featured in horror movies.
From cult classics and beloved films at film festivals to underrated gems and upcoming blockbusters, these movies showcase chilling scenes filmed across various Canadian locations, ranging from Cape Breton Island to Victoria.
Explore the list, watch the films — we’ve highlighted some of the most haunting moments (spoiler alert!) — and then compare these hair-raising scenes with the actual filming locations. If you dare, visit these places in person. Additionally, we provide suggestions on nearby activities to help you unwind afterward.
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
A classic ’80s slasher film, My Bloody Valentine, described by the Edmonton Journal‘s John Dodd as “a movie made by the mentally warped for the mentally warped,” revolves around Valentine’s Day festivities disrupted by a gas mask-clad, pickaxe-wielding serial killer.
Real-life filming location: Sydney Mines in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island stands in for Valentine Bluffs, the film’s iconic setting. While Princess Colliery, which served as the movie’s Hanniger Mine, is no longer present, you can still explore shoot locations like the intersection at Clyde Avenue on Main Street.
Where to relax: Although not featured in the film, the Cabot Trail, a short drive from Sydney Mines, offers breathtaking views of Cape Breton’s coastal cliffs, especially vibrant during the autumn season.
Blood Quantum (2019)
This gruesome Canadian zombie film, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and winning accolades at the Canadian Screen Awards, depicts a zombie outbreak on a Mi’kmaq reserve.
In one scene, a group of reanimated corpses meets a grisly fate trying to cross a bridge connecting Hollarbaster, a town overrun by zombies, to the Red Crow reserve, where the Indigenous community is immune.
Real-life filming location: Filmed in Quebec and New Brunswick, Blood Quantum‘s most intense scenes, including chainsaw violence and a zombie encounter on the J.C. Van Horne Bridge, were shot between Pointe-Ã -la-Croix, Que., and Campbellton, N.B.
<
