Horror movies have a special fan base; people who adore these movies. It send shivers down the spine and swing your heart into overdrive. We see beyond the bounds of reality, imagine beyond the capacity of our routine driven brains and think of how far from reality are these scintillating scenes. While some horror movies are built around supernatural powers, eerie characters or unpredictable events, some actually take inspiration from real medical conditions that have affected people in real life. These conditions have shaped terrifying characters, supernatural myths, and unexplained storylines. This makes the movies interesting but also shows how certain illnesses can be interpreted as frightening occurrences. Let us have a look at some of these diseases and the movies they inspired.

Photosensitivity is commonly defined as an abnormal reaction of the skin to sunlight and other sources of UV light. These patients are extremely sensitive to light.

Symptoms

• Rash

• Itching or burning sensation

• Blistering

• Redness

• Fragile skin, especially in sun-exposed areas

How did it inspire the movie?

In the movie ‘The Others', the plot is set during the end of World War 2, wherein a woman waiting for her husband to return, lives with her two children, Anne and Nicholas, in a mansion. Anne and Nicholas suffer from severe photosensitivity. To protect them, their mother keeps the entire mansion in darkness. Darkness is a shield, but what about the shadows the mother sees? As strange things unfold, she starts believing that her mansion is haunted. It is—but not by the ghosts she thought. This film uses the medical condition to increase the mystery and fear.

Psychotic epileptic disorder commonly referred as Psychosis of epilepsy (POE) is a term applied to a group of psychotic disorders with a distinct phenomenology in which potential etiopathogenic mechanisms are believed to be closely related to a seizure disorder.

Symptoms of psychotic epilepsy

• Visual or auditory hallucinations

• Delusions or false beliefs

• Paranoid ideas

• Suspiciousness

• Disorganized thinking

How did it inspire the movie?

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is inspired by the real-life story of Anneliese Michel, who suffered from a psychotic epileptic disorder- a chilling event that turned into a movie.  Anneliese exhibited signs of severe hallucinations, seizures, self-harm, and violent behaviour. Her family started believing that she was under demonic possession and opted for repeated exorcisms instead of medical treatment. Unfortunately, her condition worsened, leading to her death. This sparked debates about medical negligence versus spiritual intervention.

Known as 'Lai Tai' in northeastern Thai dialects, SUNDS in the United States and China, Pokkuri Death Syndrome (PDS) in Japan. SUNDS was defined as natural death occurring instantaneously or within 24 hours of onset of symptoms, in a patient who may or may not have a known pre-existing disease, but in whom the mode and time of death is unexpected.

Symptoms

• Night terrors

• Sweating

• Shouting or screaming

• Choking sensation

• Irregular breathing

How did it inspire the movie?

Imagine drifting into sleep and never waking up. A Nightmare on Elm Street is based on SUNDS phenomena.  All the characters share similar terrifying nightmares of a disfigured man who attacks and kills them in their dreams, and there is nothing they can do to wake up. The idea that death can occur during sleep is related to SUNDS, which makes it more frightening and mysterious.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive infection mostly affecting the fascia and subcutaneous layers. Also called flesh-eating disease. Inflammation and necrosis involve the muscles, subcutaneous fat, and overlying skin. Group A Streptococcus is the main causative organism, and the bacteria usually enter through minor cuts, abrasions, and surgical wounds. Although rare, it is a surgical emergency; if not promptly diagnosed and treated, it can lead to systemic toxicity and death.

Symptoms

• Severe pain

• Skin discoloration

• Blistering

• Discharge

• Rapid skin breakdown

• Severe sepsis

How did it inspire the movie?

In Cabin Fever, a group of friends encounter a mysterious flesh-eating illness. The outbreak begins when a man with a skin infection falls into a reservoir. The water gets contaminated and the terror begins. Soon, one of the friends gets infected and develops severe skin peeling, and flesh rots before their eyes. The infection is contagious, rapidly spreading, and exaggerated to fit into the horror effect. The friends are left struggling to save their own lives, creating intense suspense and terror.

Summary

The deadliest horrors come from real incidents and people who lived with them. Next time you watch a horror movie, pause and wonder—are you witnessing imagination or some deeper hidden reality?

References

1. Bernadett Kurz, Irina E. Ivanova, Wolfgang Bäumler, Mark Berneburg. Turn the Light on Photosensitivity. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology 2022; 8 (100071). DOI:10.1016/j.jpap.2021.100071

2. B. de Toffol. Epilepsy and psychosis. Revue Neurologique. 2024; 180(4): 298–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2023.12.005

3. Jingjing Zheng, Da Zheng, Terry Su, Jianding Cheng. Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome: The Hundred Years’ Enigma. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2018; 7(5): e007837. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.117.007837

4. Saiidy Hasham, Paolo Matteucci, Paul R. W. Stanley, Nick B. Hart. Necrotising Fasciitis. BMJ. 2005; 330(7495): 830–833. doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7495.830