Top 10 Scariest Horror Movie Locations Found in New York City

“C.H.U.D.” (1984)

We’re kicking things off with a campy cult classic. This film, whose title stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, was filmed all over New York City back in 1984. One location that’s proven popular for movie sightseers is the Cleveland Diner, where the third act kicks off in violent fashion. In the film, two police officers - one of whom is played by a young John Goodman - get attacked and brutally killed by the titular mutants. Nowadays, the Cleveland Diner is known as La Esquina, a Mexican restaurant on Kenmare Street, one of the chain’s three locations in the city. Let’s just hope the CHUDs haven’t taken over the kitchen, though.

“The Devil's Advocate” (1997)

And now for something completely different. In this supernatural horror movie, a Florida lawyer is courted to New York City to work for a law firm run by the literal devil. A subplot follows Keanu Reeves’s Kevin defending Craig T. Nelson’s Alexander Cullen against a murder charge. One scene in particular sees Kevin visit Cullen in his home, an opulent penthouse apartment festooned in gold. As it turns out, this penthouse apartment sits at the very top of the fifty-eight story Trump Tower. The apartment was lent to the production specifically for the scene.

“The Sentinel” (1977)

Something of a combination of our last two films, this cult classic follows a young model named Alison who moves into a brownstone apartment building, only to learn that it serves as a gateway to Hell. A host of terrifying happenings ensue, which could definitely taint your impression of the building in real life. Also located in Brooklyn Heights, the brownstone is known as 10 Montague Terrace in the real world. The building gets demolished at the end of the film, but you’ll be happy to know that it’s still there as of this day. Though we suppose the real question is if it’s actually a gateway to Hell, to which we say… probably not?

“Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” (1989)

“Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” gets a lot of flak for not fully making good on the second part of its title. Indeed, most of the action takes place on a ship, and a bulk of scenes that do take place in New York were filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the former is rather expensive. However, one sequence that was shot in Manhattan is the Times Square scene, where Jason Voorhees pursues our remaining protagonists and intimidates some local riffraff. While Times Square has been cleaned up considerably since the back half of the 20th century, it still makes for an appropriate horror setting where people aren’t as liable to take threats from an undead slasher seriously.

“Joshua” (2007)

This underseen psychological thriller follows a couple as they struggle to raise their son Joshua, a nine-year-old child prodigy who begins exhibiting sociopathic behavior. In one scene, Joshua is accompanied to the Brooklyn Museum with his grandmother Hazel, whom he thoroughly creeps out with his knowledge of Egyptian Gods. The scene was filmed both inside and outside of the actual building. While we’d recommend the art museum for anyone with a keen eye, just be sure to avoid any sharp-dressed little boys acting as tour guides. And be sure not to stand next to them at the top of any flight of stairs, else you meet the same fate as Hazel.

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One of the most famous public parks in the world, Manhattan’s Central Park has naturally become a go-to filming location for movies set in New York City, and horror movies are no different. From as far back as 1942’s “Cat People,” the genre has made bedfellows with the park, with that film setting pivotal scenes at the Central Park Zoo. Flash forward to 1983’s “The Hunger,” and you’ll see David Bowie’s vampire character attack a dancing woman at Bethesda Terrace. Then, the 2008 monster movie “Cloverfield” sees some of our main characters perish there in the finale, with the final two taking shelter underneath the crumbling Greyshot Arch.

“1408” (2007)

It’s no surprise that they couldn’t use the real name of a hotel in this movie about a haunted room on the technical thirteenth floor. While filming for this Stephen King adaptation was split between three cities, the exterior of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan portrayed the fictional Dolphin Hotel in the movie. Meanwhile, the Reform Club in London, England doubled as the Dolphin’s lobby while soundstages were used for scenes set in 1408 itself. While the Roosevelt only had a small part in creating the vibe, it nevertheless got much of the credit for sightseeing fans. Unfortunately, the Roosevelt closed in 2020 due to financial struggles stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Even more than Central Park, horror movies set in New York can’t help but adventure into the subway, even if they don’t often film there. “Maniac” ushered in the slasher craze in 1980 with a particularly harrowing sequence in the subway system, and Jason wouldn’t be too far behind at the end of the decade. “Jacob’s Ladder” would open the ‘90s by also taking the titular character into the subway, and Guillermo del Toro’s “Mimic” would only stoke the fears of what subterranean creepy-crawlies lurked below New Yorkers’ feet in 1997. 2023’s “Scream VI” has Ghostface taking Manhattan like Jason before him, proving you never know what to expect when stepping onto the terminal. Heck, your subway car might even turn into an escape room!

“Ghostbusters” (1984)

Granted, “Ghostbusters” is more remembered for its comedy elements than its horror, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get thoroughly spooky when it wants to. While we were tempted to talk about Tavern on the Green where Louis gets possessed by a demon, or the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House which doubles as the Manhattan Museum of Art in the sequel, there’s no beating Spook Central. Known officially as 55 Central Park West, this is where Sigourney Weaver’s character Dana lives, and where lots of strange goings on occur. While the temple-esque rooftop obviously isn’t there in real life, the building still gives us much the same spooky vibes.

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

Perhaps no real-life building is more synonymous with horror than the Dakota. Completed in 1884, this Upper West Side apartment building served as the new home for Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse in Roman Polanski’s horror classic, “Rosemary’s Baby.” Referred to as the Bramford in the movie, the Dakota instantly stands out thanks to its Victorian architecture. While interior scenes were shot at the Paramount lot in Hollywood, the building’s presence here only added to its notoriety. It’s housed numerous celebrities over the years, including Lauren Bacall, John Lennon, Boris Karloff and Judy Garland, though no malicious satanists, as far as we know.