What do you think?
Rate this book
Horror Movies: The Secret Life of Real Occult Demons, Paranormal Ghosts, and Supernatural Monsters
“What Lance Gilbert accomplishes is to take the rumors and gossip of Hollywood and allow the reader to delve deep into the possibility that perhaps the things that go bump in the night might have followed some of our favorite actors and filmmakers home when invoked on set.”
“His writing would be the perfect narrative for a documentary on the subject. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if a director or producer takes up this material and runs with it. There are just too many wonderful facts and events in this book to be ignored. Gilbert has a winner on his hands.”
“It’s a fascinating and fun read. I look forward to seeing this series continue and what other unsettling details and connections Gilbert can terrorize us with.”
"Perfect for Halloween! If you are a horror film fan; you're in for a real treat!" "This book actually made me consider these films from a totally different point-of-view. I also enjoyed that they were classic horror films that I vividly recollect from my childhood, as opposed to some of the more run-of-the-mill offerings from today." "As a bit of a skeptic, I wasn't sure how I would respond to some of the information given in the book, but Mr. Gilbert's research and storytelling is extremely convincing. This book was a true page-turner that I had difficulty putting down." "It truly leaves you wanting to learn more, and I can't wait for the second book in the series. Even if you're not a horror film fan, don't let that discourage you. Any film fan or historian would be intrigued by the well-told stories in this book." Do you love horror movies and/or the paranormal? Did you know that certain films with occult and supernatural themes are connected to bad luck and death? Have you ever had disturbing dreams or upheaval in your life for days or even weeks after watching scary films? Just when you thought it was safe to go to sleep comes a book on the horror genre like no other. Horror movies give us a delightful rush, but does it come at a cost much higher than the price of a ticket at the box office? Book 1 of The Secret Life of Horror Movies series examines notorious movie curses that have made even skeptics wonder if the supernatural forces depicted in the films had their revenge on the people involved in making it. From haunted movie sets depicting ghosts, possession, and murder to the tragic ends of actors and members of the film crew who thought the blood would stop flowing when the director yelled ‘cut!’, we’ll explore the fine line between a good scare and a door that shouldn’t have been opened. You surely know the movies and likely know some of the stories, but you’ve never read such an in-depth analysis of these famous curses from someone that knows first-hand how such legends come into being. From the creepy Poltergeist and Exorcist Curses to the grisly Tate/Manson family killings that are eerily connected to Rosemary’s Baby , we’ll bravely look under the bed to see if the real bogey man is to blame. Was the production of The Omen literally under attack by Satan himself? Did the infamous shower stabbing scene in Hitchcock’s classic, Psycho , create a murderous vortex that claimed its victim many years later? Don’t think there’s a correlation between horror movies and the freaky stuff that happens in our ‘real’ lives? That’s perfectly fine because belief isn’t required to enjoy this book. However, you might as well look behind the silver screen while you have a chance. It might increase your life expectancy!
“His writing would be the perfect narrative for a documentary on the subject. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if a director or producer takes up this material and runs with it. There are just too many wonderful facts and events in this book to be ignored. Gilbert has a winner on his hands.”
“It’s a fascinating and fun read. I look forward to seeing this series continue and what other unsettling details and connections Gilbert can terrorize us with.”
"Perfect for Halloween! If you are a horror film fan; you're in for a real treat!" "This book actually made me consider these films from a totally different point-of-view. I also enjoyed that they were classic horror films that I vividly recollect from my childhood, as opposed to some of the more run-of-the-mill offerings from today." "As a bit of a skeptic, I wasn't sure how I would respond to some of the information given in the book, but Mr. Gilbert's research and storytelling is extremely convincing. This book was a true page-turner that I had difficulty putting down." "It truly leaves you wanting to learn more, and I can't wait for the second book in the series. Even if you're not a horror film fan, don't let that discourage you. Any film fan or historian would be intrigued by the well-told stories in this book." Do you love horror movies and/or the paranormal? Did you know that certain films with occult and supernatural themes are connected to bad luck and death? Have you ever had disturbing dreams or upheaval in your life for days or even weeks after watching scary films? Just when you thought it was safe to go to sleep comes a book on the horror genre like no other. Horror movies give us a delightful rush, but does it come at a cost much higher than the price of a ticket at the box office? Book 1 of The Secret Life of Horror Movies series examines notorious movie curses that have made even skeptics wonder if the supernatural forces depicted in the films had their revenge on the people involved in making it. From haunted movie sets depicting ghosts, possession, and murder to the tragic ends of actors and members of the film crew who thought the blood would stop flowing when the director yelled ‘cut!’, we’ll explore the fine line between a good scare and a door that shouldn’t have been opened. You surely know the movies and likely know some of the stories, but you’ve never read such an in-depth analysis of these famous curses from someone that knows first-hand how such legends come into being. From the creepy Poltergeist and Exorcist Curses to the grisly Tate/Manson family killings that are eerily connected to Rosemary’s Baby , we’ll bravely look under the bed to see if the real bogey man is to blame. Was the production of The Omen literally under attack by Satan himself? Did the infamous shower stabbing scene in Hitchcock’s classic, Psycho , create a murderous vortex that claimed its victim many years later? Don’t think there’s a correlation between horror movies and the freaky stuff that happens in our ‘real’ lives? That’s perfectly fine because belief isn’t required to enjoy this book. However, you might as well look behind the silver screen while you have a chance. It might increase your life expectancy!
- GenresHorror
57 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2018
40 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Lance Gilbert
2 books33 followersLance Gilbert is a writer of paranormal & occult fiction and nonfiction. Following a series of ghostly experiences in his early twenties, he became fascinated with exploring supernatural phenomena. Very soon thereafter, Lance experimented with an ancient spirit evocation book which resulted in frightening poltergeist intrusions. This led to further investigation and the eventual publishing of two well-reviewed, commercially successful books based on his personal experiences as well as those of others he met through research. Both books were written under pseudonyms and now Lance has decided to publish using his real name.
His latest project is titled The Led Zeppelin Curse- Jimmy Page and the Haunted Boleskine House. Utilizing over two decades of direct (and often terrifying) experiences with the paranormal Lance explores the legend of the Led Zeppelin Curse. This iconic 70’s band enjoyed major success early in their career and then turned a sharp corner down a path of bad luck, mayhem and death. Lance’s unique insight and conclusions around rock music’s most famous mystery are unlike anything else available.
His latest project is titled The Led Zeppelin Curse- Jimmy Page and the Haunted Boleskine House. Utilizing over two decades of direct (and often terrifying) experiences with the paranormal Lance explores the legend of the Led Zeppelin Curse. This iconic 70’s band enjoyed major success early in their career and then turned a sharp corner down a path of bad luck, mayhem and death. Lance’s unique insight and conclusions around rock music’s most famous mystery are unlike anything else available.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 3, 2019
If you ever wanted to hear the uncanny background stories of some of the most famous horror movies ever this is your book: The Exorcist, Omen, Poltergeist, Rosemary's Baby, Nightmare on Elm Street... You'll come to know why those films were more than just films, they afflicted the life of the cast and many people involved in the production. Some died unexpectedly under partly absurd circumstances. Is there a curse on some movies? Are evil forces behind some tragedies? What is the reason why some of those classics have such a bad reputation? If you'll read this book then you get a hunch why those movies still are the most sinister flics ever made... Recommended! Must read for every horror movie fan. That book also makes appetite to some of the classics again!
April 7, 2019
This book wasn't overly scary as it just covered accidents and deaths surrounding three main horror movies which include The Omen, Poltergeist, and The Exorcist. The author goes into great detail of each horrific accident and/or death that happened while filming these movies. Some of the stories I have heard before, but some of them I haven't. Giving this book three stars.
October 24, 2018
This was an interesting read. The author ties in occult happenings with the various weird occurrences that have plagued horror movies over the years. I preferred just reading about the unusual events associated with the films as coincidence rather than something caused by true otherworldly evil, but either way it's an entertaining read.
March 30, 2019
Something To Make You Think
As I'm not a fan of cliffhangers, I really think that this could have been one book. A 2-hour read could easily have made longer and I could still be reading instead of wondering if this is just a money grab. That being said, I did enjoy what I got. It made me aware of incidents pertaining to the actors and crew that I didn't know about before. I've seen all of the movies talked about but wasn't aware of the paranormal aftereffects. So, do I read Book 2? Yeah, probably.
As I'm not a fan of cliffhangers, I really think that this could have been one book. A 2-hour read could easily have made longer and I could still be reading instead of wondering if this is just a money grab. That being said, I did enjoy what I got. It made me aware of incidents pertaining to the actors and crew that I didn't know about before. I've seen all of the movies talked about but wasn't aware of the paranormal aftereffects. So, do I read Book 2? Yeah, probably.
May 13, 2019
Fascinating read...
Speculative but on point details of occurrences that lead to demonic occult possibilities. Now I need to read up on these details to decide for myself! Wow...Thank you!
Speculative but on point details of occurrences that lead to demonic occult possibilities. Now I need to read up on these details to decide for myself! Wow...Thank you!
March 25, 2019
Mind Provoking
It does seem weird such things happening but I believe it is definitely true and there are other things out there we should not mess with.
It does seem weird such things happening but I believe it is definitely true and there are other things out there we should not mess with.
October 17, 2018
Enjoyable
Short introduction to myths and events surrounding a number of well known horror movies.
An interesting read, yet quite short so looking forward to the next instalment!
Short introduction to myths and events surrounding a number of well known horror movies.
An interesting read, yet quite short so looking forward to the next instalment!
December 16, 2025
More like 2.5 for me but I'm willing to round up. This read like a YouTube video essay script and would probably be better as one instead of an ebook that I may or may not have found for free.
I'm not at all convinced by Lance's claims. Spooky shit happens on movie sets all the time and all the supporting evidence of supernatural forces interacting or interfering with cast and crew of various horror movie sets just doesn't hold up. Granted, I've only seen a handful of movies listed in the book but that just made the poorly persuasive writing much more apparent. Maybe if there were substantial psychological explanations alongside Lance's own paranormal beliefs I'd be more inclined to entertain his ideas.
The spooky facts laid out, which were mainly about the deaths of cast and crew, did have me pondering if/how they're connected to their respective films but ultimately found myself unable to believe the "astral forces" were the cause. I can believe an actor's psyche can be greatly affected and potentially harmed depending on their role but I do not believe actual demons are why they then commit acts of violence. From what I know about Hollywood, the malevolent spirits responsible for such behavior are regular people in show business willing to exploit staff for their own gain. Nothing supernatural about that.
On a somewhat lighter note, I do find the idea of paranormal entities being curious enough about horror movie production that they'll just observe the makings of said movie to be quite funny and no different than peeping outside your window after spotting folks acting up out on public. If that is true, can it also be applied to other movie productions as well? Say, The Wizard of Oz?
I will give some credit to Lance in regards to his beliefs regarding the actual skeletons used in Poltergeist though. If curses in a purely supernatural and paranormal context exist, the unethical use of human remains as movie props is exactly the kind of thing that would cause one.
All in all, if you are more versed in the occult, you're probably gonna have a better time reading this than I did. Otherwise, you may, like me, find yourself yelling at your screen about how the 4th dimension is time, not an astral plane and sorely disappointed but not surprised by the lack of citations.
I'm not at all convinced by Lance's claims. Spooky shit happens on movie sets all the time and all the supporting evidence of supernatural forces interacting or interfering with cast and crew of various horror movie sets just doesn't hold up. Granted, I've only seen a handful of movies listed in the book but that just made the poorly persuasive writing much more apparent. Maybe if there were substantial psychological explanations alongside Lance's own paranormal beliefs I'd be more inclined to entertain his ideas.
The spooky facts laid out, which were mainly about the deaths of cast and crew, did have me pondering if/how they're connected to their respective films but ultimately found myself unable to believe the "astral forces" were the cause. I can believe an actor's psyche can be greatly affected and potentially harmed depending on their role but I do not believe actual demons are why they then commit acts of violence. From what I know about Hollywood, the malevolent spirits responsible for such behavior are regular people in show business willing to exploit staff for their own gain. Nothing supernatural about that.
On a somewhat lighter note, I do find the idea of paranormal entities being curious enough about horror movie production that they'll just observe the makings of said movie to be quite funny and no different than peeping outside your window after spotting folks acting up out on public. If that is true, can it also be applied to other movie productions as well? Say, The Wizard of Oz?
I will give some credit to Lance in regards to his beliefs regarding the actual skeletons used in Poltergeist though. If curses in a purely supernatural and paranormal context exist, the unethical use of human remains as movie props is exactly the kind of thing that would cause one.
All in all, if you are more versed in the occult, you're probably gonna have a better time reading this than I did. Otherwise, you may, like me, find yourself yelling at your screen about how the 4th dimension is time, not an astral plane and sorely disappointed but not surprised by the lack of citations.
September 17, 2018
Listen...I have never been a huge horror movie fan. But I AM a fan of movies in general and also of Mr. Gilbert's writing. This book actually made me consider these films from a totally different point-of-view. I also enjoyed that they were classic horror films that I vividly recollect from my childhood, as opposed to some of the more run-of-the-mill offerings from today. As a bit of a skeptic, I wasn't sure how I would respond to some of the information given in the book, but Mr. Gilbert's research and storytelling is extremely convincing. This book was a true page-turner that I had difficulty putting down...even for Sunday Football! It truly leaves you wanting to learn more and I can't wait for the second book in the series. Even if you're not a horror film fan, don't let that discourage you. Any film fan or historian would be intrigued by the well-told stories in this book. And if you are a horror film fan...you're in for a real treat!
April 4, 2019
The book was written in such a conversational tone that I found the writer’s “facts” difficult to believe. They sounded more like gossip.
I also would have liked to see some statistical comparisons to other movies, if that is possible. For example, how many people died while making horror movies in 1980 as compared to people who died making comedies or dramas?
I’m sure those stats are hard to get, but it would have been nice to see cited sources as evidence to back up the author’s claims. The only cited source was a vague reference to internet searching, so it’s hard to tell if any of the information is even reliable.
I also would have liked to see some statistical comparisons to other movies, if that is possible. For example, how many people died while making horror movies in 1980 as compared to people who died making comedies or dramas?
I’m sure those stats are hard to get, but it would have been nice to see cited sources as evidence to back up the author’s claims. The only cited source was a vague reference to internet searching, so it’s hard to tell if any of the information is even reliable.
May 5, 2019
Okay, everyone has something that they believe in and right now I believe that I'll have another beer because I don't know where to go with this review. The best thing about this book is that it was short and free. The book was well written and that is why I gave it a 3 rating, well that and I was afraid to rate it lower in fear of being decapitated while suffering from a gallbladder attack while flying in an aircraft that was just struck by lightning while flying over the house of the ex-wife of the brother of third cousin of the boom operator of the movie being filmed next door to the owner of the cross that was used in the Exorcist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2019
Hard to swallow.
The information about incidents occurring during the filming of horror movies is sketchy at best. A reader will have to make up their own minds.
The information about incidents occurring during the filming of horror movies is sketchy at best. A reader will have to make up their own minds.
November 18, 2020
Interesting look into horror movie “curses”
I have always been a horror fan but by reading this book I now have a more deeper curiosity in the classic horror films mentioned.
I have always been a horror fan but by reading this book I now have a more deeper curiosity in the classic horror films mentioned.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews