While The Evil Dead received favorable critical comment when it was initially released, it failed to establish Raimi's reputation. It was, however, a box-office success, which led to Campbell and Raimi teaming up again for the release of another movie.

Considering its budget, unknown director (at the time), and typical slasher plot "The Evil Dead" would almost certainly seem headed towards forgotten B-movie status, and yet it has stood the test of time and remains one of the most widely acclaimed horror films of all time.

The Amityville Horror is based on the alleged haunting of a house in Amityville, New York, while The Conjuring is based on the experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were involved in the Amityville case as well as many other famous paranormal investigations.

The most famous horror film based on a true story, however, is the 1979 fearfest, The Amityville Horror. The movie was so popular that it inspired a franchise of forgettable sequels, and even a Ryan Reynolds-led remake in 2005, but none could match the impact of the original.