I'm Based on a true story, there is no phrase that can draw us into movie theaters and

terrifies more while we're munching our popcorn than based on a true story.

The idea that someone really could have experienced anything like what we're seeing on the

screen has thrilled us since the days of early Hollywood.

While some of the most effective and frightening horror films managed to scare us because

they act as metaphors for deep-seated human fears,

whether it's the anxiety of parenthood, financial insecurities, or the grief of losing a loved one.

But sometimes a movie is so horrifying because, well, it really happened to someone.

And such is the case with every episode of our new upcoming season, season number nine,

which will be calling based on a true story.

And this season will be revealing 24 films, all of which have some kernel of truth behind them,

or in some instances, a lot of kernels of truth. With every episode, we'll bring you real-life stories of horror, of ghosts, demons, hauntings, crime, murder, and the supernatural,

and introduce you to the films that were made

based on those stories. With all of these films, the actual events may be embellished, but they

skew close enough to the real incidents that telling yourself, it's only a movie, won't be

enough to stop your spine from tingling or your bones from chilling or for some of you

from turning on every light in the house and taking deep breaths into a paper bag because that's the

thing. These stories aren't only a movie and the real life events are a lot scarier than anything

a director and a cast and a crew

could put on to a movie screen.

So welcome to American hauntings, the podcast dedicated to the history, hauntings, legends,

lore, and the dark side of American history. And welcome to our introductory episode for season

...