Cocaine Bear is one of the big releases in UK cinemas this. It’s crazy to think this bonkers film Is actually based or ‘inspired’ by a true story. Below is a list of eight films whose plots are so crazy they true or inspired by a true story.
BlacKKKlansman (2018)
This is one ridiculous story to be too good to be true. Shock horror Spike Lee’s comedy is true. The story of Ron Stallworth the African American cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970’s. Convincing them to let them join the klan, but how did they get around it? John David Washington plays Ron in Lee’s film which many considered the director’s return to form. The prospect of a black man joining is absurd, thanks to his fellow cop Filip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) pretending to be Ron. The is a small matter, Filip is Jewish, however this is the one small thing that was changed to up the ante of the film. A fact checked film taken from Ron’s own memoir
Bernie (2011)
Jack Black stars as mortician Bernie Teide a much loved man of his local community in Carthage Texas. He befriends older woman played by Shirley McLane who also just happened to be 80 year old millionaire Majorie Nugent. Convincing her to remove her son from her will so he could get the $10 million dollars her son would get. The shocking factor was Nugent wasn’t liked by everyone in the town, Bernie was. Black and director Richard Linklater worked to get the real Bernie released and they did in one condition her lived with Linklater!
The Exorcist (1973)
William Friedkin’s classic horror inspired by the novel of the same name. Based on the true story (Thomas B. Allen – Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism ) of an exorcism of a boy who the church diagnosed as being possessed by the devil. The church gave the boy the name of Roland Doe as they attempt to help him. He lived with his Aunt in Maryland when he learned himself how to use a Ouija Board. When his Aunt died he tried to contact his aunt, when things started to go downhill.
Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s classic dream killing disfigured serial killer played by Robert Englund. Came from reading an in-depth report in the Los Angeles Times, Craven stated in a Vulture article. When the young son of a family told his parents he was dreaming of someone chasing him. This gave him disturbing nightmares forcing the boy to stay awake as long as he could. Parents thought everything was fine when his boy fell asleep only to hear him scream in terror only to find he sadly died.
The Blob (1958)
The 1958 B Movie horror starring a certain Steve McQueen amazingly based on a police report from Philadelphia in 1950. This report stated 2 police officers witnessed a parachute fall from the sky and when they went to investigate they found something they couldn’t describe. When they shone a torch into what they found gave a purplish glow with crystals in it. When the FBI arrived, it completely disappeared.
Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Another popular Wes Craven horror of a family on a long road trip from Ohio to Los Angeles only to encounter psychotic cannibals. Craven did say the film was inspired by the Scottish myth of Alexander Sawney Bean. Took his wife into a cave raised lots of children all born through incest. They would attack passing travellers and eat them!
Compliance (2010)
If you are looking for a film based on a true event that will crawl under your skin, Craig Zobel’s chilling film will. Starring Deanna Walker as a fast food walker who is subjected to a horrifying strip search. All thanks to a ‘prank’ call to the restaurant when a man claiming to be a cop. Ann Dowd plays the manager who takes the call subjected her staff to horrible unspeakable abuse. What’s so worrying every day in life scam calls always happen and this film sticks close to a real life event involving a young female employee. Powerfully acted, uncomfortable watch.
Alive (1993)
People eating other people, surely that’s a hoax? Nope. Rob Marshall’s film is based on the true events Uruguayan rugby team and their family members. Returning home from a match when their plane crashes in the Andes. Killing several of them on impact. Trapped for two months the survivors are forced to eat the flesh of the dead until two decide to conquer the mountains and get help. The film starred the likes of Ethan Hawke and Josh Hamilton.
Notables: 30 Minutes Or Less, Bronson, Catch Me If You Can, Almost Famous, Silence Of The Lambs, Jaws
Cocaine Bear is in cinemas now. | Read our review
