Books and movies are designed to entertain and engage our minds; however, they can sometimes provoke darker impulses, leading individuals to blur the line between imagination and reality. There are disturbing examples throughout time where fictional storylines from TV series, movies, and books have inspired actual crimes.
These cases, which range from elaborate heists based on fictional plots to copycat killers imitating on-screen murderers, serve as a chilling reminder of the potential psychological effects of fiction. In our article, we will delve into the specifics of these crimes, including who committed them and, most importantly, what was the source of inspiration.
The “Scream” Copycat Murders
Scream is a movie released in 1996, that revolutionized the horror genre with its self-aware, masked killer who taunted victims before viciously stabbing them to death. The movie’s main thesis—that murderers could replicate horror movie scenes in real life—became terrifyingly accurate when it directly influenced several real-life murders.
A 16-year-old French boy, dressed in a Ghostface mask—the same disguise used in Scream—lured his friend into the woods in 1998. Then, in keeping with the excessive brutality of the murders in the movie, he stabbed the victim more than 40 times.
Two teenage cousins, Mario Padilla and Samuel Ramirez, stabbed their mother forty-five times in 2001 in California because they felt they had to go on a murderous rampage to finance their aspirations of becoming well-known killers like the ones in the film.
Before they were discovered, they even intended to purchase Ghostface masks for use in upcoming murders. In 2006, two teenage boys in Idaho carefully planned the murder of 17-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart, making it one of the most notorious cases. The boys boldly declared on camera that they intended to create a real-life horror film.
After hiding in her house and turning off the electricity, they attacked her with knives and stabbed her more than thirty times. Later, the police discovered their videotapes, on which they joyfully talked about how much fun it was to “do a Scream murder.”
Sarah Edmondson and Benjamin Darras – Natural Born Killers
Does anybody know about Sarah Edmondson and Benjamin Darras? These two watched the Tarantino movie Natural Born Killers too many times, and they thought it would be a great idea to do what Mickey and Mallory did. “What if we start murdering for fun?” Well, this is what happened.
The movie’s purpose was to parody the way that society promotes criminals. Rather, it served as an inspiration for actual copycat murderers who viewed it as a manual on how to achieve notoriety through violence.
The couple’s journey to a crime spree began in 1995 when they randomly shot a man in Mississippi and wounded a store owner in Louisiana. They, like Mickey and Mallory, said they wanted to kill when caught by the police but had no regrets.
Mark Twitchell – The Dexter Killer
Back in the day, everybody watched Dexter because it was so popular and actually a pretty good series. For those who haven’t watched it, the popular television series Dexter centers on a forensic analyst who doubles as a serial killer. The concept of “justified murder” is presented, and although the majority of viewers viewed it as fiction, one man interpreted it as a manual for actual murder, considering himself a vigilante as well.
Mark Twitchell, a Canadian filmmaker, became so obsessed with Dexter in 2010 that he also wanted to be like the TV show character. He took a cue from the show and set up a “kill room” in his garage, draping the walls with plastic sheets. Then, using the cover story of a fictitious online date, he invited Johnny Altinger, an innocent man, to his garage. Twitchell assaulted him once inside, ruthlessly killing and mutilating him. Later, he made an effort to get rid of the remains, but he left too much evidence.
After he was caught, he showed no remorse, and he stated, “I am sad I won’t be able to kill again.”
Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier – The “Slenderman”Stabbing
Who knows about the Slender Man game? This figure was made in 2009 as a Photoshop contest entry, and he soon rose to prominence as one of the most notorious urban legends on the internet, mostly spooky tales. A faceless supernatural figure, this character targets and kidnaps children.
Everyone, except two 12-year-old girls named Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, was convinced that the Slender Man was a fictional character. To please Slender Man, they thought they had to dispose of someone, so they took their friend Payton Leutner into the woods. As a false sacrifice to the imaginary being, the girls wounded Leutner 19 times, causing her to bleed out. Leutner miraculously survived by crawling to safety, where a passing cyclist rescued her. The girls calmly told the police when they were apprehended that they thought Slender Man would take them to live in his mansion in the woods if they finished the sacrifice.
16 years later, both Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were conditionally released from the psychiatric facility, with the mention that they were no longer a menace to the public. We certainly disagree, but what is your opinion about this case?
James Holmes – The “Joker”
Not many villains from the movies have captured worldwide attention as much as the Joker from the Batman series. Ruthless, weird-looking, with more than just a “spark” of madness, Joker became an icon and a “role model for some.
Now, how many of you know of James Holmes? Are you familiar with the Colorado movie theater mass shooting? Back in 2012, when the movie The Dark Knight Rises was screened at the movie theater, James Holmes came too, but not to watch the movie, but to open fire and kill 12 people. According to reports, Holmes told police he was “The Joker” and dyed his hair orange.
However, over the years, imitation crimes have continued, solidifying the Joker as a representation of actual violence.
A 16-year-old boy attacks a man – “Clockwork Orange” style
Back in the day when it was released, Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange shocked everybody with its gory violence and dystopian themes. The movie centers on a group of criminals, led by the sadistic Alex DeLarge, who sings “Singin’ in the Rain” with joy while committing sporadic acts of extreme violence. The contentious release of the film led to the mirroring of violent scenes in actual crimes.
In the UK, a 16-year-old boy viciously attacked a homeless man in 1973 while singing “Singin’ in the Rain,” which is exactly like the iconic scene from the movie. Because of how strikingly similar the attack was to the film, there was a national discussion about whether Kubrick’s work was too risky to be screened in theaters.
Soon after, there were numerous reports of gang violence in which the notorious “Droog” gang from the movie was imitated by criminals wearing white clothing and bowler hats. Until the year 2000, the movie was banned in UK theaters.
Do you know any other crimes that had movie inspirations that we didn’t mention in the article? Please comment below.
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