Retirement homes are supposed to be places of peace and tranquility, but in the realm of horror cinema, they often become eerie settings for tales of terror, mystery, and the supernatural. This curated list dives into the dark corners of these facilities, where the elderly aren't the only ones with secrets. From ghostly apparitions to sinister caretakers, these films offer a spine-chilling look at what might lurk behind the closed doors of a retirement home. Whether you're a fan of psychological horror or enjoy a good jump scare, this collection promises to deliver both suspense and scares.
The Shining (1980)
Description: Although not set in a retirement home, this Stanley Kubrick classic involves a caretaker at an isolated hotel, where the elderly and ghostly figures play a significant role in the horror.
Fact: The film is based on Stephen King's novel, and King famously disliked Kubrick's adaptation.
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The Dead Zone (1983)
Description: While not directly about a retirement home, this Stephen King adaptation features a teacher who wakes from a coma with psychic abilities, including visions of a future involving an elderly man in a care facility.
Fact: Christopher Walken stars as the protagonist, and the film was directed by David Cronenberg.
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The Others (2001)
Description: Although not set in a retirement home, this film features a gothic mansion where a woman and her children encounter ghostly presences, hinting at a connection to the elderly and the afterlife.
Fact: The film was a major success in Spain, where it was filmed, and it was nominated for several awards.
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The Skeleton Key (2005)
Description: A hospice nurse working in a plantation home turned into a retirement facility discovers dark secrets involving hoodoo magic and the elderly residents.
Fact: The film was shot in New Orleans, and the mansion used in the movie is said to be haunted in real life.
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The Orphanage (2007)
Description: While not directly about a retirement home, this Spanish horror film involves a woman returning to her childhood orphanage, now a home for the elderly, to uncover dark secrets.
Fact: The film was produced by Guillermo del Toro, and it was Spain's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.
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The Ward (2010)
Description: While not set in a retirement home, this film involves a psychiatric hospital where a young woman encounters the ghost of a former patient, hinting at dark secrets involving the elderly.
Fact: The film was directed by John Carpenter, known for his work in horror cinema.
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The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
Description: Although not exclusively about a retirement home, this film involves a family moving into a house with a dark past, including a connection to a nearby nursing home with its own ghostly inhabitants.
Fact: The film is based on a true story, and the original "Haunting in Connecticut" was also inspired by real events.
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The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
Description: This found footage film follows a documentary crew capturing the decline of an elderly woman with Alzheimer's, only to uncover something far more sinister lurking in her retirement home.
Fact: The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of Alzheimer's disease, and the director, Adam Robitel, later directed the "Insidious" sequel.
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The Visit (2015)
Description: M. Night Shyamalan's thriller about two siblings visiting their grandparents in a retirement home, where strange and terrifying events unfold, questioning the true nature of their grandparents.
Fact: The film was shot in a found footage style, and Shyamalan used his own children as actors for the main roles.
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The Lodge (2019)
Description: While not set in a traditional retirement home, this film features a remote lodge where a woman and her stepchildren are trapped during a snowstorm, revealing dark secrets and psychological horror.
Fact: The film was directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, known for their unsettling horror films.
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