Experts, Kaylee Fowler, Serial Killers & Murders

Because You Were Home”: The True Story Behind “The Strangers

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’re looking at the case that inspired “The Strangers”: Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca Murders.

Charles Manson was born on November 12^th, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Ada Kathleen Maddox, an unmarried 16-year-old. She later married William Eugene Manson, though the couple divorced in 1939. His early life was unstable: his mother was frequently absent or incarcerated, and Charles was shuffled between relatives and reform schools for much of his childhood. He spent the better part of his teens and twenties cycling in and out of prison. After the divorce, he took his stepfather’s surname due to Maddox’s neglect.

Kaylee FowlerApril 22, 2026April 21, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

Sharon Tate: The Night Hollywood Lost Its Innocence

Eight months pregnant and full of promise, Sharon Tate’s life was stolen in a crime that shocked the world. More than fifty years later, the horror of Cielo Drive still refuses to fade.

She was one of Hollywood’s brightest rising stars, a breathtaking actress, a devoted wife, and a mother-to-be just weeks away from welcoming her first child. But on the night of August 8–9, 1969, Sharon Tate’s life was stolen from her in one of the most shocking and brutal crimes America has ever seen.

NZGeekChicApril 21, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Twitter Killer: Takahiro Shiraishi and the Predator Who Hunted the Vulnerable

He offered help to those who wanted to die—but behind the screen was something far darker. This is the story of the man who turned compassion into a weapon.

We’ve all been there : scrolling through social media late at night, feeling vulnerable, perhaps a bit lost. In 2017, nine people in Japan reached out into the digital void looking for understanding. What they found instead was Takahiro Shiraishi, a predator who weaponized compassion.

NZGeekChicApril 6, 2026April 5, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, Kaylee Fowler, Medicality, Serial Killers & Murders

The Girl Who Wasn’t a Child: The Barbora Škrlová Case and the Horror It Inspired

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’ll be discussing the Barbora Škrlová case, the basis of the 2009 movie Orphan, as well as the film’s tragic repercussions in the years that followed.

DISCLAIMER: I am neither a medical nor a mental health professional. Additionally, several details of the Škrlová case are related through hearsay and internet rumor. This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I have done my best to report the facts as they are and note a few places where urban legend has taken root.

Kaylee FowlerMarch 31, 2026March 30, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Murder Of Tara Calico

Pull up a chair, grab your tea (or something stronger), and let me tell you about a case that’s haunted amateur sleuths and investigators for over three decades.

NZGeekChicMarch 23, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, Kaylee Fowler, Serial Killers & Murders

Reel Horror – The True Story Behind Ghostface

Hello and welcome to Reel Horror, where we discuss the real-world inspirations behind horror films. From true crime to paranormal happenings to mysterious, unexplained, or just plain strange phenomena, horror often finds its roots in its surroundings, and this new series is devoted to exploring where some of the most iconic films and villains find their origins.

Today, we’ll be looking at the inspiration behind Ghostface and the Scream franchise: Danny Rolling, also known as the Gainesville Ripper. Rolling was an American serial killer from Shreveport, Louisiana, who killed 5 college students in Gainesville, FL over four days in 1990.

Kaylee FowlerMarch 17, 2026March 16, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Story Behind The Movie Badlands

Serial killers are a fascinating subject but let’s not forget about the victims they leave behind and the lesson that sometimes we must learn. Here is the story of what inspired the movie Badlands.

The American Midwest in the 1950s was supposed to be safe. White picket fences, malt shops, and the promise of prosperity defined the era’s mythology. But in the winter of 1957-58, two young people shattered that illusion in the most brutal way imaginable.

NZGeekChicMarch 16, 2026March 16, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Tragedy of Brandon Teena

The darkest history has to offer sometimes isn’t in war but in neighbours or people that share the same town. So, what truly happened behind the movie Boys Don’t Cry? Let NZGeekChic tell you the story.

In the quiet rural landscape of Falls City, Nebraska, the final days of 1993 unfolded with a horror that would expose the deadly consequences of hatred and institutional failure. Brandon Teena, a 21-year-old transgender man, was living his truth in a small town that would ultimately prove fatal.

NZGeekChicMarch 9, 2026March 6, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Hello Kitty Murder: When Innocence Became Horror

What happens when a kid’s toy is used in the most gruesome way, and a murder turns into a cautionary tale? Come find out with us.

Hong Kong, 1999

Some crimes burrow beneath your skin and refuse to leave. The Hello Kitty murder is one of them, not because of its macabre nickname, but because of what it reveals about the human capacity for cruelty.

NZGeekChicFebruary 24, 2026February 20, 2026Leave a comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

The Mysterious Unsolved Case Of The Sodder Children

There are many unsolved mysteries when it comes to families and individuals that none of us will ever find the answers to. So, here is one of those incredible unsolved mystery of a family from West Virginia in 1945.

The Book of Cold Cases

I recently read a book by Simone St. James called The Book of Cold Cases. It talked about an unsolved murder of two men and a website that the main character ran all about those cold cases, also known as unsolved murders.

We can all think of some cases relevant to the JonBenét Ramsey case. There’s also the Madeline McCann abduction, and a bit closer to home in New Zealand is the case of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, who vanished on New Year’s Eve in 1998, never to be seen again.

NZGeekChicMarch 27, 2024March 24, 2024Leave a comment

Experts, OCD Vampire, Serial Killers & Murders

Béla Kiss Is All About Vampires And Human Pickles

Many murderers kept the attention of the public on high alert or passionate to know more about their history. This killer might not be as famous as others, but it certainly will hold your attention. Here is the story of a vampire who likes pickles!

Who Is Béla Kiss, And Where Is He From?

Let us go to Hungary, where a dangerous man was born in 1877, Béla Kiss. As a child, reports say that Béla was a victim of incest perpetuated by his mother, Verona Varga.

Born in the city of Izaák but lived in Cinkota, which used to be close to Budapest but is now neighbouring the city. Béla Kiss was a tinsmith, meaning he made repairs on items made of tin or any metals.

OCD VampireNovember 8, 2023Leave a comment

Experts, Middle Ages, NZGeekChic, Serial Killers & Murders

Germany’s Medieval Boogeyman Known As Peter Niers

Throughout history, humankind has encountered many murderers and people thirsty for the blood of innocents. Worldwide known names come to mind, but what about those in the shadows of the big names?

The Names We Know Of The Medieval Period

When you think of the evillest murderers of medieval times, there are specific names that come to mind that took over their centuries. They inspired fear so great that they branded their time with their names.

But if you mention the name Peter Niers, nobody would know who you are talking about. But this person deserves a place on those charts because he left his mark, so who is he, and what did he do?

NZGeekChicOctober 26, 2023October 25, 20231 Comment

Experts, NZGeekChic, Paranormal, Serial Killers & Murders

Remember 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville Horror?

Many houses rhyme with horror, but one in particular comes to mind, and we can even see the two croissant windows. Paula talks to us about the history of pop culture in Amityville.

The Address We Can’t Forget

This address has been popularized in movie culture since 1979. Countless movies have been filmed about the incident, and books have been written about its story. This is one address that all crime fans will remember for eternity. It’s similar to how everyone connects to 221B Baker Street with Sherlock Holmes.

I have seen a few movies based on the Amityville incident but did not realize how many films had been released around the fateful night of November 13th, 1974.

NZGeekChicOctober 18, 2023October 17, 20231 Comment

Gothic Bite Magazine

Where the news come from beyond the grave

Category: Serial Killers & Murders

Because You Were Home”: The True Story Behind “The Strangers

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’re looking at the case that inspired “The Strangers”: Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca Murders.

Sharon Tate: The Night Hollywood Lost Its Innocence

Eight months pregnant and full of promise, Sharon Tate’s life was stolen in a crime that shocked the world. More than fifty years later, the horror of Cielo Drive still refuses to fade.

The Girl Who Wasn’t a Child: The Barbora Škrlová Case and the Horror It Inspired

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’ll be discussing the Barbora Škrlová case, the basis of the 2009 movie Orphan, as well as the film’s tragic repercussions in the years that followed.

The Murder Of Tara Calico

Pull up a chair, grab your tea (or something stronger), and let me tell you about a case that’s haunted amateur sleuths and investigators for over three decades.

Reel Horror – The True Story Behind Ghostface

The Story Behind The Movie Badlands

Serial killers are a fascinating subject but let’s not forget about the victims they leave behind and the lesson that sometimes we must learn. Here is the story of what inspired the movie Badlands.

The Tragedy of Brandon Teena

The darkest history has to offer sometimes isn’t in war but in neighbours or people that share the same town. So, what truly happened behind the movie Boys Don’t Cry? Let NZGeekChic tell you the story.

The Hello Kitty Murder: When Innocence Became Horror

What happens when a kid’s toy is used in the most gruesome way, and a murder turns into a cautionary tale? Come find out with us.

The Mysterious Unsolved Case Of The Sodder Children

There are many unsolved mysteries when it comes to families and individuals that none of us will ever find the answers to. So, here is one of those incredible unsolved mystery of a family from West Virginia in 1945.

The Book of Cold Cases

Béla Kiss Is All About Vampires And Human Pickles

Many murderers kept the attention of the public on high alert or passionate to know more about their history. This killer might not be as famous as others, but it certainly will hold your attention. Here is the story of a vampire who likes pickles!

Who Is Béla Kiss, And Where Is He From?

Germany’s Medieval Boogeyman Known As Peter Niers

Throughout history, humankind has encountered many murderers and people thirsty for the blood of innocents. Worldwide known names come to mind, but what about those in the shadows of the big names?

The Names We Know Of The Medieval Period

Remember 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville Horror?

Many houses rhyme with horror, but one in particular comes to mind, and we can even see the two croissant windows. Paula talks to us about the history of pop culture in Amityville.

The Address We Can’t Forget

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’re looking at the case that inspired “The Strangers”: Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca Murders.

Share this:

Eight months pregnant and full of promise, Sharon Tate’s life was stolen in a crime that shocked the world. More than fifty years later, the horror of Cielo Drive still refuses to fade.

Share this:

He offered help to those who wanted to die—but behind the screen was something far darker. This is the story of the man who turned compassion into a weapon.

Share this:

Welcome back to Reel Horror! Today, we’ll be discussing the Barbora Škrlová case, the basis of the 2009 movie Orphan, as well as the film’s tragic repercussions in the years that followed.

Share this:

Pull up a chair, grab your tea (or something stronger), and let me tell you about a case that’s haunted amateur sleuths and investigators for over three decades.

Share this:

Share this:

Serial killers are a fascinating subject but let’s not forget about the victims they leave behind and the lesson that sometimes we must learn. Here is the story of what inspired the movie Badlands.

Share this:

The darkest history has to offer sometimes isn’t in war but in neighbours or people that share the same town. So, what truly happened behind the movie Boys Don’t Cry? Let NZGeekChic tell you the story.

Share this:

What happens when a kid’s toy is used in the most gruesome way, and a murder turns into a cautionary tale? Come find out with us.

Share this:

There are many unsolved mysteries when it comes to families and individuals that none of us will ever find the answers to. So, here is one of those incredible unsolved mystery of a family from West Virginia in 1945.

The Book of Cold Cases

Share this:

Many murderers kept the attention of the public on high alert or passionate to know more about their history. This killer might not be as famous as others, but it certainly will hold your attention. Here is the story of a vampire who likes pickles!

Who Is Béla Kiss, And Where Is He From?

Share this:

Throughout history, humankind has encountered many murderers and people thirsty for the blood of innocents. Worldwide known names come to mind, but what about those in the shadows of the big names?

The Names We Know Of The Medieval Period

Share this:

Many houses rhyme with horror, but one in particular comes to mind, and we can even see the two croissant windows. Paula talks to us about the history of pop culture in Amityville.

The Address We Can’t Forget

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