New Jersey
Watching scary movies on Halloween? These films have New Jersey connections
Margate resident transforms home into a Halloween haunted mansion to promote joy, unity
Margate resident Ari Goldberger transformed his home into an haunted mansion for Halloween to promote joy and unity.
As Halloween comes creeping around the corner, a scary movie night may be in order to set the monstrous mood.
And if you look closely, you may spot some familiar frights in your favorite flicks. The Garden State has hosted many different horror films since the 1978 inception of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, according to nj.gov.
Have you seen them? Read on for some tantalizing titles and a sneak peek into their IMDb info.
‘The Amityville Horror’ (1979)
Ready to start a new chapter of their lives, newlyweds in “The Amityville Horror” move their young family into what they believe to be a charming home.
A paranormal presence, however, soon causes them their worst nightmares.
The movie, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger, is based on the 1977 book by Jay Ansen, which tells the story of the real-life Lutz family’s paranormal experiences in a home where a murder previously occurred.
While this tale is set in Long Island, many shots were filmed in New Jersey, including the film’s iconic poster-worthy house located in Toms River.
Other locations include Georgian Court University and Point Pleasant, according to IMDb.
‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)
Summer camp is all fun and games until a killer is involved in “Friday the 13th.”
Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King and Jeannine Taylor star in this teen slasher with a familiar, hockey-mask-wearing antagonist at Camp Crystal Lake.
Better yet, New Jersey’s Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco was the stage for this movie.
‘The Prowler’ (1981)
An unknown killer is terrorizing a college graduation dance in the 1981 horror thriller “The Prowler” from the director of “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” Joseph Zito.
“The Prowler” may be set in a California town, but much of the filming took place in South Jersey’s very own Cape May.
Locals will notice that the graduation dance hall is actually the Inn of Cape May, with other properties in the town disguising themselves as the college dormitory and Major Chatham’s house.
If you look closely enough, you may spot that the bridge and gazebo in the film are really the Seaville United Methodist Church.
‘Creepshow’ (1982)
This classic may feature five gruesome vignettes from a kids’ comic book, but don’t let “Creepshow” fool you; it’s still rated R.
Written by Stephen King, this film stars Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielson and Adrienne Barbeau.
And keep an eye out for a familiar beach — “Something to Tide You Over” was filmed in Ocean County.
‘Cat’s Eye’ (1985)
Another Stephen King anthology, “Cat’s Eye” follows a feline perspective as the titular cat dodges various unsettling situations to go protect a little girl.
Some may recognize a young Drew Barrymore in this PG-13 flick, which was partly filmed in Atlantic City.
‘Desecration’ (1999)
“Desecration” is a bewilderingly biblical psychological horror that follows 16-year-old Bobby into the depths of hell after he accidentally causes the death of a nun.
With gruesome costuming and an unsettling plot line, this unrated horror film was shot in Bedminster.
‘Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor’ (2002)
In “Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor,” this fourth installment of a slasher series, Carrie Chambers’s Allison Kramer returns to camp in an attempt to remember and unravel the massacre that occurred there years ago.
But the killing doesn’t stay buried in the past.
Comprised of archived and updated footage, this early 2000s flick includes sets in the Garden State.
South Jersey mom converts home into haunted house for autistic son
Lisa DeMario converted her home into a haunted house to benefit her 10-year-old autistic son, Jason. The haunted house, located at 400 Elder St. in Northfield, NJ, will be open to the public from 1-5:30 p.m. during Saturdays in October. The price of admission is $3.
’13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil’ (2002)
Obviously, “13th Child: The Legend of the Jersey Devil” from directors Thomas Ashley and Steven Stockage is an ode to the creepy creature said to be lurking in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
When people are being gruesomely murdered, a district attorney’s assistant must investigate to find out if there’s a human culprit or something much more sinister.
Not only does this movie explore the legend of a New Jersey icon, it’s filmed in the state as well. Watch closely and you may notice that this mystery thriller was shot at the Batsto State Historic Site in Hammonton.
‘The Village’ (2004)
“The Village” centers on a small countryside town with an ominous wood sitting just on its border and instructions never to enter for fear of the monsters that live within it. So what happens when life in the village suddenly goes awry?
While this Shyamalan movie takes place in Pennsylvania, parts of the film were shot in Salem County’s Pedricktown, specifically a stunt scene when the character Ivy is almost run over by a truck as well as a gas station scene.
Watch closely and see if you can spot a cameo from Shyamalan.
‘Satan’s Playground’ (2006)
Again, set in the Jersey Pine Barrens, “Satan’s Playground” follows a family vacation gone awry when the Jersey Devil shows up.
This movie was shot in Whitesbog.
‘I Am Legend’ (2007)
What would you do if you were the last person in New York City… with (zombie-ish) monsters?
Will Smith stars in “I Am Legend,” a dystopian zombie horror with some scenes shot in West Amwell and Mount Airy.
‘iMurders’ (2008)
In the unrated mystery horror”iMurders,” a group of online friends are killed one after another.
Follow along as the plot thickens, and keep an eye out for scenes shot in the Garden State.
‘Torture Chamber’ (2013)
What could be a better Halloween watch than the classic demonic possession?
In “Torture Chamber,” a possessed boy has escaped an asylum, and he’s has murderous tendencies that the clergy must stop.
IMDb lists this movie with production locations in Maplewood.
‘Jersey Shore Massacre’ (2014)
Yes, like that Jersey Shore.
Filmed in Newton, Sparta and Woodbridge, “Jersey Shore Massacre” bears an uncanny resemblance to the antics of everyone’s favorite Jersey-Italians, the cast of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” reality show.
After a vacation to Seaside Heights goes awry, this crew finds themselves relocated to the Pine Barrens for a terrifying night.
And yes, there is cheetah print, hair poofs and plenty of fist pumping.
‘The Unborn’ (2020)
Two security guards face an eerie night in “The Unborn,” a horror film set in an old factory.
The plot grows more complicated as a secret love unfolds and an unborn child becomes caught in the sinister mix.
‘Army of the Dead’ (2021)
“Army of the Dead” may take place in Las Vegas, but it’s got some filming credits at the Showboat in Atlantic City.
In this twist on the classic post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, one ambitious team takes a life-risking run into the quarantined city for a multimillion-dollar payout.
‘Smile’ (2022)
Contrary to the title, “Smile” is not a happy Halloween film.
Shot in multiple Garden State locations such as North Arlington, Jersey City and Elizabeth, this movie follows a psychiatrist’s haunting run-in with a sinister curse.
‘Goodnight Mommy’ (2022)
In “Goodnight Mommy,” twins Elias and Lukas arrive at their estranged mother’s house hoping to reconnect, but they soon start to feel that something is wrong.
Full of unpredictable twists, Naomi Watts stars alongside Carmen and Nicholas Crovetti in this dramatic psychological thriller, filmed partially in Bedminster.
‘Insidious: The Red Door’ (2023)
“Insidious: The Red Door” is the fifth and final installment of a frightening franchise that follows the Lambert family once again as they must return to “The Further.”
And, you guessed it, the film shot in Morristown.
‘Knock at the Cabin’ (2023)
Would you sacrifice a family member to save the world from an impending apocalypse? “Knock at the Cabin” from M. Night Shyamalan dives into a family’s worst nightmare with psychological thrills, and the location may feel familiar.
Parts of the film were shot in Burlington County’s Tabernacle Township, according to multiple sources, and Southampton’s Evergreen Dairy Bar even took on a role as “Angie’s Roadside Diner” for the thriller.
‘The Zombie Wedding’ (2023)
“The Zombie Wedding” is a recent flick that has South Jersey written all over it. No, actually — Vineland’s Weekly World News Studios fronted this film with tons of the city’s scenery.
The film centers around the first-ever wedding between a living and zombie couple, and all of the comedic nonsense that takes place as the nuptials unfold, including coverage from WWN reporters.
Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@gannett.com. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
New Jersey
Justice Department finds pattern of misconduct by Trenton Police
From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
The Justice Department said Trenton’s police department have made arrests without legal basis, officers have escalated situations with aggression and used pepper spray unnecessarily.
The results of the yearlong investigation were contained in a 45-page report released Thursday morning during a virtual press conference with U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“The people of Trenton deserve nothing less than fair and constitutional policing,” Sellinger said. “When police stop someone in Trenton, our investigation found that all too often they violated the constitutional rights of those they stopped, sometimes with tragic consequences.”
Maati Sekmet Ra, co-founder of the Trenton Anti-Violence Coalition, said she is not surprised about the Justice Department’s findings.
“You cannot talk about violence that happens and occurs in a place like Trenton without talking about police violence,” she said. “Police have historically brutalized, harassed and now it’s proven that they’re violating the civil rights of folks who live in Trenton.”
Officers violate the 4th Amendment in 2 areas
The two main findings of the report are that Trenton officers use excessive force and conduct warrantless traffic stops, searches and arrests. Both violate the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
According to the report, officers reported using force in 815 incidents between March 2020 and December 2023. The majority of them involved physical force; pepper spray was used by officers 120 times. A firearm was used once.
In one incident mentioned during the press conference, a 64-year-old man died from respiratory failure after he was sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Officers went to the man’s house to arrest his son who was involved in an earlier domestic incident.
The man, who was not involved in the incident, met with officers outside his front door informing them they would not be allowed in his house without a warrant. As they waited for a supervisor to come to the scene, one of the officers escalated the conversation, taunting the father and son, according to the federal report.
The officer said the son was “talking like he was ‘retarded’ and asking if the father was ‘crazy,’” according to the report. The language the officer used according to the report is considered outdated and a slur toward people with mental disabilities.
As the father was about to re-enter his house, an officer threw him across the porch, against the railing and slammed him face down on the porch steps. As officers were arresting the father, another officer sprayed him in the face.
“The officer who escalated the encounter inaccurately reported that the father physically presented a ‘threat/attack’ to the officer,” the report stated. “He also claimed that he grabbed the father because he feared that a dog inside would come out—a factor that no other officer mentioned and that video footage discredited.”
The father died 18 days after the incident.
New Jersey
Light snow forecast expands to nearly half of N.J. after rain, high winds today
A cool, damp day is in store for New Jersey with rain during the day and northwestern areas of the state getting a dusting of snow at night, forecasters say.
Rain totals have been dialed back but Thursday’s moisture is “still a generous and much needed precipitation event,” especially for North Jersey, the National Weather Service said in its morning forecast discussion.
“The signal remains clear that the heaviest rain will fall across our northern zones with considerably less to the south, but overall, forecast precipitation has diminished slightly.”
By the time the last of the moisture pushes away from the state on Friday night, precipitation amounts will range from 1.5-2 inches in northwestern regions to a tenth to quarter inch in southern New Jersey. Central portions of the state should wind up with a half-inch to an inch of rain.
Overall, the rain will help New Jersey’s drought, but won’t come close to alleviating it.
“The drought is much too extensive and too significant to be resolved by one storm,” AccuWeather.com said.
The other story Thursday will be gusty winds that could reach as high as 25 mph inland and 40 mph along the Jersey Shore.
Rain will be mainly light, though heavier showers are possible at times, according to the weather service’s New York office, which covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties.
High temperatures will top out in the low 50s around mid-afternoon.
Rain will change to light snow tonight in northern New Jersey with less than an inch expected in general. Hilly areas in Sussex and parts of Passaic counties could see slightly higher totals. Lows will be in the 30s.
Some scattered light rain is expected Friday before it tapers off at night from west to east, according to forecasters. It’ll be a chilly, breezy day with highs only in the 40s before temps dip into the 30s overnight.
Dry weather returns for the weekend with mostly sunny conditions and highs in the low 50s both days. The forecast is the almost the same for Monday and Tuesday, though temps will be slightly warmer.
Current weather radar
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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