You’d think Weare, NH would be an ideal place to escape Tampa Bay’s unforgiving summer temps: Quiet and relaxing with a state park that takes up most the town’s land. Also sounds like the perfect setup for a horror flick.

As any horror fan knows, the house matters. More than just a backdrop, it becomes a character in its own right. Here’s a closer look at some of the real-life houses that shaped the landscape, literally and figuratively, of our favorite flicks of the Halloween season.