That Barcelona is a city-plató is demonstrated by all the productions that are filmed in the city. What you may not know is that, beyond REC, a good handful of horror films have been shot in Barcelona, turning its streets and buildings into scary scenes.
We tell you some of the best horror movies that have been shot in the city and the specific locations where they were filmed so you can set up a horror movie route for Halloween (or any time of the year).
[Rec] (2007 – Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza)
A group of journalists are trapped in an apartment building while covering a fire. What begins as a simple coverage turns into a nightmare when they discover that the tenants are infected by a virus that transforms people into violent creatures. The film was shot mainly on the Rambla de Catalunya, in the Casa Argelich building.
While You Sleep (2011 – Jaume Balagueró)
A psychopathic doorman, played by Luis Tosar, becomes obsessed with a young neighbor to the worst consequences. The plot explores anguish and suspense as the protagonist carries out his malevolent plans. The film was shot in several locations in Eixample and Les Corts.
Darkness (2002 – Jaume Balagueró)
A family moves into a dark house that hides terrifying secrets. As the story progresses, the mysteries and dangers that haunt its inhabitants are revealed. Filming took place, above all, on the Via Laietana, in a shoot that caused more than one surprise to unsuspecting pedestrians when a car accident was simulated in a scene that included artificial rain and more than two hundred extras.
The Nameless Ones (1999-Jaume Balagueró)
A mother receives a call from her daughter who was murdered six years ago, which leads her to investigate a dark mystery. The film, shot at the Tibidabo amusement park, combines supernatural elements with a psychological thriller.
Muse (2018 – Jaume Balagueró).
A literature professor becomes involved in a series of murders related to a recurring nightmare about his missing girlfriend, in a film that mixes myths and superstitions as the protagonist searches for answers. Filming took place at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Ateneu Barcelonés.
The Year of the Plague (2018 – Carlos Martín Ferrera)
Adaptation of a novel about a man who becomes an unexpected hero during a strange plague that affects his environment. The film features several iconic places in Barcelona, such as Can Batlló and the Cable Car.
The Last Days ( 2013 – Àlex and David Pastor).
In an apocalyptic world where people are afraid to go outside due to a deadly disease, a man tries to find his girlfriend while navigating through a desolate environment, usually located in the subway and sewers of Barcelona.
Bird Box Barcelona (2023 – Álex Pastor and David Pastor).
Spin-off of the popular “Bird Box,” this film follows a group struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic Barcelona. The survivors’ journey through Barcelona takes them through places in Gràcia, the Eixample, the Gothic Quarter and the port, all the way to the Telefèric.
Count Dracula ( 1970 – Jesús Franco)
This adaptation of the literary classic presents the famous vampire in iconic Barcelona settings such as the Castell de Montjuïc, the Plaza del Rey and even the Sagrada Familia, transforming the city into Transylvania. Pere Portabella made a documentary about this filming in 2017.
Rocafort Station (2023 – Luis Prieto)
This psychological horror film explores the urban legend of the Rocafort subway station, where horror stories say strange deaths occur.The protagonist, Laura, investigates these mysteries with the help of an ex-cop, facing dark secrets from the past. It was filmed inside the Barcelona subway, providing an unsettling atmosphere.