Creepiest Filming Locations Hollywood Has Ever Chosen

15. The Infamous Sowden House – L.A.'s Real-Life Horror Mansion

Lurking in the heart of Los Angeles, the Sowden House is a place that exudes an unsettling aura, making it one of Hollywood's most notorious filming locations. Designed by architect Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) in a Mayan Revival style, the house’s imposing structure and shadowy corners have made it a go-to setting for horror films and psychological thrillers. Its menacing, temple-like facade and labyrinthine interior were even used as the home of the twisted protagonist in The Black Dahlia (2006), which is eerily fitting—because the house has a real-life connection to one of the most infamous unsolved murders in history. Dr. George Hodel, a wealthy and eccentric physician, once lived in the Sowden House, and many believe he was the true killer behind the brutal 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia. Some investigators claim that Short was tortured and killed within these very walls, with the house's unique design helping to muffle any screams. The rumors, combined with its eerie aesthetics, have made the Sowden House a chilling backdrop for Hollywood productions, where fiction and real-life horror blend into one.