Horror Movies Set in Sinister Casinos

High-stakes horror and casinos go hand in hand, with the two often sharing a thrilling, kinetic energy and enjoyed by adrenaline junkies.

Sinister casinos have long been a captivating backdrop for horror movies, blending the glamour of high-stakes gambling with an eerie, mysterious atmosphere. These films explore the dark underbelly of these establishments, weaving tales of deceit, malevolence, and supernatural forces. Prepare to be drawn into the world of gambling, sinister casinos, and the glittery lights of Vegas, where fortunes and lives hang in the balance.

Leprechaun 3 (1995)

Leprechaun 3 is a horror-comedy film and the third installment in the Leprechaun series. In this film, the malevolent Leprechaun finds himself in Las Vegas, where he causes havoc and terrorizes casino-goers. The movie combines humor and horror as the Leprechaun goes on a killing spree, using his magical powers in various casino settings. The film serves as a delightful rollercoaster of laughter and terror, showcasing the Leprechaun’s gleeful malevolence as he unleashes chaos in the casino.

As the Leprechaun wreaks havoc on the big screen, it’s hard not to chuckle at the absurdity of it all and perhaps even wonder if gambling in the safe confines of the best online casino real money USA is a better idea. After all, there are no mischievous leprechauns lurking behind your computer screen, ready to cause mayhem with their pots of gold!

Fright Night (2011)

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has also seen its fair share of movie crews, including those for Grand Prix (1966) and the 2011 remake of Fright Night.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened in March 1995 and has also been featured in music videos and TV shows. At launch, the resort’s casino spanned 28,000 sq ft and eventually expanded to 61,704 sq ft after an expansion from 2007 to 2010. It was sold in 2018 and closed for renovations in 2020. The hotel later reopened in 2021 as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Though Fright Night doesn’t really feature any gambling scenes, Las Vegas magician Peter Vincent (played to campy perfection by David Tennant) performs at the Hard Rock Casino and plays a pivotal role in the film. Though he at first refuses to help Charley (Anton Yelchin) kill the vampire Jerry (Colin Farrell), who lives next door to him, he eventually comes to the young man’s rescue and helps defeat the evil bloodsucker.

The Haunted Casino (2007)

The Haunted Casino (also known as Dead Man’s Hand) is a horror film that revolves around a group of college students who visit a haunted Las Vegas casino recently inherited by their friend Matthew. The casino, rumored to be cursed, unleashes vengeful spirits, leading to a night of terror and supernatural encounters. The sinister atmosphere of the haunted casino creates a spooky and suspenseful setting for the film.

This B-movie was directed by Charles Band of Full Moon fame (Puppet Master), so you can probably guess what you can expect with this one. It’s a silly romp, but it does feature cameos from the late, great Sid Haig and fellow horror icon Michael Berryman.

Spirits of the Dead (1969)

Spirits of the Dead is an anthology film that consists of three segments directed by Roger Vadim, Louis Malle, and Federico Fellini, based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe. Malle’s entry, “William Wilson”, follows Wilson, who is hounded throughout his life of cruelty and deception by a doppelgänger, whom he challenges to a fatal duel after the doppelgänger accuses Wilson of cheating during an all-night poker game.

Louis Malle accepted the job of directing the segment “William Wilson” in order to raise money for his next film, Murmur of the Heart. Because he did not consider it a personal passion project but rather a financial endeavor, he agreed to make changes to his segment to make it more attractive to mainstream audiences. This includes casing bombshell Brigitte Bardot in one of the leading roles to give it more sex appeal and adding some more explicit violence.

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

While Resident Evil: Extinction is primarily known as a science fiction horror film, it does take place in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas and includes an epic zombie shootout and knife fight in Sin City.

This film is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series, based on the Capcom survival horror video game series of the same name. It was directed by Russell Mulcahy and written by Paul W.S. Anderson. The plot follows the heroine, Alice, along with a group of survivors from Raccoon City, as they attempt to travel across the Mojave desert wilderness to Alaska and escape a zombie apocalypse. They stop in Vegas to get gas and supplies for their journey.

Most of the mayhem takes place in Death Valley, where large-scale action sequences occur amid the post-apocalyptic landscapes of Las Vegas in broad daylight. Our protagonists drive along the deserted Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Blvd), and we get glimpses of the ruins of the ornate casinos on the Strip and the world-famous landmark replicas, like the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.