In honor of All Hallows’ Eve, we flashback a few years. The place, Washington State. If you think of Halloween, the work of legendary director and horror master John Carpenter should come to mind, but did you know that the Evergreen State played host to the last feature-length film he directed?

Washington incentive project The Ward is a horror-thriller film produced locally in 2009. The story follows a young institutionalized woman who is terrorized by a mysterious ghost. It stars Amber Heard (Pineapple Express), Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife), Danielle Panabaker (Necessary Roughness), Mika Boorem (The Patriot), and Jared Harris (Mad Men).

Principal photography for The Ward took place in several areas of the state, including Spokane, Des Moines, Medical Lake, and Cheney. Producers worked with Spokane’s North by Northwest Productions and employed more than 225 Washington residents as cast, crew, and extras. The film celebrated its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in theaters in 2011. It is currently available online, on VOD, and DVD.

Washington is no stranger to horror films. If you need help finding the perfect spooky location for your next production, Washington Filmworks can help. Local filmmakers should also consider submitting to next year’s Bleedingham Film Festival, an annual showcase in Bellingham that features the bloodcurdling creativity of our region. Want to connect with other film buffs who love the genre? Sign up to participate in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Project, a filmmaking competition that takes place next weekend, November 8-10, in Seattle.

What’s your favorite scary movie made in Washington? Tell us in the comment thread below.