1. Home
  2. Halloween on the Hilltop

Halloween on the Hilltop

Orange you excited for Halloween? From Georgetown-themed pumpkin stencils to learning from a Georgetown professor if Hollywood got witches right, creep it real and get in the Halloween spirit!

Does Hollywood Get Witches Right? Demystifying Witchcraft History

Once deemed social outcasts worthy of burning at the stake, witches now find themselves portrayed in Halloween movie hits and costumes for the spooky holiday. But for Amy Leonard, associate professor of history in the College of Arts & Sciences, witches are not just a font for fall fun — they’re a source for deep fascination and study.

Ask a Professor: Witches in History and Pop Culture
1 of 1

The Exorcist at Georgetown: Still Haunting and Horrifying 50 Years Later

In 1972, the supernatural horror film “The Exorcist” was filmed on and around Georgetown’s campus. Released in 1973, it became the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Discover the story behind Georgetown’s key role in “The Exorcist” and how a group of students got a part in the iconic horror film.

More Behind the Scenes of “The Exorcist”
A photo of The Exorcist house in the Georgetown campus with movie production staff on the street
The director of The Exorcist directs a shot of the film in the Georgetown neighborhood
The director of The Exorcist and actor Jason Miller discuss a scene on the streets of the Georgetown neighborhood
Actor Lee J. Cobb sits in a car while waiting for a scene of The Exorcist to film. He's smoking a cigar.
Photos are a gift of Professor Emeritus Clifford Chieffo, Georgetown University, liaison agent with Warner Bros for filming on campus property.

What Rocks: The Exorcist Steps

The “M Street Steps” have been a part of Washington, D.C., history since the late 1800s. However, it wasn’t until the award-winning film “The Exorcist” that they took on their own haunted history.

1 of 1

Pumpkin Decorating Stencils

Go big or gourd home with these Georgetown-themed pumpkin decorating stencils!

Download Stencils
An orange graphic that reads "Why do I like being scared?" Around the edge of the graphic are black bats and black spiderwebs

Why Do I Like to be Scared?

Halloween is all about tricks and treats, but why is it that we seek out scary movies and haunted trails if they frighten us so much? Georgetown University’s Associate Professor of Psychology Abigail Marsh explains the science behind the fear factor in this Ask a Professor.

More From Professor Marsh