Besides the high school being called "Casper High" after "Casper the Friendly Ghost," there are several other references to horror movies or related material.

- The high school team, the Ravens, relates to Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven."

- The town "Amity Park" is a reference to the real town "Amityville", where "The Amityville Horror" took place.

- The girl Sam Manson has two references. First, Sam from the "Son of Sam" murders (David Richard Berkowitz), and "Manson" as in "Charlie Manson", both infamous serial killers.