You know, these old 'hillbilly' tales may not be just old folklore
I grew up in rural North Carolina and lived there until I finished community college and working several part time jobs in order to rent an apartment and attend and graduate from UNCG. I lived in North Carolina three years after graduating. I live in the UK now but really miss rural NC and the old south.
I can tell you that there are communities such as what you saw in Pumpkinhead that exist in NC where they believe TV is of the devil and very religious and supersitious. There are plenty of such communities in Western North Carolina, such as in Rutherford County onwards. Even here in the UK and Ireland, such communities exist. I remember kids in the "holler" talking about people that you just stay away from. There was once a young guy who sold drugs and robbed an old woman. This man was never seen again but there sure was a lot of blood smeared on his walls. His door was smashed through as well. All the windows were smashed as well.
During my few years living near Rutherford County, I worked at a video store called Movie Gallery. Every night I worked, I'd close up and a sense of dread would come over me because I would have to drive down the isolated roads of Rutherford County to get to my little town of Lattimore, which is right on the edge of the county. I kept me doors locked because I was more afraid of the supernatural than what could shoot me for my money. And, anyone who drives at night on those lonely roads will tell you that there is something out there similar to what was portrayed in this film.
This film still reminds me of rural NC. These people we call "dumb hillbillys" know a little more than what we do. Also, even the most educated person living in those parts will tell you that there are some areas in Western North Carolina you just do go in after dark.