Horror Movies: Based on a True Story?
Every horror movie seems to have the same type of plot: a family moves somewhere new, creepy paranormal things start subtly happening in their home, and then all of the sudden the family is fighting for their lives against some type of paranormal entity. The stories always seem outlandish and over the top, but did you know some of these movies stem from real life? Here are three movies you didn’t know were based on a true story.
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The Conjuring
As chilling as this story is, it is unfortunately true. Ed and Loraine Warren (founders of the New England Society for Psychic Research) were presented in the movie as the investigators in this haunting. They exercised demons and gained notoriety for this famous case. The real-life Loraine Warren was even a consultant on the 2013 film to ensure they did not dramatize the facts. The movie is based on the Perron family who bought a Rhode Island home in 1971 and were quickly met with strange behavior. After the family did some research on their newly purchased home, they discovered multiple mysterious deaths that took place in the home throughout the centuries. The main demon depicted in the movie is “Bathsheba” and Bathsheba is in fact a real person. Bathsheba lived in the home in the mid-1800s and was a practicing Satanist. She is believed to be responsible for a young boy’s death, but a trial was never held. Bathsheba is buried in the Baptist church right next to the family home. CREEPY!
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Annabelle
As if hearing about a doll with an evil spirit terrorizing her owner wasn’t creepy enough, knowing that it was a real event makes it 10 times worse. The real-life Annabelle doll can even be found in the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, CT! In 1970, the doll was gifted to a nurse, and creepy things began taking place (the doll was allegedly seen leaking blood at one point), and Ed and Loraine Warren were recruited to investigate the horror. They concluded that the doll was “not possessed but manipulated by spirits.” After they cleansed the home of demonic spirits and made sure it was safe, they went ahead and took the doll with them to place away in their museum. EEEEPPP!!!
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The Amityville Horror
Now this one is sad. In 1974, a young man by the name of Robert DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family. One year later, the Lutz family purchased the New York home and strange things quickly began conspiring. The wild claims they made about their encounters with spirits was later turned into a novel followed by the 1979 film. Although creepy things did take place in the home, it has been reported that the Lutz family exaggerated some of their claims to help better promote their book. Either way, you will not find me staying in that house anytime soon.
~Emily Smith
Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/horror-movies-real-stories-halloween
https://www.insider.com/horror-movies-true-stories-2018-1#annabelle-anna…
https://allthatsinteresting.com/true-story-of-the-conjuring-perron-famil…