In 1949, the newspaper Washington Post published the history of the exorcism of a fourteen-year-old adolescent. The details, told through the notes of several priests, surprised the journalists, but above all, the readers. It was one of the few opportunities that the Roman Ritual was described by members of the Catholic Clergy in detail. Particularly, because the events associated with such a process are usually considered intimate. In other words, they only concern the religious who officiates it, the victim of the disturbance and his family. However, the event narrated by the newspaper was supported by a diary, which specified everything that happened.
The above was the origin of the novel The Exorcist by William Peter Blaty, which would later make it to the cinema and become a horror classic. Of course, it is not the only case that a film of the genre comes from a real event. But yes, one of the few in which at least most of the events or the origin of what is told on the screen can be proven. The experience made the possibility of turning inexplicable events into cinematic successes one of the objectives of directors interested in horror. But also, from the studies, in search of delving into a genre that evolves quickly and must be renewed frequently.
We leave you five feature films based on documented paranormal events. From a game that ended in tragedy to hysteria turned into an excuse for discrimination. The selection covers several of the best-known topics of horror films and, at the same time, their importance within popular culture.
Diabolical Doll
Although it is considered more of a dark comedy than a pure horror plot, Diabolical Doll can boast of coming from a history verifiably terrifying. In 1906, six-year-old Robert Eugene Ottoreceived a popular doll from the brand as a birthday gift Robert the Dollmade by Steiff Company. With its rough appearance, felt skin and black button eyes, it was part of a limited edition that was never sold in its entirety.
However, the one that belonged to the little one caused all kinds of phenomena around him. At least, those were the statements given by the Otto family. For years, various members saw the object change location without explanation and even heard a voice coming from their head. Later, Robert Eugene became a fine artist and also a writer. Several of his stories are based on his various experiences with the doll. Finally, upon his death, the toy joined the collection of Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Part of the anecdotes related to the object were added to the first three deletions of the plot written by Don Mancini.
Poltergeist
Tobe Hooper’s film is another that is based on a curious case, documented due to complaints from those involved to the local police. On February 3, 1958, authorities in Seaford, New York, received a call from the Hermanns. According to what the father explained, an invisible force had closed and opened the doors to the rooms, in addition to producing the sound of footsteps through the ground floor. Convinced it was some type of domestic invasion, the family requested assistance from law enforcement.
But instead of finding a stranger lodged in the basement or attic — as the Hermanns imagined — the police officers could see objects moving back and forth. Also, a noticeable change, without immediate explanation, between rooms. Everything happened around the youngest children, James and Lucille. However, despite the fact that there was a certain stir in the press and that the case was even called Poltergeist Popper, the events did not occur again. Although they were part of the investigation that It finally gave rise to the horror film that became a classic of the eighties.
Warren File: The Conjuring
The first installment of the well-known horror saga is based on one of the cases documented by self-proclaimed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. But unlike many others, which ended in controversy or direct confrontations between the couple and the witnesses, this one is based on the family’s testimonies. In fact, on the occasion of the premiere of the work in 2013, Andrea Perron, one of the couple’s daughters, gave a surprising interview for Use Today.
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In it, he stated that not only was the script a fairly faithful approach to what he experienced for more than two years in the family home, but also a respectful approach. Andrea Perron also explains that even the strangest events in the film, such as the nauseating smell and the exorcism of her mother, happened. For the witness — the only member of the family who communicates with the press and who has written about the subject — the events were mostly true. This, despite the fact that the neighbors of the house later denied it in a controversial reportage.
The witch
Although this is not a particular case, it is the summary of several similar ones. Something that the director and screenwriter achieved while researching to make the film. In particular, with the aid from the historian and anthropologist Katherine Howe. This she spent more than three years studying documents related to witchcraft trials. Finally, the filmmaker and the expert focused attention on three events that, combined, gave originality to the now classic film about witches.
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Specifically, the most important case when creating the script is very similar to what is shown on the big screen. In it, an unidentified New England girl in 1630 was accused of several crimes. The most serious, having murdered his younger brother. The circumstance became even darker when, following the incident — and the execution of the accused — the entire town’s harvest was lost and several children were reported missing. Finally, on May 6, 1631, a witness He claimed to have seen the supposed witch executed, walking naked through the forest.
Birds
The film lacks the timeless quality of many other Alfred Hitchcock films. But it is, perhaps the one that has, one of the stories more interesting background. In 1961, birds in the coastal city of Capitola, California, became aggressive, attacking passersby and fishermen.
Decades later, it would be discovered that they were poisoned by toxic algae. Which led to flocks of seagulls, swallows and crows crashing into houses and cars, while vomiting up half-digested food. The news was part of some curious articles in local newspapers and one of them reached the director’s hands.. The rest is history.