Have you ever wondered how real are those horror movies that made you sleep with the light on? Sometimes, fiction isn’t so far from reality. Here we tell you the story behind some of the most famous horror movies, and let us tell you, the truth may be even creepier!
The Conjuring (2013): The Story of the Warrens and the Perron Family
The Conjuring saga follows the paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two renowned real-life investigators of paranormal phenomena. The first film focuses on the Perron family’s eerie experience on a Rhode Island farm during the 1970s. The Perrons told how they experienced strange and frightening things since moving into their new home: unexplained sounds, foul smells, and shadowy apparitions.
According to the story, a woman named Bathsheba Sherman, who lived on the farm in the 19th century, was accused of practicing witchcraft and sacrificing her own son in a satanic act. Although never proven, the rumor stuck, and Bathsheba became a dark legend, even after her death. Lorraine Warren, who was a clairvoyant, claimed to have sensed Bathsheba’s evil presence in the house and believed she was haunting the family.
Sure, the movie takes some details and pushes them to the extreme, but the Perron family claimed to have witnessed unexplained and terrifying phenomena, so much so that they abandoned the house years later, firmly believing that something dark inhabited it.
Psycho (1960): Inspired by Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield”
You may not be familiar with the name Ed Gein, but you’re probably familiar with Norman Bates, the bizarre owner of that eerie motel in Psycho. Ed Gein was a real killer and grave robber in Wisconsin, USA. Although he didn’t commit as many crimes as other serial killers, the details of his actions were so shocking that they inspired several horror characters, including Norman Bates in Psycho, Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, and Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Ed Gein lived in isolation on a farm with his mother, who was extremely domineering and taught him that the world was wicked and that women were the root of all evil. When his mother died, Gein began digging up corpses from the nearby cemetery and using them to make “souvenirs,” such as masks and clothing with human skin. Yeah, sounds creepy, doesn’t it? Alfred Hitchcock used this disturbing story to inspire Norman Bates, who also has an obsessive relationship with his mother.
Although Psycho doesn’t show all the gruesome details of Ed Gein’s story, it perfectly captures the idea of a character unhinged by an unhealthy relationship with his mother.
The Exorcist (1973): The Case of “Roland Doe” and the Real Exorcism
The Exorcist is one of those horror classics that really makes you question the paranormal. This movie, famous for its shocking possession and exorcism scenes, is based on a real case that occurred in 1949. Although in the movie the possessed is a girl named Regan, in real life it was a young man nicknamed “Roland Doe” (to protect his identity) who experienced what his relatives and the Catholic Church believed to be demonic possession.
Roland’s story began after the death of his aunt, who allegedly practiced spiritualism. After her death, Roland began experiencing paranormal events, such as strange noises, objects flying around the room, and unexplained behavior. Roland’s parents sought help from the Church, and two priests performed an exorcism that lasted several weeks. It is said that during the rituals, Roland spoke in unknown languages and displayed supernatural strength.
The exorcism documents were closed to the public for years, but their story was enough for the writer William Peter Blatty to create his famous novel, which later became the movie we all know. Although Roland’s case was documented and supported by the priests involved, the mystery of what really happened remains without a concrete explanation.
Annabelle (2014): The Cursed Doll
Yes, Annabelle also has a real story behind it, and it’s just as creepy as they show it on screen. Annabelle is a doll currently under lock and key in the Warren’s Museum of the Occult, and, according to them, is one of the most dangerous entities they’ve ever worked with.
The story began in the 1970s, when two roommates, Donna and Angie, noticed that their rag doll (it wasn’t a porcelain doll like in the movie) started moving on its own, appearing in different places in their apartment. Things escalated quickly: they began to find messages saying “help us” on papers all over the house. The girls called a medium, who told them that the doll was possessed by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle Higgins.
Soon after, the Warrens learned of the case and explained that it was not a friendly spirit, but an evil entity trying to possess someone in the house. Today, Annabelle is in a special display case in the Warren museum, and every so often, a blessing is performed to keep her “quiet.”
True or Exaggerated?
Whether or not you believe in the supernatural side, these stories prove that terror doesn’t always come from a screenwriter’s imagination. For those who love Halloween and mystery, these cases are a window into the darker side of reality – who knows! Maybe the next real horror story is closer than we think.
