Ghost Hunters

Ed and Lorraine Warren gained popularity with most people when Hollywood started creating movies based on their real-life cases. These worldwide known ghost investigators had a talent for assisting families who moved into haunted homes. Their journey began in the late 1960s, and over the decades, they worked extensively with haunted houses and families who unfortunately lived in them. Let’s delve into the movies that were inspired by the Warrens’ experiences.

Movies Based On Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Investigations

Amityville Horror

Amityville Horror

The Amityville Horror is one of the most terrifying films ever made. The film is based on the same book and was released in 1979. The book was based on the haunting experiences of the Lutz family when they moved into the home.

In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed six of his family members in the home on 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. He was eventually convicted of second-degree murder in November 1975. He was sentenced to serve 25 years to life in prison. He died while he was in prison in 2021. Unaware of this story, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the Amityville house in December 1975. The realtor did end up telling them that there were some horrible murders in the home, but that didn’t seem to bother them at all. They felt that it was their dream come true. This house seemed to be a new start for them, and they were ready to raise their family there.

After living there for a very short time, the Lutz family began to experience some unexplainable paranormal events. When they moved into the house, one of George’s friends mentioned that they should get the home blessed by a priest. Neither George nor Kathy were religious, so they didn’t know what that meant.

The Catholic church sent Father Mancuso to their home to bless it. When he went into their home, he felt terrified. He heard a masculine voice telling him to leave the house. He told no one about his visit to the home and allegedly ended up getting very sick with a high fever and blisters after he left the home. The symptoms were much like those of people who claim they have stigmata.

The Real Amityville House

The Real Amityville House

The Lutz family began to experience horrifying paranormal events in their home. Some of the rooms would be swarmed with flies for one second, and then they would vanish. They would also feel a “very strong force” that was trying to push them out of the house. There were stories of green ooze coming out of the walls and the water sometimes turning black in the baths and toilets. Not only this, but the children claimed to see a pig face with red eyes and a demon figure in a white hood. The Lutz family was driven to their breaking point on January 14, 1976. They left everything they owed behind and would never step into the house again.

Ed and Lorraine Warren were called to help the Lutz family with these paranormal events. Lorraine could feel the terrifying spirits in the home, so they did everything they could to help. After being there, the Lutz family wanted nothing else to do with the home.

Rumors have circulated that the Lutz family faked everything to become rich off of this story. Although proof of some of the paranormal events has been found, the Lutz family continues to say that it all happened to them in the Amityville house.

The Haunted

The Haunted was released in 1991, and it was one of the first films to actually use the Warrens as characters. This film didn’t get too much attention when it was released and has practically been forgotten about. It was based on the Smurl family haunting, a case that Ed and Lorraine Warren worked on and spent quite a bit of time on.

Janet Smurl moved into a home in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and felt it was the perfect home for them. It didn’t take long for the family to start encountering paranormal activity. The family would see strange figures walking around their home, and they would hear horrifying sounds at night. Strange stains would also start to show up on the walls of the home.

The Smurl family wasn’t sure how to deal with everything happening in the home. Janet found out about Ed and Lorraine and called them to get some help with these encounters. She felt like someone was trying to push her family out of the home, but she knew they couldn’t leave; they had put everything into this house. The Warrens discovered that there was a lot more going on in the home than anyone ever thought.

The Haunting in Connecticut

The Haunting in Connecticut

Released in 2009, The Haunting in Connecticut, based on the Snedeker House, focused on a family going through a terrible time in their lives. Sara Campbell and her son, Matt, were going through a challenging time in life. Matt, her son, was going through cancer treatments, and she and her husband, Peter, needed to find a home closer to the hospital.

The Snedeker House - The Haunting in Connecticut

The Real Snedeker House

Sara and Peter were also going through a hard time in their marriage. He was an alcoholic, and she was waiting tables and picking up any odd jobs that she could in order to help her son. As the couple discussed finding a rental home, Sara drove by one and knew it was fate. The homeowner was frustrated that no one wanted to live in it. He offered the family a free month if they would move in quickly. This didn’t strike the family as strange, and they felt that this was supposed to be their home.

The family decides that this is a deal they can’t refuse. They move in, and immediately, paranormal events begin to occur. Matt finds some strange pictures in his room, which is in the basement, and then Peter finds out that the home was a funeral home at some point. Matt begins to see visions in the home, and soon, there are figures in his room, and the more they show up, the closer they get to him.

A Haunting in Connecticut got a lot of backlash. Critics claim that Ed and Lorraine Warren sensationalized this entire story, and none of these events ever happened to the family. The Warrens always stood by their story that all of these events did happen inside this house.

The Conjuring Films

The Places and Artifacts from The Conjuring

The Conjuring

The Real Conjuring House

The Real Conjuring House

The Conjuring franchise solidified Ed and Lorraine Warren’s validity in these paranormal cases. The movies began with the paranormal tales from the Perron family and their haunted house. Many critics claim that the first Conjuring film was fictionalized to add to its horror. This movie was one of the first-ever movies to show the Warrens as heroes to those who called them for help. The franchise has made Ed and Lorraine seem more positive than all the rumors about them in the 1970s and 80s.

The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring 2 featured a family’s home in England. In the 1970s, the family was terrified by a poltergeist. In this film, the Hodgson family experiences a lot of paranormal activity in their home. Interestingly enough, Lorraine actually had a vision during the seance of a demonic nun figure. This ended up being the demon that was haunting the Hodgson family. This was the first film where the demon Valak was introduced into the Conjuring film franchise.

The Real Conjuring 2 House

The Real Conjuring 2 House

In the Hodgson home, some of the children began to show signs that they had been possessed. One of the children, Janet, was seen levitating and growling like a demon. The Warrens found out about their story and wanted to know what was happening in this home. They wanted to be able to prove if this possession was a hoax. Lorraine wasn’t sure that she wanted to get involved after seeing visions of Ed being killed there.

The Warrens did come to see the Hodgson’s home and got help from other paranormal experts. The Warrens felt as if the family was lying to become famous, but later found out that Janet was, indeed, possessed by the demon in the home. Ed and Lorraine ended up saving Janet and her family, and they ended up moving away from the home.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is yet another film in The Conjuring franchise in which Ed and Lorraine Warren appear. This movie is about a man who asks a demon to possess him instead of his girlfriend’s child. Ed Warren watches as the man is possessed, and that is when he suffers from a heart attack. Arne Johnson begins to act very strangely after being possessed.

Arne ended up killing his landlord after he stabbed him 22 times. He told the police that the demon inside of him was what made him do it. The Warrens felt they needed to testify for Arne since they saw the possession and were part of it. However, Arne ends up going to prison no matter how much Ed and Lorraine stand up for him.

The Annabelle Films

The Annabelle Films

Annabelle

Annabelle

The Annabelle movies gave horror lovers a big scare with the face of this creepy doll. A medical student named John Form bought the creepy doll for his expecting wife, Mia. In the movie, it was a porcelain doll, but in real life, Ed and Lorraine Warren kept a Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle in a glass case.

It turned out that the doll was possessed by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle. Paranormal events began to happen in John and Mia’s home, and as soon as she gave birth to their daughter, Leah, things seemed to get even worse. They contacted a priest to help them; they just wanted peace from this spirit. After the doll disappeared, it reappeared when a woman bought it for her daughter, Debbie. Debbie was a nursing student and took the doll to her home. Her story is seen in the first half of The Conjuring film.

Annabelle Comes Home

Annabelle Comes Home

Annabelle Comes Home is yet another installment of a film inspired by Ed and Lorraine Warren. In this film, the Warrens have a babysitter come over to watch their daughter Judy for one night. The babysitter, Mary Ellen, invites a friend over. Daniela, her friend, goes into the Warrens’ haunted and cursed objects room. As she pokes around, she sees the Annabelle doll and decides to let her out. This ends up causing some horrible paranormal events.

Although most of the events in this movie were made up, fans of the franchise enjoyed it. This movie was dedicated to Lorraine Warren, who died on April 18, 2019.

Other movies seem to be inspired by the Warrens but do not give them much credit in the films themselves. The Nun, The Nun 2, and various seasons of American Horror Story were all inspired by the Warrens in some type of way. All of the movies in The Conjuring franchise pay homage in one way or another to the Warrens and everything that they did for families that faced paranormal events in their homes.

Great Ghost Hunting Gifts for Everyone

That’s alliteration! Tired of giving slippers and matching socks every year? Looking to give something otherworldly to that special someone? Give a gift that is sure to entertain.

Ghost hunting gear can range from low- to hi-tech ready for use by novices and experts. We have put together a quick list of user-friendly ghost hunting must-have gifts from GhostStop that work for everyone.

Ghostly Gear for Everyone

Ghost Hunting Beginner KitBeginner Ghost Hunting Kit – A beginner ghost hunting kit with essential gear for investigators. This ghost hunting kit includes a lasting EVP recorder, EMF meter, and versatile flashlight for hunting as well as your own safety. An easy-to-use kit with everything you need to go on your first ghost hunt. The beginner kit runs $162.85 and is on sale for $145.95 during the holidays.

EVP Spirit Box Ghost Hunting GearSpirit Box & Ghost Recorder – The Rook EMF Meter is an advanced tool, yet easy to use, for ghost hunting. With sound alerts and lights, it detects subtle electromagnetic changes, emphasizing energy shifts and paranormal proximity. Fortified against interference, this EMF recorder ensures accurate evidence collection and source tracking, as it was developed by seasoned paranormal investigators. The Spirit Box & Ghost Recorder is $89.95 and is on sale for $79.95 during the holidays.

Full Spectrum Phasm Camera for Ghost HuntingFull Spectrum Camera – the Phasm Cam is an innovative 4K full-spectrum and night vision recording camera crafted exclusively for ghost hunters. Developed with paranormal investigators in mind, years of ghost hunting experience culminate in this exceptional low-light camcorder. Capture ultra-high-definition (4K) videos in full spectrum, ideal for low-light or no-light scenarios. The Phasm Full Spectrum Camera runs $199.95 and is on sale at $179.95 for the holidays.

Evp Wrist Recorder Ghost Hunting GearEVP Wrist Recorder – Experience hands-free EVP capture with this wrist-worn EVP audio recorder. Boasting a full-color display, live listening, and ample storage, it’s perfect for seamless investigations. Lasting all night, it minimizes false evidence, leaving your hands free for focused work. The EVP Wrist Recorder is priced at $79.95 and is a perfect gift for everyday use.

Rook EMF Meter with Sound Ghost Hunting EquipmentEMF Meter With Sound – The Rook EMF Meter is a beast for paranormal exploration. Tailored for ghost hunting, it detects subtle energy shifts with lights and sound alerts, emphasizing proximity for easier source tracking. Built to resist interference and false readings. The Rook was built for paranormal investigators hunting for cleaner readings. The Rook EMF Meter with Sound runs an affordable $69.95.

Ovilus 5 Ghost Box Paranormal GearOvilus 5 Ghost Box – The Ovilus Ghost Box is one of the most advanced tools for ghost hunters and communication with spirits. Elevating spirit communication with unparalleled information and simplicity, the Ovilus effortlessly transforms environmental readings into words, combining advanced features with portability. The Ovilus 5 is a serious investment with serious benefits. Priced at $599.95 it is well worth the investment.

Spirit Box Ghost Hunting KitSpirit Box Ghost Hunting Kit – The Ghost Box and EMF Meter Kit are a blend of top-notch tools for ghost hunting. Featuring EMF, an EVP wrist recorder, temperature swing monitoring, and ghost box communication, this kit is the ideal mix for thorough investigative paranormal research. The Spirit Box Ghost Hunting Kit runs $252.80 and is on sale at $225.95 for the holidays.

Laser Grid Motion Sensor for Ghost HuntingMotion Sensors – There are a variety of motion sensors to choose from. Our favorite is the very affordable Laser Grid GS1 which projects a grid that can help you identify any apparition or anomaly that passes through the grid. Not to mention, it looks realllllly cool. The GS1 Laser Grid system runs $89.95 and is on sale at $75.95 this holiday season.

BooBuddy Ghostly Interactive Paranormal BearThe BooBuddy Interactive Bear – It might look like a teddy bear, but it’s so much more. The Boo Bear is equipped with an EMF Meter inside and listens to the environment with other ghost hunting tech. The bear can ask questions and react to the changing environment around it using sensors. It’s an interactive paranormal Teddy Bear that will actually speak to you and entities in the area detecting electromagnetic frequencies, temperature changes, vibration, and more.
The BooBuddy Interactive Bear runs $359.95 and is on sale at $339.95 this holiday season.

Ghost Hunting Kits for Everyone

GhostStop also has kits for all types of ghost hunters from entry-level to pro.

  • Learner Ghost Hunting Kit – Priced was $175.80. On Sale at $165.95
    Includes an EMF Meter, EVP Wrist Recorder, How to Hunt Ghosts book, and Flashlight.
  • Beginner Ghost Hunting Kit – Priced was $162.85. On Sale at $145.95
    Includes an Rook EMF Meter, EVP Wrist Recorder, and Flashlight.
  • Pro Ghost Hunting Kit – Priced was $689.70. On Sale at $615.95
    Includes a Phasma Camera, Phasm Light, Flexible Camera Tripod, Mel MF Meter with Temperature, EVP Wrist Recorder, SBox Ghost Scanner, Large Case, and Flashlight.

You can find all these and more at GhostStop, a one-stop shop for paranormal lovers and professionals.

Once you have your gear, find a real haunted place near you and start investigating. Or, investigate your own humble abode if you dare.

 

Note: FrightFind does make money off of affiliate links. Not much, but it’s enough to keep the lights on when we’re not hunting for ghosts.

It was only a matter of time before some of the more obscure cases from the husband and wife paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, made it to the big screen. So far their first two outings in The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2, alongside all their other Conjuring-universe films have amassed an absolutely staggering $1.8 billion dollar box office gross worldwide. The last cinematic outing into the supernatural for the Warrens was all the way back in 2016. What does 2020 have in store for them? Here is all the latest on everything you need to know about their latest film entitled, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and the shocking details of the case behind it.

The Conjuring 3: Release Date, Cast, and Crew

Series creator of this beloved horror film franchise, James Wan, will be handing directorial duties over to another veteran horror director in Michael Chaves. If his name sounds familiar it is because he directed one of 2019’s overlooked horror gems in The Curse of La Llorona, which James Wan actually produced as well. Veteran film write of franchise favorite The Conjuring 2 and 2018’s mega box office hit Aquaman, David Johnson-McGoldrick will return here once again. Fear not though horror fans, as James Wan will be on board for producing this newest installment.

The Conjuring 3

James Wan, Michael Chaves, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

Who all is set to return? Naturally, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be reprising their now-iconic horror film roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren respectively, but will be joining them in this latest chapter? Irish actor Ruairi O’Connor has joined on board with a sizable role alongside actress Sarah Catherine Hook. Rounding out the immediate cast will also be Julian Hilliard, and if his name sounds familiar that’s because he portrayed Young Luke in the critically acclaimed Netflix horror series Haunting of Hill House.

The Conjuring 3

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson with the late Lorraine Warren

So what evil entity will the Warrens be battling in this horror threequel? This time around the Warrens will be called upon to help with a criminal court case involving a murderous defendant who claims he was possessed by a demon.

The True Story of The Conjuring 3

Inspired by real-life events, the original case for this occurred deep within Connecticut in February 1981. A man named Arne Johnson stabbed another man to death and claimed it was, in fact, a vicious demonic entity that possessed him and made him commit murder. This criminal case has particular notoriety for being the first time that a defendant actually claimed demonic possession as a defense in American history. How did this demonic entity come about? According to the Warren’s, it entered into Johnson after jumping from a small boy as the demon escaped Hell. You know, classic demon jumping from boy story.

The Conjuring 3 Updated Release Date

June 4, 2021, is the new official release date for this eagerly awaited and much-anticipated horror sequel. Horror fans need to mark those calendars now and save the date. Note: this date has been altered for Covid reasons.

The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It Trailer

When it comes to horror and the supernatural, nobody is doing it better these days than the streaming colossus of Netflix. Hit series such as Haunting of Hill House, The Santa Clarita Diet, and The Witcher have proven to be a massive success with critics and horror fans alike. Coming off the high critical reception of 2019’s Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, just what exactly does Netflix have up its horror sleeve next?

Netflix’s New Haunted House Docuseries

Anticipated for a late 2020/early 2021 debut is their most exciting and chilling docu-series yet, a look deep inside the most notoriously haunted houses in the United States. This currently untitled series is set to take viewers further than any documentary series on the subject of paranormal activity has ever taken them before.

Just who is behind this deep dive into the macabre and often taboo subject? Showrunner and director for Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes and the critically acclaimed film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile that starred heartthrob Zac Efron as the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, horror documentary mastermind Joe Berlinger will be overseeing this series. The production studio that Netflix will be working with on the show is based out of Imagine Entertainment which is further overseen by none other than Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard. Needless to say that anyone who might worry about or question the quality of this paranormal activity series should put those fears to rest as it sounds like the show will be put in extremely good and capable hands.

On the subject of haunted houses, just exactly which ones will the show explore in-depth? Anticipated among many horror fans is that Amityville should be put at the top of any haunted house list. The Haunting In Connecticut home, a former real-life funeral home turned into a residence, should be king when it comes to providing the best in horror scares. While those two haunting classics are some of the more well known out there, will it feature any more of the obscure cases that have been known only among innermost horror fan circles? The Lizzie Borden House of Fall River. Screaming House of Union, Missouri that actually shrieks. Perhaps the infamous LaLaurie Mansion of New Orleans, or even the modern-day Bothell Hell House of Washington state.

Horror fans mark your calendars for late 2020/early 2021 for what is sure to be Netflix’s biggest breakout horror hit. Don’t you dare miss this one!

People either believe in ghosts, or they don’t. Everyday videos are uploaded to Youtube arguing for or against the evidence of life after death. Are these ghosts or something else that perhaps science can explain?

Here are 13 of the scariest ghost videos online today.

Ed Warren Ghost Provocation *Bonus Footage*

An excerpt from an early 1990s VHS tape that was a documentary on Ed and Lorraine Warren, the ghost hunters from the real Conjuring House haunting. This is actual footage from a real haunting the Warrens investigated. Ed Warren uses religious provocation to challenge the spirit and what happens next will leave you speechless!

Ghost Chair


Can wheelchairs move with nobody in them? Outside a hospital emergency room in India, a stationary wheelchair mysteriously rolls forward on a level path, constantly changing direction unassisted for what appears to be a distance of seventy feet! Even more impressive is the security guard who observes it with a shocked expression.

Haunted Ventriloquist Dummy


Everyone agrees that ventriloquist dummies are creepy enough on their own, but to see a decapitated one move? At a private collection in Liverpool, England a WWII era dummy called Mr. Fritz was caught on the overnight security camera blinking his eyes, moving his mouth, and even opening and closing the locked glass case. Pay special attention during the up-close shots and spot the white orbs!

Schoolhouse Ghost


At a primary school in Cork City, Ireland, an overnight security camera was recording footage of a school hallway. In the dead of night, with nobody in the school whatsoever, a very active poltergeist makes its presence known on camera. Turns out that ghosts don’t like having homework to do either.

Shadow Man Airplane


Everyone has heard of Snakes on a Plane, but how about shadow figures? A security guard at Mexico City International Airport responded to a bizarre noise complaint on an empty jetliner. Responding in the dead of night, what he sees next has him running for the nearest exit. Guaranteed goosebumps on this one for sure.

Ghost in a Shop

In an Egyptian pharmacy, a ghost decides to have some fun and wreak havoc. Flickering the computer lights, it’s possible this ghost was a computer scientist. Or maybe it’s new to technology. Either way, this surveillance footage is sure to leave a shiver down your spine.

 

Going Swimming in Puerto Rico

You may not want to go swimming after this. In 2018, a woman captured a terrifying video while floating on the Isabela River Canal. This video shows some people riding the river rapids in Puerto Rico, when you can suddenly see what appears to be a ghost woman dressed in white swimming with them. She must have been too hot in the Puerto Rico sun.

Ghost Pub Glass Attack


It’s a busy night at a crowded pub in Belford, Northumberland. The patrons are naturally jam-packed around the bar, as many pints of ale are served. Overhead surveillance camera footage was able to capture what happened to one man’s ale pint glass. Students of paranormal activity have not been able to spot anything that would signify the glass being tampered with. Set up in the real-life haunted Salmon Inn, this rambunctious ghost behavior is nothing new.

Ghost Stretcher


Security camera footage from a hospital courtyard in Rosario, Argentina shows an unattended stretcher begin to move around and for the briefest of moments seem to actually levitate. While the paranormal activity it displays is eerie enough, what happens at the end of the video is really scary and shows that whatever is pushing the stretcher isn’t nice.

Haunted Pub

Owners at Tyler’s Kiln, located in Canterbury, England, have recently experienced an uptick in paranormal activity. This haunted bar has doors opening and closing, mysterious shadows flying by, and security alarms going off in the dead of night. To try and capture who might be setting off the security alarms overnight, they set up a surveillance camera. What they captured next was completely unexpected.

Black Shape Bridge


Two men out for an evening drive near the Haunted Governor’s Road Bridge in Davidson, Maryland. One of the most haunted places in all of Maryland, the pair capture a sinister black shape on camera that scares them so badly, they speed away in a panic.

 The Screaming Ghost

On September 14, 2003, a hotel employee named John was sent to investigate sounds of screaming coming from an unoccupied room. As the video progresses, viewers can audibly hear the sounds of a distressed woman screeching. We then see John enter the hotel room. What happens next? You’ll have to watch the video and find out…

Villisca Axe Murder Ghost

Inside the home of the real-life shocking Villisca Axe Murders of 1912, the current owners were experiencing some paranormal activity in one of the children’s bedrooms. A camera was set up, and one of the owners confronted the ghost child themselves.

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Michiganians getting ready for Halloween have a lot of options around the state to get in the mood. From corn mazes to pumpkin patches and all the things in-between. At FrightFind, we like to keep it spooky all year long. Here are a few of our favorite haunted houses and real haunted places for the spooky season. If you can’t find something near you below, check out our entire list of haunted houses in Michigan to find something closer to you.

Bay City Haunts

EDSON INCIDENT

Bay City area people are in luck when it comes to the finest in haunted house horror attractions. Near and dear to your location is the Edson Incident Haunted House. Climb aboard the USS Edson with your bravest friends and try to endure five hellish decks with claustrophobic fear bearing down on you. Special attention goes to this haunted attraction for also running a special “blackout” event where you and your friends are given a single flashlight to navigate this naval ship in total darkness. As a real-life haunt, the USS Edson is open for paranormal groups to come in and hold investigations as well.

In reality, the USS Edson is considered to be one very haunted naval destroyer that saw action during the Vietnam War and into the Cold War. Referred to as the “Grey Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast”, the ship has an astonishing amount of paranormal activity coming as many speculate from all the pent up residual energy of the many battles it was in. Objects moving, doors opening and closing, and the spookiest sounds you’ll ever hear, this is definitely a fun-time Halloween experience that will guarantee to scare the ship out of you.

Traverse City Haunts

SCREAMS IN THE DARK

Traverse City residents have perhaps one of the most intensive haunted attractions ever at Screams In the Dark. The Haunted Hayride and Haunted Trail are there for the outdoorsy types who prefer to look up at the full moon while screaming in terror. However, what makes this haunt stand out is its crowd-pleasing attractions. The Swamp of Suffering is crawling with infected backwoods ghouls who make use of shadowy pathways to scare you senseless. The Swamp eventually exits out up against Dreadmore Manor, home to a twisted physician who’s ungodly creations prowl about. Screams In the Dark is a hidden horror gem that will give you and your friends a scare to remember.

Niles Scream Park and Zak Bagans

NILES HAUNTED HOUSE SCREAM PARK

Niles is home to the most intense and insanely fun haunted attraction on the Michigan/Indiana state line. Niles Scream Park has been a long-standing horror staple in the area that features over six fresh horror attractions (that are brand new every year), that’s spread out over an astonishing forty-four acres. Among the highlights are the Deadwood Salon where the souls of some of the most cut-throat Gold Rush era ghouls are liable to sneak up on you and demand back their stolen gold. N’Awlins Nightmare will have you looking at the Big Easy from a totally different angle as you’re chased through this haunt by some of voodoo’s most heinous monstrosities. And the classic Niles Haunted House is the most popular spook attraction with over 100 different terrifying paths to take.

Zak Bagans' Demon House

If you’re still feeling froggy, less than an hour drive over the state line into Gary, Indiana will put you face to face with the notorious Zak Bagans Demon House. The ruins of this house still stand which has become something of an occult pilgrimage, it was the site of a violent demonic haunting that had the children in the house walking backward up the walls as well as being the reason why Zak Bagans developed a permanent eye injury after a ghost attack.

Detroit Haunts

Notorious 313 Haunted History Tours

Detroit, don’t think we forgot about you on this haunted roundup! This listing is less of a haunted attraction and more of that real-life paranormal experience. Notorious 313 is a True Crime and Ghost Lantern Tour. Catering to those who are looking for a historical walking tour with a sinister side, this jam-packed Halloween crowd-pleaser is a regular sell-out, so early tickets are an absolute must. Let the real-life horrors of the street come to life in vivid storytelling fashion as you hear about the supernatural side of the Motor City. However, whenever you leave the tour on your drive home if you have any courage left, local area paranormal groups have been known to run intensive tours inside the haunted asylum that still stands today. Asylum, sanatorium, and cemetery all in one? If you’re looking for ghosts it doesn’t get any better than this.

Address

  • : Michigan, USA
  • Becoming a paranormal investigator requires a tremendous amount of dedication, patience, and on-the-job training while enduring endless amounts of critics, hyperbole, and highly questioned evidence. With the passing of Lorraine Warren this last week, we thought you could use a reminder of the impact Lorraine had on the paranormal world. Lorraine was an investigator who worked tirelessly at trying to bring truth forth in many paranormal claims and who also aided in defeating evil whenever necessary.

    Five important facts about Lorraine and her paranormal work:

    1. Lorraine and Her Secret

      Lorraine Warren was born on January 31, 1927, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Since she was eight years old, Lorraine claimed that she could see auras around people. Attending the very prestigious all-girls Catholic school Lauralton Hall, Lorraine kept her ability a secret, for fear of being outcast. She kept her gift a secret until she met Ed Warren, whom she married years later.

    2. New England Society for Psychic Research

      Together with her husband Ed Warren, the pair founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952. Known as the oldest ghost hunting group in New England, it was the combination of Ed’s research in demonology as well as Lorraine’s clairvoyant senses that helped them investigate over an estimated 10,000 paranormal cases in their lifetime. Originally was set up to investigate hauntings. in 1965, both Ed and Lorraine investigated a case where a young spirit claimed she was wandering around a home looking for her mother still. It was with that case that Lorraine claimed to dedicate a large portion of their work to helping earth-bound spirits move on.

      Ed and Lorraine Warren

    3. Lorraine Goes Looking For Ghosts

      Investigating homes that were haunted in the late 1950s was a challenge, as people didn’t know where to look for help, as well as the Warrens had trouble advertising their paranormal services. They would drive up and down streets and would stop when Lorraine used her clairvoyance in detecting a house that was haunted. Ed was a talented painter who would then do a quick drawing of the house and they would approach the home and knock. Giving the homeowners the picture, the Warrens would then slowly ask about the house and reveal their abilities to help.

    4. The Amityville House Comes A Knocking

      The Amityville Horror was considered the most infamous of all the Warren’s investigations. According to an interview with Lorraine in 2005, she said that the evil permeating the Amityville house was so strong that even after she left, the evil followed her back all the way home and manifested in so many ways that Lorraine vowed never to return to the Amityville home again.

    5. Lorraine Was a Devout Catholic

      Despite any misconceptions about her faith or the manner of her solo investigations in later years, Lorraine was unabashedly Catholic. In fact, prior to her investigation with Ed at the Amityville house, Lorraine had mysteriously received a letter in the mail, including a relic of Padre Pio, who was a mid-20th Century Catholic saint. She carried the relic often and it was with her both during and after the Amityville investigation claiming that if she didn’t have the relic to rely on then evil would have surely won.

    EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) are one of the most captivating and virtually indisputable pieces of audio evidence that proves paranormal entities exists. Using normal recording equipment, some are captured audibly in between questions asked aloud by a paranormal investigator. Other times, these voice recordings are picked up when a recorder is simply left to run on its own. Some voices are human, others are theorized as being demonic. The following audio recordings will definitely have even the most skeptical ready to ask more questions about the afterlife.

    The Emlen Physick Estate Ghost

    The Emlen Physick Estate is a haunted mansion where ghosts of men, women, and children have been spotted for decades. One such person even claimed to see a photo album floating upright with the pages actually turning by an unseen force! There is nothing sadder to hear than the EVP of a child who left this world at such a young age. Here in this clip, Emlen Physick Jr. still lets those around him know that he’s very much still there.

    Ghost in Oak Island

    Within a private area residence in the town of Oak Island, North Carolina is one of the most audibly clear, and disturbing EVPs captured. There is not much detail on the background, however the coastal town has long been known as a haunted area for pirates centuries before. This clip is especially eerie considering the particular tone of the entity speaking in it.

    The Grocery Ghost

    Ghosts in the workplace can be incredibly formidable when you physically feel their presence, but to hear them too? This clip was taken by a woman who worked in a grocery store and was conducting her own private investigation when she actually received a ghostly response to the question she posed, and then receives clarification to it.

    The Latin Demon

    EVPs of people who have long since died are one thing, but EVPs of the demonic are entirely different in tone and intent. In this private paranormal investigation clip, a demonic voice responds in Latin and in doing so mocks the Holy Trinity.

    The Basement Ghost

    Finding an EVP on a paranormal investigation can be expected, but to find one in your own home is enough to send a shiver down any homeowner’s spine, let alone one from a demon. Little is known about this popular clip other than a homeowner was experiencing paranormal activity in their basement and placed a recorder there to capture anything unusual. What has been discovered has best been described as “demonic wailing”.

    The Phillipino Catholic Church Ghost

    Catholic Churches are just about the least likely place to experience otherworldly EVPs. In 2009, a man and his wife vacationing in the Philippines caught some rather bizarre and unexplainable EVPs, as well as orb action, in the Binmaley Catholic Church after sundown. The couple was there to take in the peacefulness of the Church and what they heard and saw would be anything other than the Holy Spirit.

    The Woodlands Psychiatric Hospital Ghost

    During a paranormal investigation of the Woodlands Psychiatric Hospital near Vancouver, British Columbia in 2016, an EVP was caught on tape. Originally the location opened 1878 as the Woodlands Provincial Lunatic Asylum, however in 2008 the hospital was destroyed in a mysterious fire and then decommissioned. With more than one hundred and thirty years of patient history, even today there are some spirits lingering crying out for help.

    The Singing Canadian Ghost

    Most EVPs uncovered by people tend to contain the ghostly sounds of just one word or even sometimes a blurted out sentence. In 2013, a Canadian housewife not only picked up a recording in her living room of both one word and sentence EVPs, but she also picked up musical singing.

    The Finland Graveyard Spirit

    EVPs can be captured in many different locations and there is perhaps a no better place to collect them than straight from cemeteries themselves. In 2012, a man in Finland took his recorder to a local graveyard to boldly ask upfront, questions of the deceased. To his amazement, many answered back.

    The Utah Schoolhouse Ghost

    School houses are not someplace you would think an EVP would be present given the paranormal theory that spirits must have died there and not crossed over, thus the audible recordings of spirits during an investigation. In Brigham City, Utah there is an abandoned Native American boarding school that also once had to serve as a makeshift hospital during World War II. An amateur paranormal investigation group left one of their recorders there in the school overnight to catch any paranormal sounds. Expecting an EVP what they discovered on the recorder was far more demonic.

    Ed and Lorraine Warren are the most popular and well documented paranormal investigators in the entire world. With a case catalog that spans back to 1952, they have investigated thousands of paranormal claims that have covered many decades. The public today has undoubtedly heard of their most famous cases such as the Amityville Horror House, the Annabelle doll, Enfield Haunting, and the house from The Conjuring. Here are some of their other lesser-known investigations of The Conjuring ghost hunters, Ed and Lorraine Warren.

    The Smurl Family Haunting

    The Smurl Family Haunting

    In 1974, Jack and Janet Smurl moved into an older home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. Not long into their move, the Smurls began to notice extremely foul smells permeating inside the home. Loud and constant bangs on the walls and ceiling kept them awake at night, and even their family dog was picked up and thrown violently against a wall by an unseen force. The most traumatizing event was when Jack was a victim of many sexual assaults by the unseen force in the home.

    The events lasted on and off nearly a decade before Ed and Lorraine were called in to investigate the haunted Smurl House. After listening to the complaints from the family, combined with religious provocation, Ed determined that a powerful demon was inhabiting the home. Again utilizing religious provocation, Ed tape recorded the sessions and took them to the local Catholic diocese to procure an exorcism for the family.

    At first, several priests came in waves to bless the home formally, and one priest even went so far as to spend a weekend at the home observing the family. However, this priest never found anything sinister. Upon leaving though, the unseen force manifested into an actual dark mass that floated around the home! Eventually, two exorcisms were performed in addition to a Catholic Mass. After nearly a decade of torment, the Smurl family sold the house in 1988, and have reported that nothing has followed them to date.

    Demon Murder Trial

    Demon Murder Trial

    Arne Cheyenne Johnson

    The Demon Murder Trial is actually the first court case of its kind to employ the legal defense phrase of “the devil made me do it.” In 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for killing his landlord Alan Bono. Arne at the time was dating a single mother named Debbie Glatzel who had an eleven-year-old son named Daniel. He had procured a rental property that needed cleaning up and took Debbie and Daniel with him. While on-site at the property David reported having an encounter with an old man who told them to stay away from the property. David began having visions where the old man transformed into a demonic creature who threatened to capture his soul. Arne and Debbie were disturbed by the boy’s constant visions and dreams that they sought out help from the local Catholic Church.

    A priest came to bless the boy, but this proved ineffective as the visions worsened. Ed and Lorraine were called in to investigate. Lorraine, a well-respected clairvoyant, picked up on a powerful black mist that continuously surrounded the child. As the Warrens investigated, the visions got worse, and young David began to exhibit growls, superhuman strength, and even levitation. Worse of all was that in a demonic voice he foretold of Arne committing murder.

    Demon Murder Trial

    Mary Johnson talks with Lorraine Warren while waiting outside the Arne Johnson murder trial.

    During an exorcism facilitated by Ed and Lorraine with up to six priests, Arne mocked and challenged the demon who seemed to have left David’s body and transferred to his. Over the next few days, Arne exhibited the same symptoms as David and on that fateful evening got into a fistfight with Alan Bono over a misunderstanding involving Debbie. Arne fatally stabbed Alan Bono nearly a dozen times. At the trial, Arne attempted to plead not guilty by reason of possession, but a judge was unconvinced. He ended up pleading to manslaughter and serving five years in prison. As for the demonic presence the cause so much havoc? It mysteriously disappeared once the actual murder had been committed.

    The White Lady of Union Cemetery

    The White Lady of Union Cemetery

    Union Cemetery

    Sitting beside the Easton Baptist Church in Easton Connecticut is the Union Cemetery. The cemetery is believed to be centuries old and is home to the ghostly apparition of a lady dressed all in white. This ghostly woman has been seen since the late nineteenth century. Curious about such paranormal activity in his own backyard, Ed Warren took it upon himself to try and videotape the apparition himself.

    On a cold night in late 1990, Ed had arranged a video recorder on a tripod to capture anything moving in the cemetery. Sometime after midnight, roughly six seconds worth of videotape captured a lady in white clothes, floating through the cemetery. Ed was so fascinated by the apparition that he published an entire book dedicated to the ghostly phenomenon, simply titled, Graveyard.

    The most popular theory is that the woman died during childbirth and was driven to the graveyard and buried, which partly explains eerie reports of the apparition making crying sounds and sometimes floating through the cemetery gates and out into the middle of Route 59. The ghostly sight has caused many a late night drives to run right through her spirit with a car only to stop and look back to find nobody there. While this particular case does not contain demonic hallmarks, it is one of Ed Warren’s most cherished cases, particularly due to the film footage that he took and kept.

    Mr. Entity: The Moffitt Family Poltergeist

    California housewife Deborah Moffitt was stunned the first time she witnessed the various apports going on in her home. The mysterious and unseen force would paranormally transport many household objects, in particular, razor-sharp kitchen knives, to rooms all over her house. Before long, Deborah and her husband were receiving mysterious messages written on their mirrors in soap. Surmising that all of this was the work of a ghost, Debbie cheerfully named it, “Mr. Entity.”

    Mr. Entity

    One of Mr. Entity’s messages

    As the months went by, Mr. Entity became more and more aggressive, even going so far as to stab butcher knives straight up into the seats of chairs. Frightened by the upfront attempted violence, Debbie reached to various mediums who were chased off by the threat of death by Mr. Entity. She employed the help of the infamous witch, Dr. Evenlyn Paglini whom Mr. Entity mocked in many mirror writings and discounted her reputed occult skills. Even a Native American medicine man was brought in to assist.

    Finally in the early 90s, after five years, Deborah got a visit from Ed and Lorraine Warren. She instructed them that the attic was the area of the house that Mr. Entity dwelled. Lorraine took it upon herself to use her clairvoyant skills to put together a picture of what it was she was dealing with. Moments after attempting a rather informal seance, Lorraine reappeared disheveled and exclaimed aloud, “Oh Ed! This is ancient! It’s very old and very ancient!”.

    Mr. Entity’s calling card on the mirror was an iblis, which is a crude triangle drawn with a tail hanging out of it. It was found to be related to the djinn, a very old Middle Eastern demonic entity. Given the time, circumstances, and foreign nature, the Warrens were not able to clear the home but were able to help facilitate Debbie and her family in finally ridding themselves of what haunted them to no end.

    The Southend Werewolf

    The Southend Werewolf

    Not all of the Warren’s classic case files dealt strictly with demonic entities and possessions. Beginning in 1952, a young man from Essex, England named Bill Ramsey experienced a most unexplained phenomenon. While playing outside one autumn day, he mysteriously was “attacked” by a very cold rush of air. The event was sudden in its appearance and brutal in temperature. Moments after being attacked, he ran and vomited after feeling inundated with a foul stench. As days passed for young Bill, he found himself having incredibly short bursts of anger and rage, as well as periodic bouts of superhuman strength. Nightmares began taking hold of his sleep and he experienced dreams of deep, heavy growls from an unseen creature. The nightmares and fits of rage subsided over the years and he went over fifteen years without an episode. Then one evening he went out with friends to a pub and had to excuse himself to the washroom where he rinsed his face and stared in the mirror, and the reflection of a werewolf looked back at him.

    Into the late 1980s, Bill periodically attacked personal friends as well as strangers. Upon fearing an imminent heart attack, Bill was rushed to the hospital only to discover that his werewolf side was emerging. Unknown numbers of responding police officers couldn’t restrain him as he growled, made claw scratches and was animalistic in behavior. Tranquilizer injections could only settle him. Ten days of relentless physical, mental, and emotional tests could not find anything at all wrong with Ramsey’s unexplained werewolf manifestations. As luck would have it, the Warrens were in London on an unrelated case and heard of his lycanthropic possession and immediately began to investigate.

    The Warrens were convinced Bill was possessed by a demon that manifested werewolf tendencies in him. Bishop Robert McKenna was a close personal friend of the Warrens and had helped performed many exorcisms upon their recommendations. At once, Ramsey agreed to fly to Connecticut with them to meet McKenna and be freed from his werewolf demon. The night before his exorcism was to be carried out, he attempted to claw and strangle his wife in their hotel room. The next day at his exorcism, he had to be restrained just moments after the ceremony began. He immediately began to growl, foam at the mouth, and become aggressive.

    The ceremony was said to have lasted hours with the final portion having to be conducted all in Latin. According to Ed Warren, near the end of the ceremony, Ramsey heaved his body up against the restraints with all his might before slumping over. The werewolf demon fled, and his nightmare was over. Warren is said to have filmed the entire exorcism and had it kept under tight lock and key. As of 1992, Ramsey reported he no longer had any werewolf tendencies or rages, but as of 2018, his whereabouts and status are completely unknown.

    Ed and Lorraine practiced their paranormal research for 60 years together. They had many tales which will make you question your own beliefs. To hear a little more about some of their most famous endeavors, take a look at some of the articles below.

    In late April 2012, an anonymous phone call was placed to Indiana’s Department of Children’s Services in which claims of neglect and child abuse were reported against a Gary, Indiana woman named Latoya Ammons. DCS Case Manager Valerie Washington was assigned to investigate the claims reported, but nothing in her training was about to prepare her for the demonic activity to come.

    History of the Ammons House Hauntings

    Beginning six months prior in November 2011, Latoya Ammons, a single mother of three children, along with her mother Rosa Campbell, moved into a small and nearly one-hundred-year-old house on Gary’s southeastern side city limits. In similar fashion to the Amityville Horror, the Ammons troubles began when they moved into the home and found it was infested with swarms of black flies. Weeks passed as attempts were made to properly fumigate when the children reported seeing a shadow man moving between the bedrooms. Shoe prints from an oversized boot were soon found throughout the home.

    The Ammons Demon House

    As the months began to pass into 2012, mounting tension grew within the house. Fighting and destructive behavior began to occur frequently among the children. No room in the home was truly free from the constant noises caused by the children. In the basement, a dirt floor was discovered under the stairs, but that was not enough to sway Latoya and her mother from putting the washer and dryer for the household laundry down there. Mounting cold spots were known to form at an instant and then dissipate in the basement along with the rest of the home.

    To combat the feelings of constant negativity, the Ammons family turned to nearby Protestant clergymen to come to the house for a blessing. Upon the finished blessing, the activity increased to a continuous loud bang, dark shadows prowling the home, and the children brutalizing one another. Police were dispatched to the home often for noise complaints, and Gary Police Captain Charles Austin, a hardened twenty plus year veteran of the force, was so shaken after one visit to the home, he refrained from further visits unless accompanied by more officers.

    The Ammons Demon House

    State of Indiana Intake Officer’s Report

    Late April 2012, is when the call for help was made to the outside world. DCS Case Manager Washington was briefed on the case after Latoya had taken the children to their pediatrician in a weak attempt to diagnose their increasingly violent behaviors. The doctor, in turn, referred them to the local emergency room after it was reported that objects at the doctor’s office briefly levitated and were thrown against walls by an unseen force. Immediately they were taken to the local emergency room, and doctors quickly assessed the children and placed them in a psychiatric wing right there at Northlake Hospital.

    While interviewing the children separately, a nurse, hospital official, and Washington herself all personally witnessed loud and aggressive growls from the middle child in particular. The other two children were reported to have unnaturally deep voices and bulging eyes within their sockets. Unfazed by the attempted psychological assessment and medical intervention, all three adults then personally witnessed the middle child walk upright unassisted against a hospital wall up to the ceiling and then backflip down behind them at a height of an estimated twenty feet!

    The Ammons Demon House

    State of Indiana Intake Officer’s Report

    After a dizzying weekend of analyzation, medication, and mental therapies of all kinds given to Latoya, her mother, and all three children, the hospital and DCS Case Manager Washington found absolutely no evidence of abuse or mental handicap of any kind. Desperate for any answer as financial obstacle prevented her from moving to a different home, Latoya then chose to reach out to the local psychic community for clues to her ever-worsening situation. An anonymous clairvoyant visited the home, and despite burning sage and covering doorways in blessed oils, they ended up leaving and informing Latoya they could feel the presence of over two hundred demons occupying the home!

    Zak Bagans goes to the Ammons House

    Local news stations picked up on haunted home and stories about the situation went viral. It was not long before help arrived in the form of Father Michael Maginot, a local Catholic exorcist. Father Maginot of St. Stephen, the Martyr Church, had been tipped off by the Northlake Hospital chaplain who explained the dire situation troubling the Ammons family. After a somewhat minor blessing of the children and the home, Father Maginot gained approval for a full exorcism with permission from Bishop Dale Melczeck in June 2012. Collectively it took three full exorcisms to free Latoya and the children from the evil that had taken over their lives.


    Wishing to start their lives over and away from the house, Latoya ended up leaving the home. It was purchased by another family who reported no further demonic activity. In early 2014, the unnamed owners sold the house for $35,000 to paranormal expert, Ghost Adventures host, Zak Bagans. Purchasing the home with the intent to discover and expose the notorious paranormal activity, it ended up being displayed in a highly controversial documentary, Demon House.

    The Conjuring’s Real Life Investigators: Ed and Lorraine Warren

    In the cold winter of 1970, the Perron family purchased a 200-acre country farmhouse in Rhode Island where they planned to raise their five daughters. But things didn’t work out that way. Instead of living there for decades, the Perrons were driven away from their home and property in less than 10 years. The Conjuring movie tells the tale of the Perron family as reported by the paranormal investigators who were called in to investigate the hauntings.

    Background on the Warrens

    The Warrens formed the New England Society for Psychic Research (N.E.S.P.R.) in 1952, which is now one of the oldest ghost hunting groups in the U. S. They’ve investigated hundreds of hauntings and written 10 books about their experiences. They’ve also appeared on television shows like Paranormal State and Scariest Places on Earth.

    They are most famous for investigating the Amityville hauntings in the 1970s as well as serving as the consultants on the first release of the Amityville Horror movie franchise. The Warren’s never charged a fee for their investigative work and made a living off of lectures, books, movies, and more. They’ve investigated and written books on demon murders, cemetery hauntings, and numerous hauntings of homes throughout New England.

    When Ed and Lorraine first married Ed was already conducting paranormal investigations, and Lorraine would accompany him but only as an observer. That all changed when Ed realized that Lorraine was actually a powerful medium and clairvoyant. Lorraine had been aware of her gift since she was a girl, but did not realize how unusual it was. Once she learned to further develop and use her skills as a medium, she and Ed worked together to help drive demons from people and their homes. Now in her late 80s (as of 2016), Lorraine is no longer an active ghost hunter, though she did consult on the set with director James Wan of The Conjuring, which was released in 2013. She also advised Wan in a lesser role on The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist in 2016.

    In August of 2006, Ed Warren passed away at the age of 79.

    Over their many years of ghost hunting, the Warrens trained other demonologists, including their son-in-law, Tony Spera, who is now the director of N.E.S.P.R. and the Occult Museum the Warrens started in their home in Connecticut. Read part one of our interview with Tony Spera to learn more about the Warrens’ career including their involvement in The Conjuring movies. There are also many more details about the Warrens in part two of FrightFind’s interview with Tony from N.E.S.P.R.

    See the Real Conjuring House that kicked off the franchise and learn more about the history of the property.

    The Conjuring 2: An Interview with Tony Spera of NESPR

    In anticipation of the release of The Conjuring 2 on June 10, 2016, FrightFind spoke with Tony Spera, director of the New England Society of Psychic Researchers (N.E.S.P.R.). He’s been a ghost hunter and paranormal researcher for more than 30 years. Most of that time was spent working with Ed and Lorraine Warren, the preeminent experts in the field in subjects of spirits and demonology – and who also happen to be his in-laws.

    Ed & Lorraine Warren - The Conjuring Paranormal InvestigatorsEd and Lorraine Warren are also the paranormal investigators on which The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 movies are based, as portrayed by actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The Conjuring was about the Warren’s work with the Perron family and the hauntings at their Rhode Island farmhouse. The Conjuring 2 follows the Warren’s experience in England where they went to investigate The Enfield Poltergeist at a council house in Enfield.

    We spoke with Mr. Spera about how the movies came about, the accuracy of The Conjuring, and discussed the controversy about the Warren’s work at the Enfield house. Our conversation with him ran more than an hour, and he had so many fascinating things to say that we will be posting his interview in several installments, so stay tuned for more.

    FrightFind: Did Lorraine Warren see the first Conjuring movie? If so, what was her opinion of it?

    Tony Spera: She saw it about four times. She loved it. She thought it was very, very good. Now, it wasn’t 100% accurate, but The Conjuring was about 80% accurate, which is very good. Because most of these films that people make that are “inspired by true events,” they just take a very small amount of it and create everything else. But I’d say 80-85% of The Conjuring was right. The filmmakers used a lot of dramatic license at the end, when they had the levitation scene and the chair turning around and things like that. That didn’t really happen. But, most of the other stuff did, including the hair being pulled, and the noises, and the witch. All of that was real and accurate.

    FF: Was this the first movie you and the Warrens were approached about?

    TS: No. Lorraine talked to Dino de Laurentiis about The Amityville Horror, but they didn’t use much of what she told him. The problem with the first Amityville movie is they based it on the book by Jay Anson, which has a lot of made up stuff in it. He tried to make it more dramatic, but some of the stuff he said was semi-true. Or if it was true, he didn’t present it correctly.

    Ed & Lorraine Warren investigate the Amityville HouseFor example, when Anson wrote in the book about the staircase blowing up in front of George Lutz, he didn’t explain that it was a telepathic image sent to George Lutz to make him see it that way. It didn’t really blow up. So when somebody goes into the house afterwards and sees the staircase is still there it doesn’t add any credence. It just looks like everybody’s lying. But George Lutz, in his mind’s eye, saw that staircase explode in front of him, though it really didn’t happen in reality. It was a telepathic image, sent to George, by whatever was in that house, to make him believe it.

    That’s the difference between reality and perception and how you write it in a book. If you don’t have knowledge of the supernatural, then you’re going to just write it.  When George says, “I looked and the damn staircase blew up,” and the guy writes it that way without saying telepathically this image was sent to George then it lessens the credence of everything.

    So the Warrens were semi-consultants on Amityville, but they didn’t use much of what Ed and Lorraine told them. But they were heavily consulted on The Conjuring.

    Lorraine Warren with Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson

    Lorraine Warren with Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson. Vera Farmiga plays Lorraine in the Conjuring films.

    The Warren’s involvement with The Conjuring 2

    FF: How did they decide that the Perron incident [the basis for The Conjuring] would be the one to base a movie on? Were they just kind of riffing with you guys on different ideas?

    TS: No, they picked it. We sent them some cases and they picked the one they wanted to use for the first movie. But Ed and Lorraine never called it “the conjuring.” Ed used to call it the “bewitched farmhouse.” I remember Ed saying to me several times that the “bewitched farmhouse” would make a great movie. And I’d say, “Yeah, it probably would, Ed.” Then we’d drop it or forget.

    Years later, after Ed passed away in 2006, movie producer Tony DeRosa-Grund called Lorraine and said he had a treatment for a movie he’s calling The Conjuring. And it was the bewitched farmhouse case. So they made the movie after consulting us.

    The The Conjuring 2 is based on another case of Ed and Lorraine’s, the Enfield poltergeist case.

    FF: Did you or Lorraine have much input on The Conjuring 2? And have you seen any early scenes or previews?

    TS: No. Lorraine has not seen the second one at all because it’s only recently finished. I haven’t either. Hardly anyone has seen it except the director James Wan and the editors. But it will be out in June.

    Our consulting on The Conjuring 2 was minimal. We shared some pictures of the Enfield house and some recordings of the voices we took there when they asked us. Basically, they took a lot of stuff from the 1977 investigation by Maurice Grosse and his paranormal group in London.


    You may have read on the Internet or elsewhere that Ed and Lorraine didn’t even investigate the Enfield house. But they did and there’s proof. We have audio recordings and photographs inside the house. Ed has hours of interviews with Peggy, Margaret, and Janet Hodgson. And recordings of spirit voices that came out of thin air that Ed made. In fact, they sent those interviews over to James Wan and producer Rob Cowan, and they’re going to try to use the real voices at the end credits.

    So, Ed and Lorraine were there. They saw a lot of phenomena occur. The voices were the most startling. Ed would be talking and all of a sudden the voices would answer him. One time, Ed says out loud, “What are you?” And the spirit says, “I’m a soldier. Soldier.” Like that. Then Ed says, “Are you a Christian?” And the guy says, “No.” And Ed says, “What are you?” And the guy says, “I’m a soldier.” Ed says, “Aren’t soldiers Christians?” And then the voice just makes a long, growling sound, “Grrrrrr,” like that. It would answer Ed like, “What’s your name?” And he’d tell him, “My name is Tommy.” And another one’d say, “No. I’m Tommy. He’s Fred.” It was two people talking to Ed, named Tom and Freddy. That’s right out of thin air in that house. Crazy, crazy, phenomena like that occurred.

    The startling thing is, most human voices that you hear, they don’t communicate back and forth like that. You may hear your name called in a house, but they’re not going to answer questions. They’re not going to go back and forth communicating. That’s the difference. These voices were actually listening to what Ed said and answering his questions.

    In fact, Ed was with another investigator in the house one time, a guy named John Kennyhurst. He sent John to the car to get a bottle of holy water, but he couldn’t find it.  He came back and said, “Hey, Ed. I can’t find the darn holy water. It’s not there. I looked all over the car. It’s not there. I know I put it there, but it’s not there.” Which is the kind of thing that would happen in a haunted location with a devil. So Ed decides to make his own holy water.

    He took water and he put some salt in the water and did a blessing over it, “In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost,” like that, in front of the water to make it holy, hopefully. He had nothing else to work with. So Ed says, “Let’s walk through the house and start sprinkling this holy water.” And a voice, out of nowhere, says to Ed, “It’s not blessed. It’s not blessed.” Just like that. In other words, he knew that that holy water wasn’t blessed holy water. It wasn’t real. That’s the intelligence that these spirits had.

    FF: So the spirit knew Ed wasn’t authorized or allowed to bless holy water?

    TS: Ed was not an ordained member of the clergy. You really can’t bless anything with any authority unless you’re an ordained member of the clergy. That’s just the rules of the universe, you know what I mean? It’s not going to have any power because there’s no authorization.

    That brings me to something important Ed said. Now I’ve heard through the grapevine through producers and others that The Conjuring 2 will include a scene based on a real episode that happened on the Sally Jessy Raphael show between Ed and a skeptic [Joe Nickell]. The skeptic was challenging Ed and claiming there were no such things as ghosts or supernatural events. So Ed asked the guy if he believed in God, and the guy said something like, “Well, that doesn’t have anything to do with what I’m talking about today.” Ed replied that it certainly did because if you don’t believe in God then that’s why you don’t believe in ghosts. Ed’s point was that if you don’t believe in a supernatural being, if you don’t believe in God, then you can’t believe in the devil. So I don’t know if that in-depth characterization will be in the movie since I haven’t seen it yet, but I hope it is because it explains Ed’s point very well.

    What I do know is The Conjuring 2 is supposed to be bigger, richer, and scarier than the first one. I think it’s going to be fantastic. I can’t wait to see it.

    FF: Bigger and scarier?

    TS: I asked a promotions person from Warner Brothers if she’d seen the movie. She said, “Well, I only saw the first raw cut. It scared the shit out of me. It was the scariest thing I ever saw.” I also heard through the grapevine, through other producers and stuff, that it’s a real spine-tingling, scary movie.

    FrightFind definitely can’t wait to see the new Conjuring film and we look forward to hearing more from Tony once he’s had a chance to see the premiere. We’ll let you know what he says.