Truth or scare?
Halloween done properly means doing a mini- pee over a scary film. And what’s scarier than these deadeyed monsters? The fact that their stories are based on real- life events. Good luck sleeping tonight…
THE SHINING ( 1980)
What’s it about? The Torrance family move to an empty hotel so dad Jack can work as a winter caretaker, but he becomes increasingly violent. Blood spills follow. But what’s it about
really? It’s based on spooky happenings at The Stanley Hotel in the Rocky Mountains, USA, where guests claim to have seen ghostly children playing in the halls. Apparently the infamous room 217 is home to the ghost of a chambermaid who endlessly cleans the room she’s trapped in. Like a scary Mrs Hinch. And now?
You can still stay at the hotel. Their wedding package includes a complimentary dancefloor. How romantic. How scared should we be? You’ll be safe in your (far from empty) Holiday Inn, don’t worry.
VERÓNICA ( 2017)
What’s it about? Teenage Veronica and two friends try to make contact with dead family members using a ouija board, but things go wrong (shocker). According to reliable sources (the internet), it’s the scariest film ever made. But what’s it about
really? It’s inspired by the 1991 death of Spanish teen Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro, who used a ouija board to try to contact a deceased friend. For six months afterwards, Lazaro suffered from seizures and fits of barking before passing away inexplicably. And now?
Very little news, but you can see the actual crime-scene footage in the film’s end credits. Nothing like a dodgy camcorder to up the scare-factor. How scared should we be? Still, after all these years, think ouija boards are fun? More fool you.
THE CONJURING ( 2013)
What’s it about? Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (BNOCs in the supernatural world) go to a family home tormented by spirits. It’s also Annabelle the doll’s creep-tastic debut. Strong fringe, though. But what’s it about
really? The Perron family, who moved to a 14-room house in Rhode Island in 1971 only to be terrorised by spirits like Bathsheba, who made their beds levitate and scraped her nails down the walls. And now?
A few years ago the current owners of the house said they planned to sue Warner Bros as they were constantly doorstepped by film fans. A real-life nightmare. How scared should we be? If ghosts can get us a discount on a 14-room gaff, we’ll overlook them.
CHILD’S PLAY ( 2019)
What’s it about? Andy is given a doll named Chucky for his sixth birthday. Turns out Chucky is possessed with the soul of a serial killer and goes about murdering local people. But what’s it about
really? In 1906, Robert Eugene Otto became convinced his doll, Robert (inventive), was alive. The six-year-old’s family said it could speak and move by itself and that Robert’s other toys had been mysteriously mutilated. And now?
Robert (the doll) is on display at a museum in Florida. Some people say they experience “post-visit misfortunes” for not “respecting Robert”. Maybe he’ll audition for a Sopranos remake one day. How scared should we be? Remember being six and blaming things on your invisible friend?
POLTERGEIST ( 1982)
What’s it about? The Freeling family’s quiet suburban life is disrupted when ghosts kidnap their daughter, Carol Anne. There are also violent clown dolls, ectoplasmic residue and angry rotting corpses. Lovely jubbly. But what’s it about
really? A Long Island family from the ’50s, The Hermanns, who said a supernatural spirit was messing with their home. Specifically the spirit would pop bottle lids open and empty the contents onto the floor. No bottle top was safe. And now?
After a month of bottlepopping terror, experts determined the raging hormones of the family’s two teenagers could have given them Matilda- esque powers… How scared should we be? Steer clear of your local Oddbins. You have been warned.