Saturday, 28 July 2012
Sunday, 15 July 2012
The Haunted - Story behind the film
A truly haunting story...
From 1974 to 1987 in the town of West Pittston, Pennsylvania one of America's most terrifying haunting's took place. It was at the home of Jack and Janet Smurl; the case received wide attention in the media. Although the house went through three exorcisms and investigations by demonologists the entity refused to leave. The haunting's were turned in to a book and later a movie both named "The Haunted".
Jack and Janet Smurl had moved to West Pittston from Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania to escape the flooding damage left behind from hurricane Agnes in 1972. They moved into a duplex Jack's parents had purchased, sharing the house with them. Jack and Janet and their two daughters, Dawn and Heather lived in one half, and Jack's parents lived in the other. The house had been built in 1896, and was on a quiet street in a middle class neighborhood.
Both Jack and Janet had grown up in the area, meeting in 1967 and marrying in 1968. Jack served in the Navy, becoming a neuropsychiatric technician. Both the Smurl's were raised in Catholic homes and had strong religious beliefs. They enjoyed living with Jacks' parents and had no trouble sharing the duplex with them. The family did some remodeling and redecorating work on the house, settled into it, and Jack and Janet added twin girls Shannon and Carin to the family. The first 18 months on Chase St. were happy ones.
In January 1974, a year and a half after moving in, the atmosphere in the house began to change. It all started with the appearance of a stain on the new carpet. Several days later the television burst into flames. Then the events became more disturbing the newly fitted sink and bathtub were found severely scratched as if a large animal had clawed at them. Freshly painted woodwork in the bathroom also showed similar scratches.
In 1975, their oldest daughter Dawn repeatedly saw people "floating" around her bedroom. The paranormal activity in the house increased toilets would flush without anyone using them, footsteps would be continuously heard on the stairs, drawers would open and close on their own accord, radios would blare although they were unplugged and empty rocking chairs would mysteriously rock and creak as if someone were actually sitting in them. As time went on, they began to smell sour and vile smells throughout the house and on several occasions, Jack felt the touch of an unseen hand caress him.
By January 1985 the poltergeist activity was no longer confined to Jack and Janet's side of the Duplex. Jack parents, John and Mary were also subjected to frightening events. The house would become icy cold, and they would hear what appeared to be violent shouting on Jack and Janet's side of the home, with abusive, foul language.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
A Belsize Park woman whose home was broken into 13 times in a week claims police told her to exorcise her flat as they suspected ghosts might be behind the break-ins.
A Belsize Park woman whose home was broken into 13 times in a week claims police told her to exorcise her flat as they suspected ghosts might be behind the break-ins.
Caroline Williams, 39, of Howitt Road, has sought refuge at her parents’ Hampstead home after her locks were picked, her personal possessions stolen or moved, and strange notes of poetry stuck to her fridge.
Ms Williams, who volunteered for this year’s Hampstead Summer festival committee, called the police.
But she claims officers refused to dust for fingerprints and blamed the unexplained intrusions on the supernatural.
She said: “Police said this is completely unexplained and there’s no point taking forensics – this is about other forces that are not human. They said, we suggest you get an exorcism.
“I don’t think spirits take purses and I don’t think they can move magnetic poetry.”
The former executive director of charity Weight Concern, added: “This is traumatic and distressing. I’m a strong person and I’ve tried to rise above it but when you have no proper support from the police from this kind of danger, that’s the biggest problem.
“I’ve had poetry left on my fridge using magnetic letter fridge magnets, black and yellow hazard tape left on my garden steps, roses left on my floor.
“I’ve had a bowl smashed and I’ve had things taken. It is very strange.
“I’m a single woman in a flat and I’m absolutely terrified, but I have been told not to call the boys in blue.”
The police have denied advising her to carry out an exorcism.
Ms Williams moved into her flat two years ago and said she used to wake up to find her front and back doors wide open, but had brushed it off as her being absent minded.
But she suspects more sinister forces are behind the latest spate of break-ins.
She first noticed something was awry when she returned home from the shops last week to find her front and back doors wide opened.
She called a locksmith, but within minutes of his departure her doors had been broken into again.
“The locksmith came back and he said that he had never seen anybody unpick a mortic lock he had installed in his time as a locksmith,” she said.
“It is totally unexplained.”
Her home was targeted a further 12 times.
A police spokesman said: “Police in Camden received a report of two crime related incidents on June, 19, on Howitt Road. Officers attended and investigated all possible lines of enquiry and the case has now been closed.”
Ghost hunters spooked by figure in Highgate Cemetery
Two ghost hunters were spooked when they ran into a spirit in Highgate Cemetery without their specialist equipment.
North London Paranormal Investigators Micky Gocool, 46, and Louise Roche, 23, were giving their newly recruited medium a tour of their patch when they encountered a tall, dark, eerie figure.
Mr Gocool, who spoke to the Haringey Independent in April after bumping into George Michael in Highgate during an investigation, said: “That is the first time in my life that I felt frightened – it was just meant to be a tour for our new medium.
“I was really shocked because I didn’t know what to do – I felt like I was a member of the public again because I really didn’t know what to do.”
The team, who claim they saw the ghost just after 10pm on Wednesday, June 20, arrived in Highgate without specialist equipment used to track and record spirits.
Mr Gocoolsaid the team at first thought the vision was a vampire rumoured to frequent Highgate Cemetery, but he believes it is more likely to be the spirit of an undertaker.
He added: “I really did not expect that, but it is really not a sinister presence. He is a normal every day average Joe Public but because he is so tall he actually looks like a vampire.”
The ghost, which vanished after a split second, was also a shock for new medium Gemma Louise Pugh who only started with the team six weeks ago.
Mr Gocool, from Lordship Lane in Wood Green, describes himself as an investigator rather than a psychic, because the team gather supernatural evidence before allowing people to make up their own minds.
The team carries out investigations on houses and public spaces in and around north London looking for evidence of supernatural activity.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
BRAND NEW XTREME FRIGHT NIGHTS WEBSITE!
BRAND NEW XTREME FRIGHT NIGHTS WEBSITE!
Here you will be able to find the following information on our 2012 Xtreme Fright Nights;
- Attraction information.
- Latest news from Xtreme Fright Nights
- Reviews provided by fellow thrill-seekers.
- FAQ’s contact information
- Competitions, giving you the chance to win great horror prizes from vintage horror movie posters to costumes.
Become a fan of our facebook page and follow us on Twitter - Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news on Xtreme Fright Nights.
A big thank you to all the team at FDC Studio who we have worked with to create Xtreme Fright Nights website.
Enter if you dare to experience true horror!
www.xtremefrightnights.co.uk
Xtreme Team attend ScareCON Horror Convention
The Xtreme Team had a fantastic time down in Blackpool this week as they attended ScareCON, Europe’s only convention for the Scare Attraction Industry. This is the foremost Convention of Horror and Scare Products , Acts, Theme Parks and Tours in Europe. The convention is attended by Enthusiasts and Professionals alike. Our Xtreme Team discovered some fantastic new products and tips which will add to our Xtreme Fright Nights. The team attended seminars from attractions such as Blackbool Dungeons and Tulleys Shocktober Fest. With Make up tuitions and Actor-training seminars, this year our Fright Nights will step up on the fear factor scale.
Xtreme Fright Nights 2012 will be different to our previous family orientated Fright Nights as we will be aiming for the teenage and adult market. This years event is set to be more terrifying with 7 new electrifying scare zones. With set work already beginning in preparation for October, this will be the most intense Xtreme Fright Nights yet. Tickets are on sale now athttp://www.xtremefrightnights.com/tickets
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