I haven’t yet had the chance to go see The Conjuring. A horror movie based on one of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s case files. Maybe it’s because I have reservations since the movie is loosely based on the Warren’s explanation to the eerie events that unfolded in a small Rhode Island home in 1971.

The story begins when Roger and Carolyn Perron move into their new home in Burrillville, Rhode Island, in 1971. According to the Perron children, it was evident that strange things began to occur that moment they set foot inside the house. Only later would they realize that the paranormal activity would center around their mother, Carolyn.

“Mrs. Perron said she awoke before dawn one morning to find an apparition by her bed: the head of an old woman hanging off to one side over an old gray dress,” reads an August 1977 story in The Providence Journal. “There was a voice reverberating, ‘Get out. Get out. I’ll drive you out with death and gloom.’ ”
An orange oozed blood. Doors slammed shut or would not shut. A young voice cried, “Mama. Maaama.”
And that was just the start of a series of incidents that culminated in an investigation by ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren — an episode that inspired the new movie “The Conjuring,” which opens in Rhode Island on Friday. –Source: Providence Journal

The Perron family dealt with strange apparitions, disembodied voices, and poltergeist-like phenomena for months. It had become apparent to them that their mother was the primary focus of the disturbances but when the Warrens stepped in, their story took an unexpected turn.

“Some elements of the film are very accurate and some are fiction,” said Andrea Perron, noting both she and Mrs. Warren had handed over all their files and writings.
In the movie, Carolyn seeks the help of the Warrens. But Andrea said the Warrens were brought in by a paranormal group in Rhode Island and one day just arrived at the front door.
“Mrs. Warren came into the house knowing nothing,” Andrea said, But, she added, “She stepped into the kitchen and said, ‘I feel a dark presence, and her name is Bathsheba.’ ”
The Warrens later concluded the Harrisville house was haunted by Bathsheba Sherman, who had lived there in the early 19th century. She had been a practicing Satanist, according to the Warrens’ account in The Journal, “who had murdered her young daughter as a sacrifice to Lucifer. So that she might remain on the premises to haunt the house for ever more, the woman followed established black rituals and took her own life. She hanged herself — hence her apparition to Mrs. Perron, according to the Warrens.”
She had also cursed anyone who subsequently lived on the property. The Warrens told The Journal there had been many tragedies over the years, including suicides, accidents and drownings.
The Warrens were to subsequently gain fame for their investigation of the Amityville Horror. That case — the subject of a 1977 book and a film two years later that starred James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger — involved the haunting of a house on Long Island where six members of one family were shot to death in late 1974.
Mrs. Warren said last week that one of her biggest concerns about the Harrisville haunting was the family’s lack of religious faith. “At that particular time, the people did not have religion,” she said. “It was very dangerous.”
She said that at one point she looked into a corner and saw “the most grotesque thing I have ever seen in my life.” She said she had called out for it to “go away in the name of God.”
“It was awful, honey,” she said. “You only have your faith as your protection. I always had my faith. God protecting me allowed me to do this.”
The haunting culminated in a terrifying night during which Carolyn Perron was possessed by Bathsheba.

“We were not prepared for what happened that night,” said Andrea Perron, noting that the Warrens had arrived for an intercession with “a caravan” of people, including “a priest, a medium and technical people.”
She said it was “not technically an exorcism,” but that she and her sister Cindy were hiding and “saw everything that happened, the power of evil in this life.” –Source: Providence Journal

If you know anything about the Warrens is that they love to blame demons.  I would say that a great percentage –if not, all– of their cases are explained by demonic forces that have possessed someone or something. (Beware: Creepy music on that link). I guess that’s what you would expect when so-called Demonologists investigate unexplained phenomena.

One case that should be flashing in your head would be the infamous Amityville Horror. The tragic story of the Defeo Family murders that took place in Amityville, New York. Ed and Lorraine Warren were involved in that case and saw it turn from a dubious claim to a mega-blockbuster hit. Just like their other cases, the Amityville case was attributed to a demonic infestation that plagued the land. The Warren’s investigation into the case yielded tales of “Indian burial grounds” and “Evil forces” that haunted the land.

When they investigated the Perron household, the Warrens instantly attributed the family’s claims as demonic in nature. Going as far as to give them the name of the demon and an explanation as to why they were being haunted. Because of their lack of faith.

Mrs. Warren said last week that one of her biggest concerns about the Harrisville haunting was the family’s lack of religious faith. “At that particular time, the people did not have religion,” she said. “It was very dangerous.”

She said that at one point she looked into a corner and saw “the most grotesque thing I have ever seen in my life.” She said she had called out for it to “go away in the name of God.”

“It was awful, honey,” she said. “You only have your faith as your protection. I always had my faith. God protecting me allowed me to do this.”

The haunting culminated in a terrifying night during which Carolyn Perron was possessed by Bathsheba.

“We were not prepared for what happened that night,” said Andrea Perron, noting that the Warrens had arrived for an intercession with “a caravan” of people, including “a priest, a medium and technical people.” –Source: Providence Journal

In the interview with Lorraine Warren by the Providence Journal she states that her biggest concern about the Perron family was their lack of religious faith. Insinuating that whatever was happening inside their home was because the Perron’s lack of religion. To put it more grossly, they suffered for not following her religion.

Last week, The Conjuring hit the screens. The movie that’s loosely based on what happened to the Perron family. Like any horror movie adaptation, this one is filled with the Warren’s incredible fluff and some of Hollywood’s old scare tactics.

Like many cases with claims of poltergeist phenomena, the Perron’s case shared similar traits to those cases involving women (often pre-teen) and psychical disruptions. It could have been explained away by overactive minds or overactive psyches. The bottom line is that when the Warren’s arrived, science and rational thought went out the door.