As if you needed more evidence that Ed and Lorraine Warren were horrid people that left a slime trail of lies and destruction from the 1970s to the present day, Kenny Biddle from CSI has dug up considerable history on the Smurl “haunting” in 1985 West Pittston, Pennsylvania. This event was supposedly the basis for The latest Conjuring movie franchise The Conjuring: Last Rites. But Kenny reports the movie has nothing to do with Smurl family’s claims.
By examining newspaper articles, TV interviews, and in-person interviews from the time, plus historical records, Kenny unravels this case that the Warrens considered “demonic”. Instead, it’s crystal clear how the Warrens exaggerated and at least partially fictionalized this case. As with so many of their other infamous cases, the Warren’s template for “investigation” including grabbing media attention and guiding the Smurls into a book deal and eventually a TV movie (from which the Warrens also reaped benefits). Kenny shreds the 1988 book about the case, The Haunted by Robert Curran.
This was a fun and informative step-by-step examination of the way the Warrens took control of the narrative by crafting (or should we say “conjuring”) several mundane events experienced by the family into an exaggerated and preposterous demon infestation. The total video is about 90 minutes. Check it out.
This was really interesting. I didn’t know anything about the Smurl haunting so I watched a more sensational video about it. Even from that a lot of the claims of the supernatural seemed dubious, especially the bad smells, plumbing and electrical issues. I know enough about DIY to know what can go wrong with renovation projects.
I mean I watched a sensational video to get the folkloric feel before I watched this video.
That’s a good idea. For the general audience, sometimes it’s good to know the debunked story first. Then you are primed to not be impressed by the sensationalist version.
These Smurl demonic entities are about as real as the Smurfs!
Thanx for this post, Sharon. We met the Warrens many decades ago, asking why all their investigations ended up with demons. Like no natural but misinterpreted causes, no unknown natural phenomena? A colleague has a new book advocating the supernatural at the Smurls … his reaction to this shuld be interesting. 🙂
“asking why all their investigations ended up with demons.”
Because when all you have is a Mighty Demon Fighter Hammer, everything looks like a DEMON Nail. I have a SIL who’s been into that whole Spiritual Warfare thing since 2008.
The similarities with the Amityville ‘haunting’ are striking; the book, the changing story, the lack of corroboration from former occupants of the building, the movies and so on.
Thanks for posting this clip.