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‘The Conjuring 3’ and The Story Behind the ‘Devil Made Me Do It’

Published

4 years ago

December 9, 2019

This weekend, Warner Brothers revealed the full title for the latest entry in The Conjuring franchise at Brazil’s CCXP. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is set for release in September of 2020.

But what’s the story behind the new film?

For that, we have to go all the way back to Brookfield, Connecticut in 1980.

It All Began with a Possession

David Glatzel, then 11 years old, began to exhibit strange behavior after his family acquired a rental property. He spoke of an old man who made threats against the family and began having night terrors. After he received several large scratches on his body, they called in a local priest to bless the home.

The blessing seemed to make matters worse, and after the phenomena began occurring during the day as well as night, the family was at their wits end. They called upon Ed and Lorraine Warren for help and after investigating, they revealed that they thought that David was being possessed. Lorraine had allegedly witnessed a black mist materializing next to the boy and moving through him at various times.

David would growl, hiss, and speak in voices that were not his own, and it was said that he even demonstrated some precognition during that time.

The Warrens called in more priests who reportedly performed between three and six exorcisms on the boy. It was during this time that Arne Johnson, who was in a relationship with David’s mother, Debbie provoked the demonic entity and would later come to believe that when the demon finally fled David’s body, it took over his own.

The family eventually fled the home, and Debbie took a job working as a dog groomer for Alan Bono who also rented out an apartment to the family.

David seemed to finally be recovering but now Arne began exhibiting similar behaviors to the boy. Debbie allegedly claimed that he would go into a trance-like state growling and hallucinating only to forget what had happened when he would emerge from the trance.

On February 16, 1981, Arne called into his job saying that he didn’t feel well and went to spend the day with Debbie at her job. Bono took everyone out to lunch at a local bar where he became intoxicated. An altercation took place when he allegedly became belligerent and grabbed Debbie’s nine year old niece, Mary, by the arm.

Johnson confronted Bono telling him to let the girl go, but Bono refused. Suddenly, and without warning, Johnson seemed to change. He growled at Bono then produced a five-inch blade which he used to repeatedly stab the man in the torso with one wound in particular stretching from his stomach all the way to the base of his heart.

It was the first murder ever reported in Brookfield, Connecticut, but it would not be the last “first” of this case.

The Devil Made Me Do It

When Arne Johnson was brought to trial later in 1981, his lawyer, Martin Minnella, brought a defense no on in the court room was expecting when he tried to enter a plea of “not guilty by virtue of demonic possession.” It was the first time such a plea had been brought before a court in the U.S.

Presiding Judge Robert Callahan rejected the defense saying there was no way to prove that Johnson was indeed possessed noting that it was unscientific. Minnella changed his tactic, attempting a self-defense case arguing that Johnson was protecting his family when the attack occurred.

The defense was, to a degree, unsuccessful. John was convicted of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison, of which he only served five years.

The Aftermath of the Case

Shortly after the case, NBC produced a made-for-TV film titled The Demon Murder Case.

Author Gerald Brittle, meanwhile, published a book titled The Devil in Connecticut, documenting the case with the help of Lorraine Warren. The book eventually went out of print but when it was re-published in 2006, a new wrinkle in the fabric of the case came to light.

Carl Glatzel, Jr. and David Glatzel sued both the authors and publishers claiming that the Warrens had capitalized on and exploited David, who they claimed suffered from mental illness, turning it into a story of demon possession and sensationalizing the details.

Lorraine that her assertions were correct and both Johnson and Debbie, who are now married, have continued to support those assertions.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona) will direct the upcoming film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It based on this case which is admittedly a strange one. This is the third Conjuring film and the seventh in the extended Conjuring Universe which was created by James Wan based on the case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will return as Ed and Lorraine Warren for the film starring alongside Ruairi O’Connor (The Spanish Princess) as Arne Johnson and Sarah Catherine Hook (Triangle) as Debbie Glatzel. Julian Hilliard (Color out of Space) will appear as young David Glatzel.

Look for the film in theaters in September of 2020!

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News

A24 Creating New Action Thriller “Onslaught” From ‘The Guest’ & ‘You’re Next’ Duo

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

It’s always nice to see a reunion in the world of horror. Following a competitive bidding war, A24 has secured the rights to the new action thriller film Onslaught. Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) will be directing the film. He will be joined by his longtime creative partner Simon Barret (You’re Next) as the scriptwriter.

For those unaware, Wingard and Barret made a name for themselves while working together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. The two creatives are card carrying horror royalty. The pair have worked on films such as V/H/S, Blair Witch, The ABC’s of Death, and A Horrible Way to Die.

An exclusive article of out Deadline gives us the limited information we have on the topic. Although we don’t have much to go on, Deadline does offer the following information.

“Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is in the vein of Wingard and Barrett’s cult classics like The Guest and You’re Next. Lyrical Media and A24 will co-finance. A24 will handle worldwide releasing. Principal photography will begin in Fall 2024.”

A24 will be producing the film alongside Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, Alexander Black for Lyrical Media, Wingard and Jeremy Platt for Breakaway Civilization, and Simon Barret.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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News

Director Louis Leterrier Creating New Sci-Fi Horror Film “11817”

Published

3 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

According to an article from Deadline, Louis Leterrier (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is about to shake things up with his new Sci-Fi horror film 11817. Leterrier is set to produce and direct the new Movie. 11817 is penned by the glorious Mathew Robinson (The Invention of Lying).

Rocket Science will be taking the film to Cannes in search of a buyer. While we don’t know much about what the film looks like, Deadline offers the following plot synopsis.

“The film watches as inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life or death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who — or what — is keeping them trapped…”

“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey,” said Leterrier. “It’s what excites me about 11817‘s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget.”

Leterrier has made a name for himself in the past for working on beloved franchises. His portfolio includes gems such as Now You See Me, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans, and The Transporter. He is currently attached to create the final Fast and the Furious film. However, it will be interesting to see what Leterrier can do working with some darker subject material.

That’s all the information we have for you at this time. As always, make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Lists

New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Timothy Rawles

atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

^{Airport ’75}

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

^Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

^Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

^{The Clovehitch Killer}

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

_Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

^Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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