American Hauntings: The True Stories behind Hollywood's Scariest Movies-from The Exorcist to The Conjuring

by Robert E. Bartholomew, Joe Nickell

Overview

This work provides an accurate, in-depth examination and scientific evaluation of the most famous hauntings in American history as depicted in popular films and television programs.

Neither a debunking book nor one written for the "true believer" in the paranormal, American Hauntings objectively scrutinizes the historic evidence behind such hugely popular films as The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, An American Haunting, The Conjuring, and The Haunting in Connecticut to ascertain the accuracy of these entertainment depictions of "true life" hauntings. The authors then compare these popular culture accounts against the alleged real-life encounters and impartially weigh the evidence to assess whether each incident actually took place.

Written by highly credentialed, recognized authorities on the paranormal and social psychology, this book contains meticulously documented, science-based information written for a broad audience, from middle and high school students and those taking introductory courses at a university level to general readers. There is no other work that provides as careful and unbiased an evaluation of the most famous hauntings in American history. The book also examines the reliability of popular television shows such as Unsolved Mysteries and Paranormal Witness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440839689
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/19/2015
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert E. Bartholomew, PhD, is a medical sociologist who teaches social sciences at Botany College, Auckland, New Zealand.

Joe Nickell, PhD, is a prominent paranormal investigator and former resident magician at the Houdini Hall of Fame.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

1 An American Haunting: Terror and Torment in Tennessee 1

2 The Exorcist: Diary of a Demonic Possession 21

3 Poltergeist: The Inspiration for the Film 33

4 The Conjuring: What Possessed the Perron Family? 57

5 The Amityville Horror: Haunting or Hoax? 79

6 Don Decker: The Man Who Could Make It Rain 103

7 The Haunting in Connecticut: A Disturbing Truth 119

8 Weighing the Evidence: Separating Fact from Fiction 129

Notes 139

Index 167

What People are Saying About This

Bruce Dettman

"Not to be missed . . . Bartholomew and Nickell are demon researchers with no agenda save getting at the truth. With surgical precision, they adeptly separate myth from reality in this engrossing expose of the real stories behind a crop of successful Hollywood films reportedly based on legitimate ghostly manifestations."

Dr. Keith J. Petrie

"A meticulously researched analysis of some of the most well known cases of haunted houses and poltergeists. Bartholomew and Nickell apply their considerable detective nous and skills in critical analysis to expose and examine the evidence behind each haunting. The result is a spellbinding and engaging read."

Scott O. Lilienfeld

"A delightful and enlightening romp through the little-known scientific evidence underlying seven supposed hauntings, all immortalized in familiar Hollywood films. This is a much-needed reminder that the facts behind allegedly paranormal events are almost always more fascinating than the fictions. American Hauntings is certain to become a classic."

Michael Shermer

"I do not believe in the supernatural or the paranormal, angels or demons, or poltergeists or exorcisms, and yet so powerful are the Hollywood films that portray such phenomena as real that even I get chills watching them. If a skeptic can be so moved, imagine the effect such films have on general believing audiences. In American Hauntings, Robert Bartholomew and Joe Nickell—the world's foremost ghostbusters—give us the facts behind the stories and natural explanations for apparently supernatural phenomena, demystifying while illuminating the wonders of human psychology."