ShortHand: The Conjuring
Summary
This episode investigates the truth behind the horror film The Conjuring, revealing that the Perrin family’s accounts of demonic hauntings are largely fabricated. The hosts detail how the subsequent owners, the Sutcliffs, used historical records to debunk claims about the house’s dark history and the witch Bathsheba Sherman. The narrative highlights the Sutcliffs’ ruined lives due to harassment from fans after the movie’s release, as well as the exploitation of the property by the Warrens and current owners for profit.
Topics discussed
Introduction to the spooky episode
The Conjuring film and visiting the real house
Review of the tour and Lizzie Borden comparison
The Perrin family and claimed paranormal events
Andrea Perrin's account of the film's production
The film as a toned-down version of reality
Norma Sutcliffe's harassment after the film release
Norma's decision to investigate the house's history
Discrepancies in the Perrins' historical research
The Black Book of Boroughville and death records
Debunking the child murder and actual deaths
The myth of Bathsheba Sherman the witch
The Warrens' involvement and initial skepticism
Lorraine Warren's claims and the Bathsheba connection
The seance and alleged possession incident
Historical facts about Bathsheba Sherman's life
Debunking the local historian and trial claims
Bathsheba's burial and the lack of witch evidence
Motivations for the Perrins' lies and family dysfunction
Andrea Perrin's false claims about the Sutcliffs
Subsequent owners and the house's commercialization
Debunking the Warrens as grifters
Comparison of residents' experiences over time
Critique of the tour's commercial nature
Conclusion: The truth behind the Conjuring hoax
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