Send us Fan Mail

Who were Ed and Lorraine Warren, and why are their stories still shaping how we think about hauntings, possession, and evil?

In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, we step into the world of the Warrens, the real-life paranormal investigators behind The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun, to explore the cases that made them famous, and the stories that made them controversial.

From the Perron family haunting in Rhode Island… to the unsettling case of the Annabelle doll… to the courtroom drama of The Devil Made Me Do It… We examine where belief, storytelling, and fear intersect, and why possession narratives can become bigger than the facts themselves.

This episode also explores the cultural context of the 1980s Satanic Panic, and how fear, media, and mythology helped shape public perception of cases like Arne Cheyenne Johnson.

Because sometimes… the question isn’t whether something is real ... It’s why we believe it is.

🕯️ In this episode:

• The real story behind The Conjuring and the Perron family
• The Annabelle case (and why the real doll is… surprisingly underwhelming)
• The Warrens’ rise to fame and the controversies surrounding their work
• The first use of “demonic possession” as a legal defense
• The Satanic Panic of the 1980s and its cultural impact
• Why possession narratives are so powerful — and so complicated

🎬 Referenced Films:

• The Conjuring (2013)
• Annabelle (2014)
• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

📚 Further Listening:

• The Amityville Horror episode of Truth Behind the Terror
• The Exorcist episode of Truth Behind the Terror

🎧 Support the Podcast

We’re getting close to 2,000 downloads (!), and to celebrate, a limited merch drop is coming soon.

Think:
🦌 die-cut antler stickers
📓 creepy field notebooks
🐺 a subtle nod to Bea the Wendigo

Stay tuned…

🦈 Coming Next: Claws and Jaws (April Arc)
Because sometimes… the monster isn’t supernatural.

🎧 Podcast Credits

Clips used:

• The Conjuring Original Trailer (2013)
• History vs. Hollywood, “Ed and Lorraine Warren Occult Museum Tour Featuring Annabelle”

Music:

• "Curse" - Eerie and Scary Ambient Music by Mehul Sharma (Royalty-Free)

Editing:

• Written, researched, and edited by Carissa

Fan Mail:

• Send your thoughts, theories, or favorite horror rules using the “Fan Mail” button on Buzzsprout.

Send a text

In this month’s Love Hurts episode, we dive into Scream (1996), the slasher that didn’t just revive horror, but rewrote its rules.

From Ghostface’s iconic phone calls to Randy’s infamous survival guidelines, Scream turned horror into self-aware meta-commentary. But where did those rules come from? And why do we need them?

We explore:

• The evolution of slasher tropes
• The concept of the “Final Girl”
• Wes Craven’s comeback to horror
• The real-life crimes that inspired Scream, including the Gainesville Ripper murders
• The tragic 1950 babysitter murder of Janett Christman (also discussed in our Black Christmas episode)

Then we travel back to 1946 Texarkana and the unsolved Moonlight Murders, the real-life crimes that inspired The Town That Dreaded Sundown, and examine how unresolved tragedy becomes myth, legend, and eventually cinema.

Because horror didn’t invent the rules.

It inherited them.

And sometimes, the scariest stories aren’t fiction at all.

Stay tuned at the end for a few modern “Love Hurts” film recommendations — and a teaser for March’s deep dive into Ed and Lorraine Warren.

This episode discusses real-life crimes, including murder and sexual assault. While no graphic detail is included, listener discretion is advised.

• Scream (1996), directed by Wes Craven
• The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976, 2014)
• Black Christmas (1974)
• Coverage of the Gainesville Ripper (Danny Rolling)
• The Texarkana Moonlight Murders (1946)
• Together
• Keeper
• Bone Lake

Clips used:

• Scream (1996) trailer and selected audio clips
• The Town That Dreaded Sundown trailer

Music:

• "Curse" - Eerie and Scary Ambient Music by Mehul Sharma (Royalty-Free)

Editing:

• Written, researched, and edited by Carissa

Fan Mail:

• Send your thoughts, theories, or favorite horror rules using the “Fan Mail” button on Buzzsprout.

Send a text

What happens when hunger doesn’t stop — even after survival?

In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, I explore the Wendigo: a terrifying figure from Algonquian First Nations folklore associated with winter, starvation, greed, and the loss of humanity. More than a monster, the Wendigo serves as a moral warning — one that draws a sharp line between survival and excess.

From there, we dive into the 1999 cult classic Ravenous, a darkly comedic horror western inspired by real historical events including the Donner Party and the story of Alfred Packer, the so-called “Colorado Cannibal.” Set against the backdrop of American expansionism, Ravenous uses cannibalism as a metaphor for power, greed, and Manifest Destiny — and draws heavily on the Wendigo myth to do so.

Finally, we contrast mythic cannibalism with real-world survival cannibalism, examining the 1972 Andes plane crash as depicted in Alive (1993) and Society of the Snow (2023), and how folklore can help us understand — rather than sensationalize — human desperation.

This episode contains discussions of cannibalism, starvation, death, and psychological trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

🎬 Films & Stories Discussed

• Ravenous (1999)
• Alive (1993)
• Society of the Snow (2023)
• The Wendigo (Algonquian folklore)

🎵 Music & Audio

• “Curse” — Eerie and Scary Ambient Music by Mehul Sharma (Royalty-Free)
• Film clips used for commentary and educational purposes

🎙️ Production Credits

• Research, writing, editing, and narration: Carissa Willis
• Podcast hosted on Buzzsprout
• Fan Mail button enabled — listeners are welcome to send a message directly through the episode page

Send a text

🎙️ Truth Behind the Terror — Episode: Shadow of the Solstice: The Truth Behind Krampus (2015)

Episode Description

Every winter, a horned creature stalks the snowy villages of the Alps — rattling chains, dragging birch branches, and punishing the misbehaved. But how much of that legend actually made its way into the 2015 horror-comedy Krampus?

In this episode of Truth Behind the Terror, Carissa descends into pre-Christian folklore, Alpine winter rituals, and centuries-old moral traditions to uncover the real stories behind the monster that Hollywood turned into a gingerbread-slaying Christmas demon.

From Krampusnacht parades and Saint Nicholas’ dark companion to snow-globe dimensions and killer toys, we separate folklore fact from cinematic chaos — and reveal what Krampus really was meant to be.

🎄 Creepy.
📜 Historical.
👹 Surprisingly meaningful.

🩸 Truth Behind the Terror Scale

🧊 5/10 — Rooted in folklore, wildly fictionalized

📬 Listener Fan Mail

Have thoughts, theories, or your own creepy holiday traditions?
Use the Fan Mail button to send a message — your note may be featured in a future episode.

🎬 Credits & Disclaimers

Host, Research, Writing & Editing:
Carissa Willis

Music:
Eerie and Scary Ambient Music (Royalty Free Music)
“Curse” by Mehul Sharma

Film Clips:
Brief audio excerpts from Krampus (2015) are used under fair-dealing provisions for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.

Podcast Platform:
Buzzsprout

Send a text

Happy New Year ... in April!! We are back with our first episode of 2024 and it's a fun one! Join us as we look at a movie that had one of the most creative marketing campaigns in movie history ... it's based on a true story ... but it actually isn't. It's also a bit of winding path as we explore a truly indescribable movie from the 70s that was actually the pioneer of the modern found footage film genre. And we leave you with some true crime/true horror stories that are sure to add a little something extra to your next camping trip!

Episode warning: This episode contains discussions of animal cruelty, child abuse, violence against children, violence against First Nations, and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

References and Sources

- Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5iF5psCp28 - Blair Witch Mythology: The Burkittsville 7 (Documentary/Mockumentary)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmUpmA27QI - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 1) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mUYmyxlCw - Ruggero Deodato - Interview (Part 2) with his son discussing “Cannibal Holocaust”

- The Blair Witch Project. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, performances by Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard, Haxam Films, 1999.

- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/movies/blair-witch-project-1999.html
“‘The Blair Witch Project’ at 20: Why It Can’t Be Replicated”
Jake Kring-Schreifels
The New York Times
July 30, 2019

- https://www.vice.com/en/article/8xzy4p/blair-witch-project-oral-history-20th-anniversary
“The Terrifying True Story of How ‘The Blair Witch Project’ was Made”
Tatiana Tenreyro
Vice
July 16th, 2019

- Blair Witch Online Message Boards - https://blairwitch.proboards.com/

- Blair Witch Project - Documentary Prequel - https://youtu.be/NxmoQrF6Zik?si=r0D9YseBlYeWQaNQ

- Cannibal Holocaust Directed by Ruggero Deodato, performances by Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, and Perry Pirkanen, F.D. Cinematografica, 1980.

- https://collider.com/cannibal-holocaust-production-history-explained/
“The Fascinating Story Behind One of Horror’s Most Disturbing Films, “Cannibal Holocaust”
Luna Guthrie
Collider
December 29th, 2022

- https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/15/cannibal-holocaust
“Cannibal Holocaust: ‘Keep filmint! Kill more people!"
Steve Rose
The Guardian
September 15th, 2011

- https://listverse.com/2022/10/14/10-brutal-crimes-committed-against-campers/
“10 Brutal Crime

Send a text

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal! Happy holidays to you!

Need a break from your Festivus celebrations? Looking for that perfect holiday film to cuddle up with the whole family? Need some topics of conversation to get through all of the awkward family dinners? You are in luck! Join us on the winding path of our latest podcast as we cover such topics as:

✅ Why were all of the horror movies of the early 2000's such 💩?
✅ Serial killers ... their psychopathy, why they should only ever drive Honda Civics, and what is with the mommy issues? 🗡️
✅ Forensic odontology ... is it junk science or the new fingerprints? 🦷
✅ The best of Canadian cinema ... Fubar? Strange Brew? Porky's? 🇨🇦
✅ Why is it probably for the best that only one of us has children? 👶
✅ Occasionally circling back to the 2 (or is it 3? 🤔) true crime stories that inspired the Canadian cult classic Christmas/horror movie Black Christmas.

Thank you so much for listening to our podcast through 2023, we hope that you have enjoyed listening as much as we have enjoyed making the episodes! Remember to like, subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform if you are enjoying what you are hearing.

We wish you the very best of the holiday season and look forward to entertaining you again in 2024! Happy New Year! 🎊

References and Sources

Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

Black Christmas. Directed by Bob Clark, performances by Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, and Margot Kidder, Warner Bros., 1974.

"13 Things You Didn't Know About 'Black Christmas'". Chiller (TV channel). December 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, December 7). Black Christmas (1974 film). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:09, December 7, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Christmas_(1974_film)&oldid=1188746384

https://nerdbot.com/2023/11/13/urban-legend-fact-or-fiction-the-babysitter-and-the-man-upstairs/
Urban Legend Fact or Fiction: The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs
Amy Davis
Nerdbot
November 13th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uUEfES_6-Ko
The Story Behind Black Christmas: The Boy Murderer George Webster and The Vampire Killer Wayne Boden
Under the Ash Tree
December 31st, 2022

https://serialkillercalendar.com/WAYNE-CLIFFORD-BODEN-THE-VAMPIRE-RAPIST.php
Wayne Clifford Boden - The Vampire Rapist
Serial Killer Calendar
Aaron Kirkland

Send a text

One of the most terrifying movies of all time, "The Exorcist" was based on the true story of a 14 year old boy, which also inspired the novel by William Peter Blatty. Join us as we explore the myths surrounding the "cursed" movie, the theology behind exorcisms, the true story of Roland Doe, and to what extent demonic possession can be linked to mental health.

Show Notes:
- Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay

- https://www.history.com/news/exorcisms-christianity-gospels-movie - Exorcisms: The Centuries-Long History of Expelling Evil
The History Channel - A&E Television Networks
Elizabeth Yuko
October 27, 2022

- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/the-exorcist-boy-named-magazine - Boy whose case inspired The Exorcist is named by US magazine
Maya Yang
The Guardian
December 20, 2021

- Exorcism Protocol
Archdiocese of Toronto
Catholic Pastoral Centre
1155 Younge Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
March 12th, 2015

- https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/health/exorcism-doctor/index.html - When exorcists need help, they call him
John Blake
CNN Health - CNN
Friday August 4th, 2017

- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/04/21/cries-of-a-woman-possessed/94bf2fd3-8e64-482d-869d-1f929851ca8f/ - Cries of a Woman Possessed
The Washington Post
Michael Getler
April 21st, 1978

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29fpnF1DWoQ - Rare, Unedited Recordings of the 67 Exorcisms of Anneliese Michel, the Real Emily Rose
Planet Weird

- Mellor, Lee Dr. Behind the Horror: True Stories That Inspired Horror Movies. New York, Penguin Random House, 2020.

- Blatty, William Peter. The Exorcist - A Novel. New York, Harper Collins, 1971.

- The Exorcist. Directed by William Friedkin, performances by Ellen Burstyn,
Max von Sydow, and Linda Blair, Warner Bros., 1973.

- Annelise Michel Exorcism recording (German with English subtitles) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H4gvQDGiak

- The Exorcist: Believer. Directed by David Gordon Green, performances by Ellen
Burstyn, Jennifer Nettles, and Leslie Odom, Jr., Universal Pictures, 2023

- Cursed Films - Season 1, Episode 1: The Exorcist. Directed by Jay Cheel, performances by Hector Avalos, Linda Blair, Vincent Bauhaus, Shudder, 2020.

- Eli Roth’s History of Horror - Season 1, Episode 4: The Demons Inside. Directed by Kurt Sayenga, performances by Eli Roth, Greg Nicotero, and Rob Zombie, Asylum Entertainment, 2018.

Send a text

In the first part of our special two-part episode, we take a look at the hit HBO show and video game, "The Last of Us". Even though the show is not based on a true story, it has led to much speculation about the role that fungi may play in future pandemics. In Part 1, we look at the history of zombies in pop culture, take a look at some "true" cases of zombies, and look at how this latest instalment in the post-apocalyptic genre holds up.

References and Sources

• Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay
• https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-zombies - The History Channel - The History of Zombies
• https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150828-where-do-zombies-come-from - BBC Culture - Where do zombies come from? Our contemporary take on the lumbering undead is actually rooted in Voodoo folklore from the Caribbean - Roger Luckhurst
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_of_Us_(TV_series)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_of_Us - video game
• https://zombie.fandom.com/wiki/Why_Zombies_Eat_Brains%3F
• The Last of Us. Created by Neil Druckman and Craig Mazin, performances by Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, HBO, 2013.
• The Walking Dead. Created by Frank Darabont, performances by Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, AMC, 2010.
• Night of the Living Dead. Directed by George A. Romero, performances by Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Image Ten, 1968.
• Jackson, Michael. “Thriller”, Thriller, Epic Records, 1982, 4.
• BBC Planet Earth - Season 1, Episode 8: Jungles. Directed by Alistair Fothergill, performances by David Attenborough, BBC, 2007.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSJTPbAm-SM - Trailer for “Pig” starring Nicolas Cage