Has anyone ever read the book? I'm sure it's called: In a Dark Place: The story of a True Haunting. I've been reading reviews and everybody is saying the book is terrifying. But the only part that sucks is that the writers of the story made lots of the parts up to "make it scary".
I know it's out of print, but do you think they'll ever make anymore copies? And if anyone read the book can you tell me if its over exaggerated and hard to believe. Thanks.
I haven't read it, but I work at a bookstore and plan to search for a used/out of print copy when I get to work this afternoon. Most bookstores now can do this for you with old/out of print titles, and you may even be able to find it on Amazon.
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=silver_screams
I have read the book, and I can tell you that quite a bit is exaggerated and more sexually perverted than in the movie.
In the book, the mother does not just get stuck in the shower curtain, but is raped in the shower, and there were two cousins residing with the family. In the film the older one is featured, in the book she was attacked by an entity and molested and also raped.
Mr. Zaffas's encounter with the demon in the book also has a sexual slant to it, whereas in the movie it is no more than a sighting.
I have ALSO heard that the author of the book was told by Ed Warren to embellish the novel, as the family's stories were not gelling in interviews. I feel that if one were to believe a telling of the tale, the film done by the discovery channel is more believable.
But the book is still scary as hell.
You know what? I remember seeing that family interviewed back in the early 80s on some talk show like The Mike Douglas show or some such crap. I remember hearing about the rapes.
I did find a used copy of the book. It's somewhere around $100.
I think I'll wait for the mass market reprint.
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=silver_screams
Wow $100.00...? Crazy I picked up a copy for practically nothing ($1 or less)at a local used bookstore.
It was a good book, But why the hell would they charge so much...?
The author of the book has stated that he never thought that the house was really haunted (although he admits he's not an expert). He also stated that the family was dysfunctional (drug and drink problems) and that the family could just not keep their story straight.
It goes further when the author has claimed that Ed Warren told him that the family was "crazy" and that he was just to make up whatever he wanted. So, there's a REAL strong possibility that the entire thing is just one big hunk of *beep* especially given the very dubious reputation that the Warrens have in the paranormal community.
Links: (the first link is to a newsgroup posting "isolated" from the rest of the thread)
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.folklore.ghost-stories/msg/4f19f42b695c1dfe?hl=en&;
http://p103.ezboard.com/fhorrorgasmsfrm7.showMessage?topicID=1913.topic
Aside from the reality of the haunting, I completely agree that this was an effective piece of work. The filmmakers deserve to be in the big-time.
I met the actual woman at a late night paranormal lecture yesterday at my college...she was a guest speaker for john zaffis, who is the nephew of ed and lorraine warren, a renowned parapsychologist himself, and also was part of the snedeker investigation ( in the movie he was portrayed as the one running out of the house and never coming back...though actually in reality he does return). carmen snedeker is very convincing in her story, john zaffis doesn't doubt her or she wouldn't be with him. the warrens believed her story and they spent a while investigating that house in connecticut. they even went against all para-psychology rules and did a ouija board session and it didn't really turn out well. the only doubt that i had was when carmen discussed her rape, and mentioned her niece's too. i'd never heard of spirits doing that. i believed lots of things that night but that was one thing that was kind of too unbelevable. john zaffis isn't a fraud. he starts out his lectures showing you fraudulent pictures and how to detect them, so right away that tells me that this guy believes in letting the world know what's going on. he wouldn't invite carmen if she was a fraud, even a very excellent one. carmen even states that she doesn't recommend the book at all b/c the author portrayed everything as sexual and she wasn't satified with it. when the family confronted the author he became defensive and it was evident that he was using them. carmen says the movie is mostly accurate, but there are still many things that aren't as in order to make this movie she herself had 4 hours of interviews done, then there was the interviews of her family members and of the researchers...so things were bound to be cut out. she does say however that there is a new movie coming out ( hollywood style) that does want to stay true to the actual events....i think she said dreamworks was trying to produce it, and that they were trying to stay close to the discovery channel title; haunting in connecticut, but most likely that would change. still, the stories she told scared the crap out of me...like how she found intestines in the sink in the basement when they were unclogging it or something....plus the bloodstains still on the floor and on the walls. carmen studies parapsychology now and actually goes to colleges and lectures, so obviously many people believe her story
oh, and the warrens aren't considered dubious, it's a known fact that they are the most respected and most knowledgeable in the parapsychology field...their nephew is on his way to joining their ranks.
just wanted to clear the air..
I first read the book from the library,as it was one of the cases investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren--after reading The Demonologist, many years ago, I became hooked,and was on the lookout for any other books by them. I happen to think the Warrens are genuine(despite the whole Amityville debacle). Anyway, I read the book, and was chilled to the bone by it. Not long after, I was amazed to see that they had made a movie/documentary about. I've seen it at least 3 times(it was just on again last night), and it's still just as scary and disturbing. Often, when re-enactments are used, it cheapens things, because they're usually cheesy and amateurish--though not in this case. The re-enactment was very well-done, very believable. On the subject of books by the Warrens, if you thinks this one's scary, read The Demonologist. It's a collection of cases from the Warrens' long career. I dare you to read it just before going to bed for the night.
shareI've read The Demonologist and it is wonderful! I read it at night too. Lol That's the only reading time I have as a mom. The book is amazing and creepy.
I picked it up about a year ago. My grandparents knew The Warrens and I let them once as a young kid. My grandparents talked fondly of their friends as I grew I heard sweet stories of their friendship yet it wasn't till years later in my late teens I heard what they did. They were just grandmas friend in my mind. My grandma hated to speak of their jobs. I think maybe due to all the judgement of the Amnityville thing. My dad would bring it up and my grandma would wave her hand like she'd have none of that. She did hear the Lutzs speak in CT one year at a college. She just said they were clearly troubled by what happened. Anyway due to all this I've been fascinated with the Warrens work. I've watched documentaries about them. I was thrilled to find a good book about them.
I personally believe every case they worked was real. They cared about those they helped and believed in their work.
Thank you, Sly. My grandparents knew the Warrens. My grandparents have now passed away but they knew them well. They always said they were well respected people. But anyway I won't waste my time with the book after reading what you said. I'm glad I just downloaded the sample on Kindle and no pay the $9.99.
shareI haven't read it but you can get it on Kindle for $9.99. Yet from what I have read there could be "fillers" to fill blanks in the story. I don't know for sure though. I've read good reviews so I may read the sample and see if it is worth $9.99. It does seem too high to me so we will see.
Personally the documentary is great and is the story told from the family point of view.