If you’re a fan of The Conjuring movies, you’ve probably noticed the phrase “based on a true story” on the main entries. These movies take inspiration from real cases handled by paranormal investigators, the Warrens.
The first movie was about the Perron family, and the second was about the Hodgson family in England. Their story is famously known as “The Enfield Poltergeist,” similar to the Amityville haunting in America. But what actually happened to the Hodgson family compared to what’s shown in the movie?
Real Story Behind Conjuring 2
In 1977, the Hodgson family faced strange happenings at their home without understanding why. Peggy Hodgson, a single mom with four kids, woke up to loud noises from her daughters’ room.
She thought they were just fighting, but when she went to check, she found the girls terrified, saying the chest of drawers moved on its own. Peggy saw it herself but couldn’t move it back. Scared, they all went to their neighbors’ house that night.
After Vic Nottingham checked the house and heard strange noises, Peggy called the police. But the police couldn’t do anything, even when an officer saw a chair move by itself. The Hodgsons felt alone, and this was just the start of their 18 months of torment.
The strange activity kept happening in the Hodgson home, scaring the family so much they didn’t want to be there alone. Peggy asked for help and contacted The Daily Mirror, a famous newspaper. But when the reporter came, the activity stopped.
Then, oddly, it started again and even hit the photographer with a Lego brick. This caught the attention of the Society for Psychical Research, and Maurice Grosse came to investigate.
While The Daily Mirror reporters didn’t see much, Grosse saw a lot more strange things during his stay. While Maurice Grosse stayed at the Hodgson home, they continued to see furniture moving by itself, fires breaking out, and even hearing strange voices.
Janet, who seemed to be the main target, remembers a terrifying moment when a curtain wrapped around her neck near her bed. Other paranormal researchers, including Ed and Lorraine Warren from The Conjuring movies, joined Grosse later.
Though their role in the Hodgson case was exaggerated in the film, they believed the family experienced a genuine haunting.
What Actually Happened To Janet?
When Janet Hodgson, who was just 11 years old at the time, began speaking in a strange voice, it shocked everyone. She would go into a trance and speak in a deep, scratchy voice claiming to be the ghost of Bill Wilkins, the previous owner of their house who died there.
Investigators like Grosse recorded these conversations. It’s confirmed that a man named Bill Wilkins did live in the house and died in the living room. You can still find recordings of these conversations online and some are even in the end credits of The Conjuring 2.
One of the most famous incidents involving Janet was when she reportedly floated in the air. There are photographs of her wearing a red nightgown, floating in her bedroom. These photos have sparked a lot of debate but remain some of the most famous levitation pictures ever.
