The Haunting Tale Behind ‘The Conjuring 2’

The Big Picture

The Conjuring movies are based on real cases investigated by the Warrens, and The Conjuring 2 focuses on the notorious Enfield Poltergeist haunting in England.

The Hodgson family encountered supernatural occurrences within their residence, such as furniture being moved, fires igniting, and even voices audible. It was claimed that Janet Hodgson, in particular, spoke using the voice of the poltergeist entity.

The haunting experienced by the family has provoked debate and allegations of deceitfulness, yet they assert that the majority of incidents were genuine. The cinematic rendition incorporates numerous accounts based on reality, albeit with certain fictional elements incorporated for heightened dramatic impact.

If you're a fan of the long-running horror franchise The Conjuring, then you are probably very familiar with the phrase "based on the true story" plastered on the three main entries in the series. Yes, the spin-offs do go off into more fantastical directions, but the titular The Conjuring movies always draw from actual cases that the Warrens have in their backlog. The first installment explored the chilling ordeal of the Perron family, while The Conjuring 2 delved into the haunting experienced by the Hodgson family in England. This haunting, commonly referred to as "The Enfield Poltergeist," became notorious within England and drew comparisons to the infamous Amityville haunting in America. However, what exactly did the Hodgson family endure during this eerie episode in their home when compared to the events depicted in the film?

The Conjuring 2

Released on June 10, 2016 and directed by James Wan, the film follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively. After a self-imposed break, the Warrens decide to travel to Enfield, a borough in north London. It is there that they encounter Peggy Hodgson, a single mother of four who is overwhelmed by something evil in her home. Convinced by Peggy's claims, Ed and Lorraine investigate further when the youngest daughter begins showing signs of demonic possession. As they work towards helping the tormented girl, the Warrens become the next targets of the malevolent spirit. The film has a runtime of 134 minutes and features actors Madison Wolfe and Frances O'Connor.

What Is the Mystery of the Enfield Poltergeist?

Similar to the Perrons who came before them, the Hodgson family was completely unaware of the inexplicable events unraveling in their home in 1977. Peggy Hodgson, a single mother taking care of her four young children, was abruptly awoken by loud noises originating from her daughter's room. Assuming her children were engaged in a quarrel, Peggy anticipated calmly intervening and instructing them to cease the commotion and go back to sleep. However, what she encountered upon opening the door stunned her beyond belief. Janet and Margaret, her daughters, were huddled in a corner, visibly terrified. They recounted to their mother that the chest of drawers had autonomously glided to the door, leaving them utterly petrified. At first, Peggy dismissed their claims as sheer imagination, but her skepticism quickly dissolved when she personally witnessed the furniture moving before her eyes. Astonishingly, she found herself unable to mobilize the chest of drawers on her own. Naturally, in response to this bewildering encounter, the entire family hastily fled their residence that very night, seeking refuge at their neighbors' house, Vic and Peggy Nottingham.

After investigating the home himself due to hearing strange noises, Vic Nottingham decided to call the police for assistance. However, the police determined that they were unable to provide help, despite an officer asserting that they had witnessed a chair moving across the room unaided. Thus, the Hodgsons found themselves facing their ordeal alone, and this was merely the beginning of the reported 18 months of torment.

The Hodgsons Asked for Help From Newspapers and Paranormal Investigators

The unsettling phenomena persisted within the confines of the household, subjecting the entire family to such distress that they harbored a vehement aversion to being left alone there. Peggy eventually sought assistance, taking the initiative to reach out for help via a reputable publication known as The Daily Mirror, with the aim of delving into the enigmatic occurrences in their home. Naturally, upon the reporter's arrival, the activity abruptly ceased. However, rather intriguingly, it resumed once more when the photographer was struck forcefully in the face by a Lego brick, causing a conspicuous mark that lingered for several days. The Daily Mirror, however, was not the sole entity engaged in scrutinizing this perplexing haunting. Prompted by an outreach from The Daily Mirror, the Society for Psychical Research dispatch Maurice Grosse to conduct an investigation into the peculiar case. While the journalists from The Daily Mirror bore witness to only limited phenomena, Grosse experienced a far greater degree of activity during his stay at the Hodgson residence.

More furniture moving autonomously, fires erupting spontaneously, and eerie voices being heard were all documented during the duration of his stay. Janet, who appeared to be the primary target, vividly recalls the most petrifying moment when "a curtain wrapped itself around [her] neck right beside [her] bed." Grosse eventually received assistance from other experts in paranormal phenomena, including the renowned researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren, who gained recognition through their involvement in The Conjuring films. While the extent of their role in the Hodgson case was exaggerated in the movie, they strongly asserted that the haunting experienced by the family was undeniably real.

Janet Was Possessed by the Ghost of the House

At just 11 years old, Janet Hodgson reportedly exhibited a peculiar phenomenon during the time when the family was tormented by a poltergeist. She would enter a trance-like state and speak in a deep, scratchy voice that claimed to be the previous resident of the house, Bill Wilkins. The ghost would communicate through her, engaging in full conversations that were recorded by investigators like Grosse. It was later confirmed that a Bill Wilkins had indeed lived at the same address before the Hodgson family and had passed away in their living room from a hemorrhage. These recordings are still available for listening with a simple search, and a few of them can even be found in the end credits of The Conjuring 2.

Was the Enfield Poltergeist a Hoax?

But her most notable experience was when she allegedly levitated, which was captured in well-known photographs featuring Janet wearing a red nightgown, suspended in midair in her shared bedroom with her sister. While the authenticity of the image has sparked numerous debates, it remains as one of the most renowned levitation pictures to date.

Image via AppleTV+

Despite the skeptics, the family insists that their 18-month-long encounter with the paranormal was undeniably genuine. Occasionally, as a test of the investigators' abilities, Janet and her siblings confessed to staging certain incidents. However, they were always caught red-handed, proving the authenticity of most occurrences. For instance, they were discovered attempting to bend spoons themselves. While some argue that the entire haunting was an elaborate fabrication, questioning even Janet's potential possession, the Hodgsons remain steadfast in their belief that the majority of events were truly extraordinary.

How Does 'The Conjuring 2' Stack Up to the Real Story?

Image via Warner Bros.

Any horror film based on a true story tends to exaggerate real events, making them more intense and thrilling for the audience. Surprisingly, many of the actual reports from the family made it into the movie. This includes the mention of the flying Lego brick, the chest of drawers, and the family escaping the house. Maurice Grosse, along with others, investigated these incidents. The movie only fabricated the more detailed involvement of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the conclusion of the haunting, and the demonic nun Valak, who was a late addition to the film and originally portrayed as a generic demon. Valak's recognizable form and the addition of the Crooked Man were made in post-production. For those interested in diving deeper into the famous haunting, Apple TV+ offers a new docuseries titled The Enfield Poltergeist, which will feature the recordings made by Maurice Grosse. Don't miss The Enfield Poltergeist now streaming on Apple TV+.

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