There’s something so much more terrifying about a horror movie based on true events. Maybe it’s because we know that the majority of the time, the things that happen in horror movies can’t possibly happen in real life. They may tap into very real fears, but the events themselves are fictional – usually. It’s that “usually” that gets us. When the terrifying events depicted in a horror movie actually happen in reality, the line between our orderly, normal world and all the terrors that lurk beyond it are blurred. It lets us know that this, too, could happen to us.

And that’s exactly what makes The Conjuring franchise so successful and so fascinating. The series is based on real-life demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren and based on actual cases they have worked. Annabelle, the haunted doll of the Conjuring universe that even got her own spinoff, was based on a real doll the Warrens have. Granted, it’s a Raggedy Ann doll and not a porcelain one, but the doll exists. As for the first Conjuring movie, it was loosely based on the real-life story of the Perron family. In 1971, they moved into an old farmhouse in Rhode Island and soon discovered it was haunted by malevolent spirits. The Warrens were called in to investigate the home and those events became the basis for The Conjuring.

And now horror fans can get their fright on with the actual house from that movie. The house used for the movie might be different, but the Perron Family Home very much exists in real life. The current owners of the farmhouse are opening up their home for a 24-hour livestream event. Beginning on Saturday, May 9th, fans can join in a week of investigation of the paranormal activities in the house thanks to The Dark Zone Network. The YouTube channel will be setting up cameras all throughout the house that viewers can watch. Plus, there will be seances held and investigations taking place throughout the week with people being able to watch live.

Perron Family Home

On one hand, I can’t help but think this isn’t exactly good social distancing practice. On the other, The Dark Zone has stated that a portion of the proceeds will go toward COVID-19 relief charities. For $4.99, viewers can access the livestream for 24 hours and for $19.99, they can get access for the full week. While I am interested in the paranormal, I tend to be highly sceptical of any ghost hunter shows as they’re always rigged. Still, for fans of the paranormal, this is shaping up to be a very cool event, and owners Cory and Jennifer Heinzen couldn’t be more enthusiastic.

In previous interviews, both have stated there’s still plenty of weird happenings and creepy activity happening in the farmhouse. In an interview with WJAR last year, Jennifer said that both she and Cory have seen shadow figures in their bedroom at night. “To me it reminded me of Slender Man,” she said then. “It was kind of creepy, but it was kind of exciting.” In a different interview with WGME, Cory described how the house was still very active. “We had doors opening, footsteps and knocks,” he explained. “I’ve had a hard time staying there by myself. I don’t have the feeling of anything evil, (but) it’s very busy. You can tell there’s a lot of things going on in the house.”

Fingers crossed the week-long livestream captures some of this spooky action as it unfolds.

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