Summary
The Haunting in Connecticut is marketed as a true story, but the real origins of its story are a little more complicated. Taking inspiration from the 1992 book In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting by Ray Garton, The Haunting in Connecticut depicts the horror endured by the Campbells, who move into a home to be closer to their son Matt’s cancer treatment. Soon, all the Campbells, especially Matt, experience paranormal activity in the home, which turns sinister when they discover the house has a dark past of funerary practices and necromancy.
Between the 2009 horror movie and the book it’s based on, it has been maintained that the spectral experiences the Campbell family undergo were rooted in a true story. However, unlike most movies that are “based on a true story,” The Haunting in Connecticut comes along with some controversy. The movie is a testament to the idea that there are multiple sides to the truth, but how much of The Haunting in Connecticut is based in reality is hard to discern.
The Haunting In Connecticut Is Based On Carmen Snedeker & Her Family
The Haunting in Connecticut is based on the story of the Snedeker family, led by matriarch Carmen. The experiences that the Snedeker family reported having in their Connecticut home closely resemble the plot of The Haunting in Connecticut, with them initially moving into the house in 1986 to be closer to their son Philip’s cancer treatment. The entire Snedeker family reported experiencing paranormal phenomena in the house, which had previously been a funeral home, with Philip in particular being affected by the spirits.
Eventually, the Snedekers sought help with the spirits that were tormenting them, both in the form of an exorcism for the house and from the famous paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. After the exorcism, the paranormal activity in the house allegedly ceased, and the Snedeker family moved out of the house in 1988. The Haunting in Connecticut takes some creative liberties with the experiences that the Snedekers claimed to have had, but much of the movie’s plot remains true to what Carmen Snedeker has said happened.
Why The Haunting In Connecticut’s True Story Inspiration Is Controversial
While The Haunting in Connecticut is marketed as a horror movie inspired by a true story, the claim is complicated. Though Carmen Snedeker has remained steadfast in what she claims happened to her family, Ray Garton, the author of the book that the movie is based on, has distanced himself from the “true story” element. Garton was allegedly commissioned to write the book by the Warrens, who told him to fictionalize parts of the Snedekers’ story that were contradictory. Both the Warrens and Snedeker denounced Garton’s claims, making it impossible to know if The Haunting in Connecticut really is a true story.
