MovieChat Forums > The Entity (1983) Discussion > Based on a 'True Story'? Erm...

Based on a 'True Story'? Erm...

posted 10 years ago by terryperring104
27 replies | jump to latest

...just as well say its based on a real dream.
Its all so very unlikely and I'm sure that if there was truth at the root of it all, it was a person with extreme mental issues, or someone wanting to sell a story for a quick buck or-just an attention seeker. That's what made it all the less scary for me.
If it were an admitted known work of fiction, then it could be taken more seriously AS a work, but when it has that 'Based on real events' tag- it loses a lot of oomph.

[–] showbizkids11235 10 years ago

Im a bit late here. It absolutely is based on a true story.

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There'll be no mutant enemy we shall certify

[–] darthkarl66 10 years ago

It is.

--Political ends of sad remains will die.

[–] pike100 9 years ago

showbiz, the movie was based on a 1978 novel (i.e. a work of FICTION) by Frank De Felitta (he is a well-known writer of horror novels).

The "based on a true story" bullsh!t was just included as part of the marketing effort to promote the book (and later on, the movie). This author has used this "based on a true story" marketing strategy for at least one of his other horror novels.

Colonel Angus: Well thank you Miss Anabelle. And if I overstay my welcome, just tap me on the head.

[–] showbizkids11235 9 years ago

Hello Pike. Sorry I just saw you had responded to me directly. I read the book. The question was asked very loosely. The book is based on Doris Bither and her alleged experiences with a Poltergeist. Sure the book and movie added a lot but there were some very specific events in the movie that Doris, and others, claim did actually happen including the car incident. The real woman does claim to be raped by an invisible spirit while being held down. Thanks,

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There'll be no mutant enemy we shall certify

[–] AmyJolamb 9 years ago

showbiz, the movie was based on a 1978 novel (i.e. a work of FICTION) by Frank De Felitta (he is a well-known writer of horror novels).

You are correct about the author's name, but the author witnessed the ghost at the home himself. You can see him speaking about it in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyO1Dllhe38 around 5:30 or so. He speaks in great detail at around 5:50 about what he saw and what the target of these rapes said.

~For beautiful eyes look for the good in others, for beautiful lips speak only words of kindness~

[–] showbizkids11235 9 years ago

Hey thanks for that! I had no idea the Author actually witnessed the Entity. That's really cool.

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There'll be no mutant enemy we shall certify

[–] zznoory 10 years ago

I guess I'm the only one that gets more frightened when I know a horror movie/story may have happened in reality..

[–] toretorden 10 years ago

I agree. I feel I see it all the time, "based on a true story", and tacked onto the most unbelievable stories like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or the more recent The Conjuring. It's somewhat annoying in that it's a cheap trick and must mean that the producers are either really gullible and will basically believe the most fantastic claims, or that they underestimate their audience.

At least I hope we're not that easily fooled. I'm not.

[–] terryperring104 10 years ago

They'll be tagging it on to vampire movies before long!

Its good to find a level head on here

[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

I believe in the existence of demons/the supernatural, but I do agree that Hollywood in general exaggerates true events (not just for horror but all "real" movies). They often keep maybe one or two details of the real events and make up the rest. Or sometimes they just keep the names of the people the same and write their own story using those names. So because of that I take "based on a true story" with a grain of salt and try to enjoy them as a fictional work of art just like I do any other movie.

I think it actually is possible some of this film could be true, but I think a lot of it was most likely made up (like the last quarter where they try to trap it. I find that a bit hard to believe).

[–] Flabulous 10 years ago

The key point here is that it's "a fictionalised version of true events", which means all sorts of supernaturally-biased evidence was added in. Sure, the lady was real. Sure, the other people were real. But a car pedal that presses itself? Highly doubtful.

[–] CichlidAsh 10 years ago

It is based on an account that was reported too the police but it was in reality a woman who was a known drunk and drug user the whole freezing the ghost thing never happened and how much trust you would put into the account of a alcoholic drug user is upto you

To make a great film you need three things - the script, the script and the script -Alfred Hitchcock

[–] Flabulous 10 years ago

Haha not surprised to hear how unrealiable she probably was!

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

Where did you hear or read she was a drunk and drug addict?

How would you explain that more than 20 people collectively saw the thing she saw and stated?

[–] Faridah (1368) 6 years ago

I have no idea where you got your information that she was a known drunk or drug user. There were witnesses to her attacks including the author of the book. Her son too has done interviews on what he witnessed.

[–] bastasch8647 10 years ago

Instead of outright dismissing the story, as the OP did, some research is in order.
Dr. Barry Taff investigated the case and his findings are here -

http://barrytaff.net/2011/08/the-real-entity-case-2/

If, having read the research, one dismisses it, that's fine - but to dismiss it without investigating is not objective.

[–] david-3444 10 years ago

Nope, sorry, but to dismiss imaginary things is simply to be rational, logical, and intelligent.

To believe that rainbow-colored flying unicorns and talking snakes are real is simply a sign of low IQ. If you have no education, I'm sure that bronze-age superstitions about demons might seem open-minded, but for those of us who live in the 21st century, and who understand science, demons are no more real than the Tooth Fairy.

[–] daughterofolaf 9 years ago

LOL. Agreed, david.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

You don't know the world, you don't know if there are multiple universes as stated in the string theory. You don't know if there are plains of dimensions in reality. Much as people in the past didn't believe in bacteria as they didn't see it with their own eyes. What makes you different from people who collectively believed in their own thoughts of reality and dismissing any other possibility in the 12th century? The other poster wasn't encouraging you to believe in a conscious entity as portrayed on film, but that people were there and it simply cannot be dismissed as rainbows and unicorns.

[–] noisebox666 (39) 4 years ago

"to dismiss imaginary things is simply to be rational, logical, and intelligent"
In the 17th century, when Galilei asserted the Earth was round and revolved around the sun, it was considered by most to be an imaginary thing. Dismissing it was far from being rational, logical, nor intelligent.
I don't personnally believe in ghosts, nor do I believe the contrary as long as I don't have the proof of either.
And to get back to the subject, Doris Bither doesn't seem to be quite reliable enough to be considered as proof.

[–] darthkarl66 10 years ago

A little more open mind perhaps?

[–] daughterofolaf 9 years ago

It is based on a true story in as much as it is based on one woman's claims and she did make these claims in real life and they were investigated in real life.

It's obviously a bunch of s h ! t or else there would be proof, it would be a wildly famous case and much more widely-known than it is and she wouldn't have faded into obscurity.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."