Narrator: IN THIS WORLD,
THERE IS REAL EVIL IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS
AND IN THE MOST ORDINARY PLACES.
THESE ARE THE TRUE STORIES
OF THE INNOCENT AND THE UNIMAGINABLE.
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF TAIWAN,
THE BISHOPS ARE STRANGERS IN A FOREIGN LAND.
THEIR NEW HOME IS A PLACE OF NIGHTMARES,
FILLED WITH DEADLY CREATURES
AND TERRIFYING VISIONS OF ANOTHER DIMENSION.
A TAOIST PRIEST USES ANCIENT RITUALS
TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ANGRY DEAD
AND CALM A POWER BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
WHEN THEY ARE OPENED...
NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
[ BIRD SCREECHES ]
IN THE FAR EAST,
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL WORLD AND THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
GHOSTS ARE A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
ON THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN,
IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE YANGMING MOUNTAINS,
THERE IS A SACRED VALLEY
WHERE SOME SAY THE DEAD HAVE MORE POWER...
THAN THE LIVING.
IN 1984, THE BISHOP FAMILY VISITS NORTHERN TAIWAN.
DENNIS BISHOP HAS RECENTLY ACCEPTED
AN EXECUTIVE-LEVEL POSITION AT AN AMERICAN COMPANY IN TAIPEI.
Dennis: IT WAS A MAJOR PROMOTION FOR ME.
WHEN YOU'RE OFFERED JOBS LIKE THIS,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE.
BUT IF YOU DO, IT'S A LONG TIME TILL THE NEXT OFFER CAN COME.
SO THERE'S SOME PRESSURE TO TAKE A PROPOSAL OF THAT SORT.
Narrator: DENNIS' WIFE, CANDACE,
IS NERVOUS ABOUT MOVING HER TWO YOUNGER DAUGHTERS,
16-YEAR-OLD STACY AND 12-YEAR-OLD MARISSA.
Candace: IT WAS KNOWN IN THE EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY
AS A LAWLESS COUNTRY.
I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.
Narrator: A REPRESENTATIVE OF DENNIS' NEW EMPLOYER
BRINGS THE FAMILY TO TOUR A COMPANY HOUSE
A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF TAIPEI.
STACY IS IMPRESSED.
Stacy: DROVE UP THE LONG DRIVEWAY, AND WE LOOKED AT IT.
AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OF IT TO NOT LIKE.
Narrator: FOR MARISSA, THE HOUSE IS ALMOST MAGICAL.
Marissa: THE HOUSE WAS STUNNING.
I MEAN, WE HAD COME FROM A PRETTY SMALL HOUSE
LIVING IN TOKYO, WHICH WAS A VERY CROWDED CITY,
GOING TO THIS MANSION
IN THE MIDDLE OF FARMS, GRAVEYARDS, AND RICE PADDIES.
IT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF SURREAL.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST HOUSE I'VE EVER SEEN.
Marissa: DAD SAYS THERE'S A POOL AROUND BACK.
LET'S GO.
THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT POOL.
Narrator: FROM THE BEGINNING,
CANDACE HAS A BAD FEELING ABOUT THE HOUSE.
IT WAS LIKE A REALLY POWERFUL FIST
SLAMMED INTO MY BACK SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME FORWARD.
I LOST MY BALANCE.
WHAT?
WELL, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING
OR SOMEONE PUNCHED ME IN THE BACK.
I LOOKED AROUND, AND THERE WAS NO ONE THERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, BUT I WAS AFRAID.
I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE.
YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT YET. COME ON.
Woman: HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU AROUND.
THERE'S A LIFT HERE.
Dennis: WE LOOKED AT, LITERALLY, DOZENS OF OTHER PLACES
OVER A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS,
AND NONE OF THE DOZENS OF HOUSES WE LOOKED AT
WERE AS ACCEPTABLE AS THE ONE WE HAD.
Narrator: RELUCTANTLY, CANDACE AGREES
TO MOVE INTO THE COMPANY HOUSE.
Candace: I FELT LIKE I HAD NO OPTION.
THIS WAS THE BEST FOR MY HUSBAND.
THEREFORE, IT WAS THE BEST FOR MY FAMILY.
AND IT WAS MY POSITION AS, YOU KNOW, A RATIONAL WOMAN --
WAS TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
Narrator: ON MOVE-IN DAY, THE BISHOPS MEET ACHUNG.
DENNIS' COMPANY HAS HIRED HIM AS A DRIVER FOR THE FAMILY.
YEP.
OKAY. AND WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH MORE LEFT TO DO.
NO, WE DON'T.
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE, DON'T YOU?
[ HISSING, CHATTERING ]
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE CABINET.
WHAT WAS THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
[ BOTH SCREAMING ]
DID YOU SEE THAT? THAT WAS A HUGE SPIDER!
I HEARD SCREAMING, RAN,
AND SAW ACHUNG RUNNING AT FULL SPEED UP THE STAIRS
WITH A SHOVEL.
[ HISSING, CHATTERING ]
[ CHATTERING ]
[ CHATTERING, HISSING ]
Candace: COME ON, STACY, MARISSA.
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS LATER, STACY AND MARISSA BEGIN SCHOOL,
AND DENNIS STARTS HIS NEW JOB.
HERE'S YOUR LUNCH.
ALL RIGHT, HAVE AN AWESOME DAY.
[ SMOOCHES ]
I WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT WHEN YOU GET HOME.
BYE, MOM.
BYE. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU.
[ PAPER RUSTLING ]
Candace: I STARTED SEEING, OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYES,
LIGHTS -- LIKE, THESE ORBS OF LIGHT.
THEY KEPT DARTING AWAY FROM ME,
SO I COULD NEVER LOOK RIGHT AT IT.
Narrator: CANDACE'S FIRST IMPULSE WAS TO CALL DENNIS.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPING ]
Candace: IT'S SO OUT OF YOUR BOX OF REALITY
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
YOU KNOW, DO I PRETEND IT DOESN'T EXIST?
"OH, IT'S MY IMAGINATION."
I TRIED TO FIND A RATIONAL REASON FOR IT.
I NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ANYONE
'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK I WAS CRAZY.
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER...
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
EVERY NIGHT BEFORE STACY GOES TO BED...
SHE CHECKS HER ROOM FOR TARANTULAS.
[ CREAKING ]
Stacy: I HEARD SOMEONE WALK INTO MY ROOM.
I COULD HEAR IT CLEARLY.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ CREAKING ]
[ Man whispering ] STACY, STACY.
[ WHIMPERING ]
[ SCREECHES ]
AAH!
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
Narrator: STACY DOESN'T TELL ANYONE
ABOUT THE VOICE SHE HEARD IN HER BEDROOM.
THE FAMILY HAS MORE IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS.
TAIWAN'S RAINY SEASON BEGINS, AND THE HOUSE STARTS TO LEAK.
Stacy: THERE WAS ALWAYS WATER COMING THROUGH THE WALLS.
ALL THE WATER THAT WAS COMING DOWN THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN
JUST CAME INTO OUR HOUSE.
WHY ARE YOU GIRLS DOING YOUR HOMEWORK IN THE DARK?
YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HURT YOUR EYES.
IT'S BETTER THAN GETTING ELECTROCUTED.
[ SIGHS ]
Candace: AND THE WALLS WERE FILLED WITH WATER --
JUST THE HUMIDITY AND THE DAMPNESS --
AND THE LIGHT SWITCHES WERE NOT GROUNDED.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
YOU COULDN'T TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH ON
WITHOUT GETTING ELECTROCUTED.
YOU OKAY?
YEAH, I'M FINE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
CANDACE, I JUST GOT THE MAIL IN.
AN $1,100 POWER BILL?
HOW COULD WE BE USING SO MUCH POWER?
Narrator: THE FAMILY'S ELECTRICITY BILLS
ARE IMPOSSIBLY HIGH,
HEIGHTENING THE TENSION BETWEEN DENNIS AND CANDACE.
Candace: DENNIS AND I WERE FIGHTING ALL THE TIME NOW.
IT WAS VERY, VERY TENSE IN THE HOUSE.
ALL RIGHT, BUT UP UNTIL THEN, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
[ SIGHS ]
Marissa: I'M NOT SURE I KNEW
EXACTLY WHY THE TENSION WAS BUILDING, BUT YOU COULD FEEL IT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCOMFORT,
AND I THINK WE WERE TAKING THAT OUT ON EACH OTHER.
Narrator: DENNIS CALLS AN ELECTRICIAN TO THE HOUSE.
HE FINDS EVIDENCE OF AN UNDERGROUND POWER LEAK.
Dennis: THE HOUSE, APPARENTLY, HAD BEEN BUILT ILLEGALLY.
[ MACHINE BEEPS, BUZZES ]
IT HAD PROBABLY NOT BEEN EVER ATTACHED TO THE ELECTRICITY GRID
IN A PROPER WAY.
I HAD NO ACCESS TO ANY OF THE BACKGROUND.
THE LANDLORD SPOKE NO ENGLISH AT ALL.
OUR PREDECESSOR WAS LONG GONE,
AND SO I DIDN'T PURSUE ANY OF THAT.
Narrator: THE UTILITY COMPANY
WILL HAVE TO DIG UP EXISTING UNDERGROUND CABLES
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
ONE NIGHT SOON AFTER, STACY IS HOME ALONE.
MOM?
DAD?
IS THAT YOU?
Stacy: IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND SOME LOGIC
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I JUST KNEW THAT I COULDN'T PUT IT AWAY.
I STILL WASN'T TALKING ABOUT IT. I HADN'T TOLD ANYBODY.
I JUST REALIZED THAT I MIGHT BE IN SOME TROUBLE.
[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: STACY GETS OUT OF THE HOUSE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE,
SPENDING TIME WITH HER BOYFRIEND.
Stacy: WHAT MADE ME THE MOST AFRAID
IS, FOR SOME REASON...
IT CLEARLY WANTED TO GET MY ATTENTION,
MAKING IT OBVIOUS THAT IT COULD OPEN AND CLOSE DOORS...
...THAT IT KNEW MY NAME,
THAT IT COULD WALK DIRECTLY UP TO ME WITHIN A COUPLE OF INCHES
AND CALLED OUT MY NAME SO CLEARLY
THAT I COULD NOT MISUNDERSTAND.
UNTIL THEN, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
HEY, STACY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. IT'LL BE FINE.
OKAY.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ RATTLING ]
[ Man whispering ] STACY.
[ CHATTERING ]
[ Man whispering ] STACY, STACY.
[ CHATTERING ]
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ] [ SCREAMS ]
[ EXHALES ]
HELLO?
Thomas: Stacy, it's Thomas.
I was just leaving your house.
THOMAS, SLOW DOWN. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
Narrator: STACY'S BOYFRIEND CALLS
AND TELLS HER WHAT HE SAW.
I need you to go check on her. Go check on her.
Just go see if she's all right. Just go, go.
HOLD ON.
Just go check on her.
MOM?
MOM?!
MOM?
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
STACY, WHAT'S WRONG?
WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER ME?
YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME CALLING YOU?
NO, I DIDN'T.
THOMAS?
Thomas: Is she all right?
SHE'S FINE.
Okay.
THANK YOU.
BYE.
[ TELEPHONE CLICKS ]
[ SOBS SOFTLY ]
STACY, WHAT'S THE MATTER? TALK TO ME.
I'M SO SICK OF THIS HOUSE.
I'M SICK OF EVERYTHING IN IT.
I CAN'T EVEN GO IN MY ROOM
WITHOUT HEARING FOOTSTEPS OR SOMEONE CALLING MY NAME.
Candace: STACY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES,
STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT THE SOUNDS
THAT SHE HAD HEARD AND THE VOICES.
I KNOW. I'VE BEEN HEARING THINGS, TOO.
Stacy: SHE WAS HAVING SOMEONE CALL HER NAME.
I WAS HAVING SOMEONE CALL MY NAME.
THE MORE WE COMPARED STORIES,
THE MORE WE TALKED ABOUT THE STORIES,
THE MORE WE REALIZED THAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE REAL.
DENNIS, WE NEED TO TALK.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TO LEAVE THIS HOUSE.
WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE TAIWAN.
Candace: DENNIS DIDN'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT,
BUT WHAT HE DID KNOW
WAS THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY UPSETTING THE FAMILY.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU, DO YOU?
Stacy: I DON'T THINK HE THOUGHT WE WERE LYING,
BUT HE NEVER KNEW WHAT TO SAY.
BUT I CAN'T GIVE UP EVERYTHING THAT I'VE WORKED FOR.
IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR
THAT MY DAD'S JOB WAS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US,
AND WE NEEDED TO FIND A WAY
TO DEAL WITH IT THE BEST WE COULD.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL MY BOSS,
THAT I HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE MY HOUSE IS HAUNTED?
I JUST SAID, "I NEED TO GET THE CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.
I NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF TAIWAN."
Narrator: DURING THEIR SCHOOL BREAK,
CANDACE TAKES THE GIRLS TO A SUMMER HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA.
SHE BEGINS TO RESEARCH THE PARANORMAL.
ONE BOOK THEORIZES
THAT GHOSTS DRAW THEIR POWER FROM THE LIVING.
CANDACE CONCLUDES
THAT IF SHE AND HER DAUGHTERS CAN IGNORE THEIR FEARS,
THE DISTURBANCES WILL STOP.
Candace: I HAD TWO CHOICES OF EITHER COLLAPSING
AND GIVING UP AND LEAVING
OR STANDING MY GROUND AND CLAIMING MY HOME
FOR MY CHILDREN AND MY FAMILY.
Marissa: I REMEMBER DREADING WALKING BACK IN.
IT WAS JUST KIND OF THIS FEELING OF PRESSURE
THAT WOULD COME OVER ME.
MARISSA, DAD AND I ARE JUST GONNA BE DOWN THE STREET
AT THE SHAWS' HOUSE, SO CALL US IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
AND STACY SHOULD BE HOME FROM THOMAS' REAL SOON.
ALL RIGHT?
I LOVE YOU.
CALL US.
BYE.
Marissa: I THINK THAT MY PARENTS
WERE TAKING THE PROPER MEASURES TO PROTECT US...
[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
...AND THEY WERE TRYING TO REASSURE US
THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ON TELEVISION ]
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ WIND HOWLING ]
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ON TELEVISION ]
[ THUMP ]
MOM? DAD?
IS THAT YOU?
DID YOU FORGET SOMETHING?
[ METALLIC CLANG ]
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
STACY, IS THAT YOU?
STACY?
MOM?
DAD?
STACY, IS THAT YOU?
[ CREAKING ]
[ DISTORTED MURMURING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
STACY, IS THAT YOU?
IF IT IS, IT ISN'T FUNNY.
[ CREAKING ]
[ DOOR BANGING ]
[ RATTLING ]
[ SCREAMS, GASPS ]
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ] [ GASPS ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ RATTLING ]
[ SCREAMS, GASPS ]
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
Candace: MARISSA, WE'RE BACK, HONEY.
MARISSA, HONEY. HONEY?
MARISSA, BABY, WHAT'S WRONG?
MOMMY, MOMMY.
WHAT'S -- COME.
SWEETIE. WHAT ON EARTH HAS HAPPENED?
TELL ME.
Marissa: I REMEMBER SOMEONE COMING IN THE ROOM ITSELF,
OPENING THE DOOR, AND ACTUALLY PUSHING ME OVER,
ACTUALLY COMING INTO ME.
SWEETIE, COME ON. LET ME GET YOU IN THE BED, OKAY?
Candace: I FELT VICTIMIZED,
AND I THOUGHT THAT I AND MY FAMILY MIGHT LOSE THIS BATTLE.
MARISSA, HONEY, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
I -- I FEEL OKAY.
ARE YOU SURE?
YEAH, I'M FINE, MOM.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?
IT'S FINE. JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
IT'S OKAY.
Stacy: WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I THINK WE DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES.
DID YOUR SISTER SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?
NO.
BECAUSE NONE OF THEM WERE REALLY GOOD,
SO WE KIND OF JUST SAID, "WE DON'T KNOW.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW."
Candace: I WAS VERY CONCERNED
I COULD NO LONGER PROTECT MY CHILDREN.
Narrator: CANDACE CALLS HER FRIEND BOB PATTEN,
A JOURNALIST WITH STRONG TIES
TO THE TAOIST RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN TAIWAN.
HE HAD DONE ARTICLES ABOUT VARIOUS PEOPLE
THAT LIVED IN THE COUNTRY,
AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE HAD INTERVIEWED ONCE
WAS A VERY WELL-RESPECTED TAOIST PRIEST.
THIS IS IT. WE'RE HERE.
[ DOORS OPENS ]
I FELT LIKE, WELL, MAYBE I COULD FIND THE STRENGTH TO HANDLE THIS
AS LONG AS I KNEW THAT THIS MAN KNEW WHAT TO DO.
Stacy: I REMEMBER HIM LOOKING AROUND
AND BEING SURPRISED AT WHAT WAS IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: THE PRIEST EXPLAINS
THAT MANY CHINESE BELIEVE PHYSICAL SHAPES AND FORMS
CAN INFLUENCE THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY OF A PLACE.
HE HAD TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MOISTURE
AND HOW IT WAS BUILT INTO THE MOUNTAIN
MADE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE ENERGY
BE AROUND THE HOUSE.
THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSE...
Narrator: HE SAYS THAT NO CHINESE ARCHITECT
WOULD DESIGN A HOUSE LIKE THIS
UNLESS THEY WANTED TO CURSE THE INHABITANT.
Candace: WHOEVER BUILT THE HOME...
DESIGNED THE HOME TO KILL US.
[ GASPS ]
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
Narrator: THE PRIEST SENSES THE PRESENCE
OF WHAT THE CHINESE CALL "HUNGRY GHOSTS."
Candace: THE REASON THAT GHOSTS COME BACK
IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN THE AFTERLIFE --
LET IT BE FOOD, LET IT BE MONEY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
Candace: THEY BECOME HUNGRY GHOSTS.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ENERGY TO SURVIVE AND TO LIVE.
WHAT HE SAW...
...WAS TWO BODIES...
...THAT WERE BURIED ON OUR PROPERTY.
CHINESE BELIEVE THAT WHEN A PERSON SUFFERS A VIOLENT DEATH,
YOU MUST PERFORM A RITUAL TO PUT THESE SPIRITS AT REST.
Narrator: THE PRIEST KNOWS THAT MARISSA HAS BEEN ATTACKED.
Marissa: AND HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME
THAT THE SPIRITS THAT WERE IN THE HOUSE
WERE ACTUALLY USING ME AS AN ENERGY SOURCE.
Candace: HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY.
HE WAS VERY AFRAID FOR US
AND DID NOT KNOW...
IF THERE WAS ANYTHING HE COULD DO TO HELP THE SITUATION.
HE NEEDED TO GATHER HIS STRENGTH,
AND HE SAID HE WOULD BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS.
HAVE A SEAT.
Narrator: CANDACE SPEAKS TO HER FAMILY'S DRIVER, ACHUNG,
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HER HOUSE.
ACHUNG, HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN TIEN MOU?
ALL MY LIFE.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THE PROPERTY BEFORE OUR HOUSE WAS BUILT ON IT?
FOR MANY YEARS, THERE WAS A FARM AND AN OLD HOUSE.
Candace: BEFORE THIS HOME WAS ON THE PROPERTY,
THERE WAS A PIG FARM THAT HAD BURNED DOWN,
AND THE HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE CAUGHT IN THE FIRE.
Narrator: CANDACE BELIEVES THESE COULD BE THE TWO SPIRITS
THE TAOIST PRIEST ENVISIONED.
CANDACE TRIES TO CONVINCE HER HUSBAND
THAT THE FAMILY MUST MOVE.
LOOK, I CAN'T CANCEL THIS TRIP RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A VERY HECTIC TIME FOR ME. EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE.
Dennis: THE HARDEST PART WAS TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT WAS REAL
AND WHAT WAS IMAGINARY,
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER RECONCILED THAT VERY WELL.
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO MARISSA.
I KNOW SHE'S SCARED, BUT SHE'S FINE NOW.
I HAVE TO GO.
Narrator: CANDACE CONSIDERS LEAVING TAIWAN IMMEDIATELY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Candace: IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION.
IT WOULD HAVE MEANT THE DISINTEGRATION
OF OUR FAMILY...
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GO.
Narrator: SHE DECIDES TO STAY AND KEEP HER DAUGHTERS CLOSE.
Candace: AS LONG AS DENNIS WAS GONE,
THE GIRLS HAD TO SLEEP WITH ME IN THE BEDROOM
SO THAT WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.
I SLEPT WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE
AND A BASEBALL BAT UNDERNEATH THE BED.
[ RATTLING ]
[ RATTLING CONTINUES ]
MOM?
GET UP QUICK. THERE'S SOMEBODY OUTSIDE.
THERE'S SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
[ DOOR RATTLES SOFTLY ]
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ FLOOR CREAKS ]
OKAY. YOU STAY HERE AND BE QUIET, OKAY?
[ CREAKING ]
[ RATTLING ]
[ RATTLING INTENSIFIES ]
[ RATTLING CONTINUES ]
AAH!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
MOMMY?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
Marissa: I'LL NEVER FORGET HAVING HORRIBLE NIGHTMARES
THAT SHE WOULD HURT ONE OF US
OR HURT HERSELF OR HURT MY FATHER WITH THAT KNIFE.
Narrator: WHEN DENNIS RETURNS,
HE AGREES TO LET THE TAOIST PRIEST
PERFORM AN EXORCISM ON THE HOUSE.
Dennis: WE HAD A PROBLEM HERE,
AND I WAS WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO SOLVE IT.
I KNEW I COULDN'T FIX IT, AND MAYBE HE COULD.
[ CLOCK TICKING ]
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
HELLO?
Narrator: A FEW NIGHTS LATER, THE TAOIST PRIEST
SAYS HE MUST PERFORM THE EXORCISM IMMEDIATELY.
Candace: HE SAID TO ME,
IF HE EVER WAS GOING TO HAVE THE POWER, IT WAS NOW.
Narrator: THE PRIESTS ASKS THEM
TO SEND MARISSA TO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
Candace: HE WAS CONCERNED
THAT IF MARISSA WERE IN THE HOME
WHEN HE WAS CALLING THESE SPIRITS
THAT THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY ATTACK HER.
WHAT HE EXPLAINED
WAS HE WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO AN EXORCISM ON THE HOUSE
AND SEE IF HE COULD APPEASE THE SPIRITS.
Narrator: THE PRIEST TELLS THEM TO OPEN EVERY DOOR IN THE HOUSE
TO GIVE THE SPIRITS FREE REIGN.
HE HAS BROUGHT FOOD AND MONEY AS OFFERINGS
FOR THE HUNGRY SPIRITS.
HE LIGHTS INCENSE IN PREPARATION FOR A RITUAL
WHICH HE HOPES WILL APPEASE THE ANGRY DEAD.
[ RATTLING ]
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator: THE TAOIST PRIEST EXPLAINS THAT EARLIER TONIGHT
HE PERFORMED A FUNERAL FOR A POWERFUL DIGNITARY.
HE WILL USE THE POSITIVE ENERGIES FROM THAT FUNERAL
IN AN EXORCISM OF THEIR HOUSE.
BY LIGHTING THIS INCENSE,
WE REPORT TO AND SUMMON ALL THE AGENTS
FOR THE SYMBOLS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF HELL
AND THE RESCUE FOR THESE BENIGHTED SOULS.
Dennis: I'D BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT
SOME REALLY FAIRLY UNEXPLAINABLE THINGS HAPPENED.
Stacy: IT'S MAKING OUR CLOTHES MOVE, OUR HAIR MOVE,
THINGS MOVING THROUGH US IN WAYS THAT MADE IT HARD TO BREATHE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY REAL.
AID US IN GUIDING THEM AND ILLUMINATE THE WAY.
Candace: IT WAS VERY PHYSICAL.
AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO RATIONALIZE IT
AND DENY IT AND SAY IT WAS ALL IN MY MIND,
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DENY.
Priest: AND THE RIGHTEOUS PATH
TO THE HEAVENLY WAY TO HEAVENLY PEACE.
MY CHILD...
Narrator: THE PRIEST ASKS STACY TO TAKE OFFERINGS
TO THE BURIAL SITE IN THE BACKYARD.
[ CRYING ]
YOU MUST BE COURAGEOUS.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I LOOKED AT HIM HORRIFIED
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE I'D EVER HAD.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME
AND SAID, "NO, YOU NEED TO DO THIS."
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
[ DISTORTED MURMURING ]
[ Man whispering ] STACY, STACY.
STACY.
Narrator: THE PRIEST BLESSES EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE.
Candace: HE SAID A PRAYER IN EACH ROOM
IN FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOM.
IN EACH ROOM, WHEN HE WOULD GO IN,
THE LIGHTS, THEY WOULD DIM AND LIGHTEN.
THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW HE CLEARLY WAS IN SOME CONTROL
OF THESE ENERGIES.
Narrator: I REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
Narrator: THE PRIEST TELLS THE FAMILY
THAT HE HAS DONE ALL THAT HE CAN.
Dennis: I EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD ALL JUST GO AWAY AND BE OKAY.
WHAT HE TOLD US AT THE END OF THAT
WAS JUST EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
HE SUGGESTED THAT WHAT HE HAD DONE DURING THE EXORCISM
MIGHT PUT US IN GOOD STEAD FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
BUT AFTER THAT, WE SHOULD GET OUT OF THERE.
HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED WE LEAVE THAT HOUSE.
Candace: I KNEW THAT STACY WAS GRADUATING IN JUNE
AND SHE WOULD BE LEAVING.
AND SO WHAT I SAID WAS I WAS LEAVING, TOO.
Stacy: IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EYE-OPENING TIMES OF MY LIFE.
I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A WORLD THAT I LIVED IN
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HAD EXISTED BEFORE THEN.
THE SAME TIME, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SCARY TIMES OF MY LIFE.
Candace: I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SUCH THINGS
AS VERY POWERFUL NEGATIVE ENERGIES OR SPIRITS
OR WHATEVER ONE WANTS TO CALL THEM
THAT CAN AFFECT MY ENVIRONMENT...
THAT CAN AFFECT MY FAMILY.
IT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR ME...
BECAUSE MY WORLD,
MY SAFE WORLD THAT I HAD CREATED
WHERE NOTHING BAD EXISTED...
WAS SHATTERED.