Narrator: THE FOXES MOVE INTO A DREAM HOUSE...
IT WAS JUST BREATHTAKING. IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Narrator: ...THAT SOON BECOMES THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: AT FIRST, THE GHOSTS AND DEMON TAUNT AND TEASE.
Wesley: I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING.
THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING.
GET UP! Narrator: BUT THEN...
STOP IT. ...THEY ATTACK.
Mary: I SAW HER GASPING FOR AIR.
MOM? DAD?
Narrator: WILL THE FAMILY GET OUT
BEFORE THE HOUSE CLAIMS ITS NEXT VICTIM?
[ ROARS ]
Narrator: IN AMERICA, THERE IS REAL EVIL.
IT LURKS IN THE DARKEST SHADOWS AND IN OUR MOST ORDINARY TOWNS.
BETWEEN THE WORLD WE SEE AND THE THINGS WE FEAR,
THERE ARE DOORS.
AND WHEN THEY ARE OPENED,
NIGHTMARES BECOME REALITY.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NESTLED IN THE OZARK MOUNTAIN REGION OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS,
THE SMALL TOWN OF LOWELL
IS THE KIND OF PLACE PEOPLE MOVE TO
FOR A SLOWER PACE OF LIFE
AND THE PEACE AND QUIET OF COUNTRY LIVING.
IT'S THE SUMMER OF 1983.
AND THE FOX FAMILY IS ABOUT TO MEET THEIR NEW HOME.
Mary: WHEN WE FIRST PULLED UP TO THE DRIVEWAY,
IT WAS JUST BREATHTAKING.
IT WAS LIKE "GONE WITH THE WIND,"
ARKANSAS-STYLE.
WE HAD BEEN LIVING IN IOWA, AND JOBS WERE SO SCARCE.
IT WAS LIKE WE HAD FINALLY MADE IT, YOU KNOW?
DAD AND MOM'S HARD WORK WAS PAYING OFF.
AWESOME.
Narrator: THE HOUSE HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE FAMILY --
FATHER JESSE, MOTHER CAROL,
AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, MARY AND WESLEY.
IS THIS ALL OURS? IT SURE IS.
[ Laughing ] OH.
Wesley: THE HOUSE WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST HOUSES I'D EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
MOVING OUT OF A SMALL TRAILER INTO THE LARGE HOUSE
WAS, YOU KNOW, AN INCREDIBLE FEELING FOR ME.
I WAS VERY HAPPY FOR MY MOM AND MY DAD
BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, FOR MY SISTER.
WESLEY WAS MY BABY, AND HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD.
THERE'S 9 YEARS BETWEEN MARY AND WESLEY.
MARY QUIT SCHOOL. SHE WAS 17.
AND WE DEPENDED ON HER TO TAKE CARE OF WESLEY
AND DO WORK AROUND THE HOUSE.
THANKS, MOM.
[ LAUGHS ]
MY MOTHER IS STILL TO THIS DAY
ONE OF THE SWEETEST, KINDEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER KNOWN.
I WAS CLOSE TO BOTH OF MY PARENTS.
OKAY, YOU GUYS.
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET THE REST OF THE STUFF IN THE HOUSE
IF YOU DON'T STOP FOOLING AROUND.
MY FATHER, JESSE, WAS TYPICALLY IRISH.
AT THAT POINT [LAUGHS] HE WAS FUN.
Narrator: THE FOX FAMILY FEELS THEY HAVE LUCKED OUT
IN LANDING THIS HOUSE.
THE PLANT MANAGER AT THE CANNERY WHERE JESSE WORKS
RENTS THE HOME OUT CHEAP TO EMPLOYEES.
GRAB THE DOOR HERE, BUDDY.
CAROL AND JESSE ARE SURPRISED AT HOW INEXPENSIVE THE HOUSE IS.
BUT SOMETIMES, GOOD DEALS ARE GOOD DEALS FOR A REASON.
AWESOME.
YOU SAID IT WAS NICE, BUT THIS IS AMAZING.
DAD, WHERE AM I GONNA SLEEP?
WELL, THAT'S THE BEST PART, KIDDO.
YOU EACH GET TO PICK YOUR OWN ROOMS.
REALLY? ALL RIGHT!
WESLEY, I'M OLDER THAN YOU, SO I GET THE BIGGEST ROOM.
Narrator: MARY INSTANTLY FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE HOUSE.
Mary: IT WAS JUST --
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED, IT WAS ANOTHER WONDER.
WOW, WE'RE GONNA BE LIVING HERE?
Narrator: AND THEN MARY DISCOVERS THE ATTIC.
Mary: THE ATTIC WAS LIKE EVERY TEENAGE GIRL'S DREAM.
IT WAS PRETTY MUCH SOUNDPROOF,
SO I COULD LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AS LOUD AS I WANTED.
IT WAS JUST GREAT.
THIS IS GONNA BE MY ROOM.
Narrator: BUT MARY HAS NO IDEA
THAT THE HOUSE HARBORS DARK SECRETS.
AND IN THE PLACE SHE'S CHOSEN AS HER BEDROOM,
UNSPEAKABLE ATROCITIES HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, MARY UNPACKS BOXES
AND WATCHES HER LITTLE BROTHER WHILE HER PARENTS ARE AT WORK.
Mary: I STARTED OFF WITH THE KITCHEN STUFF
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HOURS,
I WAS GONNA HAVE TO FIND WES SOMETHING TO EAT.
WE NEEDED DISHES.
MY PARENTS WORKED A LOT.
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH WES...
I WAS HIS SUBSTITUTE MOM.
I WAS PROTECTIVE OF HIM.
AND ESPECIALLY IF MOM AND DAD WERE GONE,
IT WAS LIKE, "HE'S MINE NOW.
HE'S MINE TO WATCH OVER AND TO PROTECT."
Narrator: SUDDENLY MARY GETS THE FEELING THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE ROOM.
Mary: I HAD A SENSATION LIKE SOMEBODY WAS REALLY CLOSE.
AND I'D FEEL A LITTLE BREEZE. IT WAS A COOL BREEZE.
NO VENTS, NO AIR-CONDITIONING.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BOX FAN SET UP IN THERE YET.
THIS IS JULY IN ARKANSAS.
IT'S HOT. AND IT IS VERY HUMID.
Narrator: OUTSIDE, NOTHING STIRS.
Mary: I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE.
BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A REASON FOR IT.
I DECIDED IT'S AN OLD HOUSE.
THERE'S PROBABLY CRACKS AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT ELSE.
[ SIGHS ]
CAN I GO FOR A BIKE RIDE?
SURE. JUST BE BACK BY NOON.
OKAY.
Narrator: WESLEY DECIDES TO EXPLORE HIS NEW STOMPING GROUNDS.
Wesley: I DECIDED I WANTED TO JUST GO RIDE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, I DON'T GET VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.
I CROSS THE TRACKS,
AND THERE'S KIDS SITTING OUTSIDE.
HEY, WHO ARE YOU?
YOU DON'T LIVE AROUND HERE.
NOW I DO.
JUST MOVED IN TO THE BIG HOUSE BACK THERE.
I WOULDN'T LIVE THERE IF I WAS YOU.
WHY?
THAT HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
GET OUT.
NO, THAT HOUSE IS VERY HAUNTED.
I'VE SEEN IT.
THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS GHOSTS.
ARE TOO. PFFT.
GHOSTS DID NOT EXIST.
IT WAS ALL JUST CRAZY, CRAZY NONSENSE, YOU KNOW,
KIDS BEING KIDS KIND OF THING.
Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER, THE HOUSE IS MOSTLY UNPACKED
AND THE FOX FAMILY IS READY TO ENTERTAIN.
DAD DECIDED HE WAS GONNA HAVE A BARBECUE ON A DAY OFF.
IT WAS A LOT TO CELEBRATE.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
OF COURSE IT WAS HOT, BUT WE HAD THE BARBECUE.
I'M GONNA GET YOU!
NO, YOU'RE NOT!
ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OVER WAS MY NIECE CHRISTIE.
SHE WAS CLOSER TO MY AGE,
SO WE WERE PRETTY, YOU KNOW, GOOD PLAYMATES.
HEY, YOU WANT TO GO IN THE BASEMENT?
NO, IT LOOKS CREEPY. WHAT ARE YOU, SCARED?
NO!
THEN COME ON.
[ SIGHS ]
THE BASEMENT WAS A HUGE PLAY AREA,
ESPECIALLY FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE PERFECT PLACE
TO GO PLAY HIDE-AND-GO-SEEK
'CAUSE YOU COULD GO INTO ALMOST ANY ROOM,
AND IT WAS GONNA TAKE A WHILE FOR SOMEONE TO FIND YOU.
I TOLD YOU THIS WAS GONNA BE CREEPY.
YOU WERE RIGHT.
I WONDER WHAT'S IN HERE.
OPEN IT.
WHOA. THING IS REALLY CREEPY.
YEAH.
HEY, DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING?
I'M NOT SCARED, WESLEY FOX.
NO. Shh.
WHAT?
OVER THERE.
BOO!
AAH!
WESLEY!
I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK OUTSIDE.
YEAH, OKAY.
HEY, LOOK AT THESE OLD SHOES.
WHOA.
WE NOTICED A PAIR OF OLD-FASHIONED SHOES.
YOU KNOW, THE SHOES DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING
OTHER THAN JUST A PAIR OF OLD SHOES.
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND
BY THE PEOPLE WHO USED TO LIVE HERE.
Wesley: I DON'T KNOW. I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.
YOU HAVEN'T?
[ BOTH SCREAM ]
Narrator: IN 1983, THE FOX FAMILY MOVES
TO A LARGE HOUSE IN LOWELL, ARKANSAS.
FOR 17-YEAR-OLD MARY,
THEIR NEW HOME IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
Mary: WHEN I FIRST PULLED UP TO THE HOUSE,
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
IT WAS LIKE A PLANTATION.
Narrator: BUT WITHIN HOURS OF MOVING IN,
MARY SENSES AN UNKNOWN PRESENCE.
HEY. AT THE SAME TIME,
HER 8-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, WESLEY, HEARS THE LOCAL RUMOR
ABOUT THE HOUSE.
I WOULDN'T LIVE THERE IF I WAS YOU.
WHY?
THAT HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
GET OUT.
I'M GONNA GET YOU!
Narrator: A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FOX FAMILY INVITES
FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO A HOUSEWARMING BARBECUE.
WESLEY DARES HIS NIECE CHRISTIE TO EXPLORE
ONE OF THE SPOOKIEST PLACES IN THE HOUSE -- THE BASEMENT.
HEY, LOOK AT THESE OLD SHOES.
Wesley: WHEN I SAW THE SHOES MOVING,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING.
THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING. THIS CAN'T BE REAL.
WE TOOK OFF RUNNING UP THE STAIRS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT IT SCARED US.
MOM! DAD!
MOM!
THEY MOVED! THEY MOVED!
THERE WERE SHOES IN THE BASEMENT,
AND THEY WALKED, WITH NO ONE IN THEM!
IN THE BASEMENT!
WESLEY, I TOLD YOU NO RUNNING ON THE STAIRS.
WE TRIED TO TELL MOM EXACTLY ABOUT THE SHOES MOVING,
HOW IT HAPPENED.
BUT SHE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE WE WERE RUNNING UP THE STAIRS.
HAUNTED.
Carol: THEY TOLD US THAT THOSE SHOES HAD MOVED.
AND HOW COULD THEY MOVE ON THEIR OWN?
SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS IN THEIR IMAGINATION.
BUT THEY DID, REALLY!
Mary: WESLEY LOOKED LIKE HE HAD JUST SEEN THE DEVIL HIMSELF,
CHRISTIE TOO.
OUR HOUSE IS HAUNTED,
JUST LIKE THE KIDS DOWN THE STREET TOLD ME.
IT'S HAUNTED.
ALL RIGHT, WESLEY, NO MORE TALL TALES.
Y'ALL GO PLAY.
KIDS, HUH? [ CHUCKLES ]
OH, BOY.
Wesley: WE KNEW SHE WASN'T GONNA BELIEVE US.
IT RAN THROUGH MY MIND THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WERE RIGHT. THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
Narrator: AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH SUSPICIONS.
I GUESS THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE STORIES,
THE MURDERS?
LONGTIME RESIDENTS TELL STORIES OF MULTIPLE MURDERS AND SUICIDES
THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE HOUSE.
ONE RUMOR IS ABOUT A MEAN-SPIRITED PHILANDERER
WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE
IN THE 1930s WITH HIS WIFE AND MISTRESS.
WHEN I SAY, "I EXPECT DINNER ON THE TABLE,"
I EXPECT IT.
DO YOU THINK I'M MADE OUT OF MONEY?
THAT WE CAN GO OUT ALL THE TIME?
YOUR JOB IS IN THE KITCHEN, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT...
Narrator: THEN ONE DAY, ONE OF THEM SNAPPED.
BUT NO ONE IN TOWN DARES TELL THE FOXES WHAT THEY'VE HEARD.
YOU WALK INTO ONE OF THE CONVENIENCE STORES
OR TO THE POST OFFICE TO CHECK THE MAIL
AND PEOPLE WOULD BE TALKING, HAVING CONVERSATION.
AND THEN, YOU WALK IN, AND IT'S DEAD QUIET.
IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY SHUTS UP.
WE FOUND IT ODD AT FIRST. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
Narrator: SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER MOVING INTO THE HOUSE,
MARY IS UP LATE WATCHING A MOVIE.
[ THUD ]
Mary: I JUST LOOKED UP, AND THEY'RE OPEN.
I WAS LIKE, "HEY, I HAD THOSE CLOSED."
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND. THERE'S LOTS OF BIG WINDOWS.
WE HAD THOSE WINDOWS OPEN ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
AND I JUST, "YEAH, IT'S GOT TO BE THE BREEZE."
WELL, I GOT UP AND CLOSED THEM AGAIN.
AND THEN I LOCKED ONE OF THEM.
THEY HAD THE LITTLE, OLD-FASHIONED LOCKS.
IF YOU LOCKED THE LAST DOOR,
THEN THAT LOCK IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP
THE FIRST DOOR FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN.
THEY STARTED RATTLING.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: WITHIN DAYS OF MOVING IN,
MARY FOX AND HER YOUNGER BROTHER, WESLEY,
KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG,
TERRIBLY WRONG,
WITH THEIR FAMILY'S NEW HOUSE IN LOWELL, ARKANSAS.
WESLEY SEES SHOES MOVE ON THEIR OWN IN THE BASEMENT...
[ BOTH SCREAM ]
Narrator: ...WHILE MARY SENSES THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
Mary: IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE INTRUDING.
LIKE, YOU'RE THERE, THE RENT'S BEEN PAID,
DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN PAID, UTILITIES ARE ON.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
YOU BELONG THERE.
BUT YOU FELT TOTALLY THE OPPOSITE,
LIKE YOU DON'T BELONG.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
Narrator: LATE ONE SATURDAY NIGHT,
MARY FEELS THREATENED AS THE ENTITY IN THEIR HOUSE
GROWS BOLDER.
Mary: THE RATTLING STARTED.
IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE DOORS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S NO ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND THEN, BOOM! THEY WENT OPEN.
[ SCREAMS ]
AND I JUMPED UP AND I RAN.
MARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?
MOM, I --
MARY, IT'S LATE.
YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING THROUGH THE HALLS.
YOU'VE LEFT ALL THE LIGHTS ON DOWNSTAIRS.
DO YOU THINK YOUR FATHER AND I ARE MADE OF MONEY?
I-I'M SORRY.
BUT, MOM --
MOM WAS A VERY LIGHT SLEEPER.
I GOT THE LECTURE ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW,
YEAH, I'M A NIGHT OWL,
BUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO GET SOME SLEEP
'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.
I THINK SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THIS HOUSE.
THE HOUSE IS FINE.
I'M GOING BACK TO BED. AND YOU SHOULD TOO.
MOM DIDN'T BELIEVE.
AND I'M GETTING MAD AT THIS POINT.
AND I WAS LIKE,
"YEAH, SOME REAL STRANGE THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THIS HOUSE.
TOO BAD THE PARENTS ARE TOO BLIND TO SEE IT."
I CRIED MYSELF TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW AM I GONNA EXPLAIN THIS TO MOM AND DAD
TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
Narrator: DESPITE HER MOTHER'S DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE,
MARY IS CERTAIN THEIR HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
AND THE BUMPS IN THE NIGHT CONTINUE.
[ THUDDING ]
Carol: 3:30, 4:00 IN THE MORNING,
AND TO ME, IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY WAS HITTING THE TABLE.
Narrator: CAROL THINKS MARY IS UP LATE AGAIN.
SHE DECIDES IT'S NOT WORTH HER PRECIOUS SLEEP TIME TO GET UP.
[ THUDDING CONTINUES ]
Carol: WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE DOING, YOU KNOW?
SHE KNEW WE HAD TO GET UP EARLY.
Narrator: BUT MARY IS FAST ASLEEP.
IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW, CAROL CONTINUES TO HEAR
STRANGE NOISES AT NIGHT.
AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER DAUGHTER GROWS MORE STRAINED.
MARY, I'M TIRED.
I WORK 10 HOURS A DAY...
Mary: BEFORE WE MOVED, ME AND MY MOM WERE PRETTY CLOSE.
BUT BY THE TIME WE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON,
MOM AND I FOUGHT LIKE CATS AND DOGS.
WE ARGUED AND ARGUED DAY AFTER DAY.
I WAS ALWAYS ACCUSING HER OF MAKING SO MUCH NOISE
WHEN SHE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO GET UP EARLY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T RESPECT ME.
I HAVE PLENTY OF RESPECT FOR YOU.
YOU DON'T SHOW IT AT ALL.
AND I COME HOME,
AND YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE,
AND THEN YOU'RE HIDING IN YOUR ROOM.
YOU'RE SO DISTANT.
GOT IT, MOM.
[ SCOFFS ]
"GOT IT"?
MARY, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME.
WHY? I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE.
YOU'RE HEARING NOISES AT NIGHT.
SOMEBODY'S MAKING A RACKET, AND, AS USUAL, YOU BLAME ME.
BUT WHY CAN'T YOU SEE
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS HOUSE, MOM?
MARY. THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
HERE WITH US, A GHOST OR SOMETHING.
MARY, YOU'RE ON MY LAST NERVE.
Mary: AND I WAS TIRED OF BEING ACCUSED OF DOING STUFF
I DIDN'T DO.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THE PROTECTING.
BUT THEY REFUSED TO SEE.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT, MARY HAS A DREAM
IN WHICH SHE WANDERS THROUGH THE HOUSE
AND EVENTUALLY FINDS HERSELF IN HER OWN BEDROOM.
Man: LORD FATHER, WE ASK YOUR PRESENCE.
Mary: I'M SEEING THE ATTIC. AND I SEE HOODED FIGURES.
ALL OF THEM BUT ONE ARE IN BLACK.
AND THERE'S ONE THAT'S IN RED, BRIGHT RED.
Man: ACCEPT ITS BLOOD.
Narrator: NO ONE APPEARS TO NOTICE HER.
BUT IT'S AS IF THE HOUSE IS TRYING TO LET HER IN...
ON A SECRET.
Man: WE PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
All: WE PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
BLESSED ARE THE UNHOLY.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
All: BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
Man: BLESSED ARE THE UNHOLY.
All: BLESSED ARE THE UNHOLY.
Man: BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: FOR MORE "A HAUNTING," VISIT...
Narrator: EVER SINCE THEY MOVED
INTO THEIR LOWELL, ARKANSAS, HOME,
THE FOX CHILDREN HAVE FELT THE PRESENCE OF GHOSTS.
ONE RUMOR AROUND TOWN IS THAT THE PROPERTY IS HAUNTED
BY THE SPIRIT OF AN OLD MAN
MURDERED IN THE HOUSE IN THE 1930s.
BUT THE FOXES ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
HE'S NOT THE ONLY DARK ENTITY TO WALK THESE HALLS.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1983,
17-YEAR-OLD MARY HAS A HORRIFYING NIGHTMARE
THAT SOMETHING AWFUL TOOK PLACE IN HER ATTIC BEDROOM.
Man: LORD FATHER, WE ASK YOUR PRESENCE.
Mary: I WENT TO SLEEP. AND I'M SEEING THE ATTIC.
AND I SEE HOODED FIGURES.
Man: ACCEPT ITS BLOOD.
Narrator: AT FIRST, NO ONE APPEARS TO NOTICE MARY'S PRESENCE.
All: BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
Man: BLESSED ARE THE MERCILESS.
Narrator: THEN SUDDENLY...
Mary: AND THE MAN IN THE RED,
THE MOST EVIL EYES I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: MARY IS HORRIFIED.
SHE BELIEVES THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A DREAM.
IT'S A MESSAGE FROM BEYOND.
IT WAS TOO VIVID. IT WAS TOO REAL.
I THINK THE GUY IN THE RED,
I THINK HE WAS SHOWING ME A STORY.
Narrator: A STORY THAT COULD HAVE AN UNHAPPY ENDING FOR MARY.
AFTER THAT, I DECIDED I'D NEVER SLEEP AGAIN IN MY LIFE.
Narrator: NOT LONG AFTER, MARY IS SUDDENLY OVERWHELMED
WITH A PROFOUND SADNESS SHE CANNOT EXPLAIN.
Mary: I WENT FROM NORMAL, HAPPY TEENAGER
TO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT SO SAD.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS SO EMOTIONAL.
BUT I FELT LIKE
EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY HAD JUST BEEN, LIKE,
KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AND I WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR.
THERE'S REALLY SOMETHING GOING ON HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT IMAGINING
THE GOD-AWFUL FEELINGS I WOULD GET
WHEN I WOULD BE IN THAT HOUSE BY MYSELF.
Narrator: AND MARY IS NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHO FEELS THE EVIL IN THE HOUSE.
FOR WEEKS, 8-YEAR-OLD WESLEY
HAS BEEN SLEEPING ON A COT IN HIS PARENTS' BEDROOM.
Wesley: WELL, THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GONNA SLEEP BY MYSELF.
IT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN.
THAT IS ONE CREEPY HOUSE.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT, WESLEY'S FATHER WORKS LATE.
BUT IN SPITE OF THE PRESENCE OF HIS MOTHER,
WESLEY STRUGGLES TO SLEEP.
Wesley: I WAS TRYING TO SLEEP.
NO MATTER HOW HARD I COULD, I COULD NOT SLEEP.
THEN SUDDENLY, THERE IT WAS.
THERE WAS A DARK, CLOAKED FIGURE.
AND I COULD SEE ITS FACE, BUT IT WAS JUST REALLY SCALY
AND GREEN AND ALMOST REMINDED ME
OF ALMOST LIKE A LIZARD-TYPE FACE.
[ ROARS ]
MOM! MOMMY!
Wesley: I REACH OVER AND TRY TO GRAB MY MOM,
BUT SHE WASN'T WAKING UP.
THEN SUDDENLY IT WAS GONE.
I HURRIED UP AND THREW THE COVERS OVER MY HEAD.
I DIDN'T CARE IF IT WAS HOT OR NOT.
Narrator: WESLEY EVENTUALLY TELLS HIS MOM ABOUT WHAT HE SAW,
BUT SHE DISMISSES HIS FEARS.
THIS FIGURE HAD, LIKE, A GREEN, SCALY FACE.
IT WAS REALLY SCARY, BUT NOBODY'S BELIEVING ME.
AT THIS POINT,
I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND VERY ANGRY.
SO I KNEW THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
I KNEW I NEEDED TO TELL MY SISTER.
Narrator: THE TWO EXCHANGE GHOST STORIES.
YOU'VE BEEN SEEING THEM TOO?
YEAH.
MARY TELLS WESLEY ABOUT HER NIGHTMARE.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: AND WESLEY DESCRIBES THE DEMON HE SAW IN HIS ROOM.
[ ROARS ]
Wesley: AND THEN, MARY,
SHE LOOKS AT ME, AND I COULD SEE IT IN HER EYES
THAT JUST MAYBE, I HAD THIS GLIMMER OF HOPE
THAT SOMEONE'S STARTING TO BELIEVE ME.
SOMETHING DOESN'T WANT US HERE.
WE HAVE TO TELL MOM.
SHE'S NOT GONNA BELIEVE US.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
I KNEW I DID NOT WANT TO LIVE THERE AT THIS POINT.
I WANTED OUT.
THAT BOY WAS TERRIFIED.
Narrator: BUT DESPITE THEIR MUTUAL ENCOUNTERS,
MARY CAN'T IMAGINE EVER MOVING OUT OF HER DREAM HOUSE.
Mary: WE'RE LIVING IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.
THAT SCARED ME 'CAUSE I STILL LOVED THAT HOUSE.
MY BIGGEST FEAR AT THAT TIME
WAS THAT SOMETHING BAD WAS GONNA HAPPEN TO WESLEY.
Narrator: BUT MARY'S FEARS ARE MISPLACED.
SHE'S THE ONE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
THE GHOSTS ARE NOT QUITE FINISHED WITH HER...YET.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: ONE MORNING, MARY DISCOVERS
SHE'S FALLEN ASLEEP ON THE LIVING ROOM COUCH.
NO.
[ THUDDING ]
NO.
GET UP! GET UP!
GET UP!
NO.
Narrator: IT'S THE FALL OF 1983 IN LOWELL, ARKANSAS.
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, 17-YEAR-OLD MARY FOX
AND HER 8-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, WESLEY,
HAVE BEEN HAUNTED BY ENTITIES THAT INHABIT THE HOUSE.
Wesley: I WAS TERRIFIED.
I TRIED TO STAY OUT OF THE HOUSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
[ ROARS ]
ACCEPT ITS BLOOD.
Mary: THERE'S REALLY SOMETHING GOING ON HERE.
THERE'S A VERY DARK ENERGY.
Narrator: ONE MORNING, MARY WAKES TO FIND OUT
NO PLACE IN THE HOUSE IS SAFE.
Mary: I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING THINGS.
OR MAYBE I WASN'T WIDE AWAKE, LIKE I THOUGHT.
AND I PUT MY HEAD DOWN TO GO BACK TO SLEEP.
GET UP!
NEXT THING I KNOW, THAT MAN IS, LIKE,
RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME, AND HE'S GOT THAT CANE.
GET UP!
NO, STOP IT! NO!
STOP!
MARY, MARY. WAKE UP, WAKE UP.
MARY, YOU'RE DREAMING, HONEY.
WHO WERE YOU TALKING TO?
Mary: AND I LOOK UP AT HER,
AND THERE'S AN OLD MAN STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HER.
BUT SHE DOESN'T SEE IT.
Carol: WERE YOU SLEEPING HERE ALL NIGHT?
Mary: I WANTED TO ASK HER,
YOU KNOW, "MOM, DO YOU SEE THAT?"
BUT THE WORDS WOULDN'T COME.
I'D OPEN MY MOUTH, AND NOTHING WOULD COME OUT.
LISTEN, I'M LATE FOR WORK.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?
YEAH, I GOT HER.
HEY, WHY DON'T WE STRAIGHTEN THIS UP
AND GET SOME BREAKFAST, OKAY?
COME ON.
YOU OKAY, MARY?
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
AND THERE'S DARK BLACK AND PURPLE BRUISES
ALL ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF MY LEGS.
NOTHING. THIS AIN'T NOTHING.
HOW'D YOU GET THOSE BRUISES?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: FOR JESSE, THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
FINALLY, EVERYONE IN THE FOX FAMILY
IS READY TO FACE WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE HOUSE.
WE ALL SAT AND TOOK TURNS TELLING EACH OTHER
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED,
ME, MY MOTHER, AND, OF COURSE, MY SISTER, MARY.
Narrator: IT TURNS OUT, FOR QUITE SOME TIME,
THEIR MOM, CAROL, HAS BEEN KEEPING A SECRET.
SHE'S BEEN SENSING THINGS TOO.
JESSE, I AM NOT CRAZY.
I HEARD VOICES IN THE HALL, ANGRY VOICES.
Carol: I HEARD THE VOICES.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HOUSE.
I MEAN, ALL THE TIMES THAT YOU GUYS
WERE TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING...
IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF HER.
YOU COULD SEE THAT IN HER EYES
WHEN SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.
SHE WAS JUST AS SCARED AS WE WERE.
WE WERE EXTREMELY SCARED
AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO APPROACH IT.
Narrator: JESSE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE
ANYTHING PARANORMAL IS GOING ON IN THE HOUSE.
BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME,
HE CAN SEE HIS FAMILY IS IN DISTRESS.
I FEEL LIKE I LET YOU GUYS DOWN.
I'VE BEEN WORKING SO MUCH.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS BAD.
Wesley: I THINK MY FATHER WAS FINALLY REALIZING
THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT CRAZY AFTER ALL,
MAYBE THERE REALLY IS
SOMETHING GOING ON THAT IS PARANORMAL HERE.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE TALKED TO SOMEONE AT THE CHURCH.
MAYBE THEY CAN HELP.
Narrator: LATER THAT DAY,
CAROL AND MARY VISIT THEIR LOCAL MINISTER.
HE TURNS OUT TO BE MORE SKEPTICAL THAN SUPPORTIVE.
Carol: HE SAID, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS DEVILS OR ANY DEMONS.
IT MADE US FEEL THAT HE JUST DIDN'T CARE.
HE HAD NO INTEREST IN TRYING TO HELP US AT ALL.
Narrator: BUT HE DOES LEAVE THEM WITH ONE BIT OF COUNSEL.
Mary: READ FROM THE BIBLE. READ OUT LOUD.
PREFERABLY FROM WHEN JESUS IS TALKING.
THAT GIVES YOU MORE POWER.
Jesse: "AGAIN, THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM
INTO AN EXCEEDING HIGH MOUNTAIN."
Narrator: THAT NIGHT, JESSE DECIDES
TO TAKE THE MINISTER'S ADVICE AND FIGHT BACK.
Jesse: "...OF THE WORLD AND THE GLORY OF THEM.
"THEN SAITH JESUS UNTO HIM, 'GET THEE HENCE, SATAN.
"'FOR IT IS WRITTEN,
"'THOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD,
AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SER--'"
AAH!
DAD!
JESSE!
SOMETHING STABBED ME.
Carol: AND IT'S LIKE SOMETHING GRABBED AHOLD
AND KIND OF BURNED HIS HAND.
WE WERE VERY SCARED.
NOT ONLY DID IT GO ACROSS THE ROOM,
IT WENT INTO THE NEXT ROOM.
AND THESE WERE BIG ROOMS.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT, OKAY?
OKAY?
Wesley: AT THAT MOMENT, I REALIZED
THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF POWER WITH THIS ENTITY.
I KNEW IT WAS A VERY STRONG ENTITY DOING THESE THINGS.
SO NOW, AS AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY, I'M FEARING FOR MY LIFE.
Narrator: THE FAMILY IS AT THEIR WITS' END.
JESSE DECIDES TO CONTACT HIS SISTER MARY.
AUNT MARY IS A DEEP BELIEVER IN THE SUPERNATURAL
AND THOUGHT BY MANY TO HAVE PSYCHIC GIFTS.
Wesley: MY AUNT WAS WHAT WE CALL AN EMPATH,
WHERE SHE COULD FEEL THINGS
A LOT MORE THAN WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE CAN.
AUNT MARY WOULD TELL US THAT IF SHE WALKED INTO A HOUSE
AND IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THAT HOUSE, SHE WOULD KNOW.
AUNT MARY.
OH, HI! MY GOODNESS!
YOU'VE GOTTEN SO BIG. LOOK AT YOU.
AUNT MARY WAS THE ONLY PERSON WE THOUGHT OF
THAT MAYBE COULD GIVE US SOME ANSWERS.
Narrator: AUNT MARY IMMEDIATELY SENSES
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HOUSE.
WHAT'S UP HERE?
THE ATTIC.
MY BEDROOM.
SHOW ME.
Mary: SHE KNEW IT WAS BAD.
SHE KNEW THAT THE ATTIC WAS EVIL.
OH.
HELP ME.
WE PULLED IT UP.
AND WHEN WE DID, THERE WAS THAT PENTAGRAM IN RED.
DO YOU FEEL THE ENERGY IN HERE?
DO YOU FEEL IT?
WE -- WE NEED TO GET --
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
[ GASPING ]
MOM?
DAD?
Narrator: IT'S THE FALL OF 1983.
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE FOX FAMILY HAS ENDURED
THE TORMENTS OF DARK ENTITIES IN THEIR LOWELL, ARKANSAS HOME.
[ SCREAMS ]
"'...SHALT THOU SER--'"
AAH!
Narrator: JESSE'S SISTER, MARY, A PSYCHIC, COMES TO THEIR AID.
HELP ME.
IMMEDIATELY, SHE SENSES THE EVIL IN HER NIECE'S BEDROOM
WHEN THEY UNCOVER A PENTAGRAM, THE SIGN OF THE DEVIL.
Mary: I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THERE, AND I DID NOT FEEL ITS EVIL.
THAT SCARED ME TOO.
IT WAS TERRIFYING, CONFUSING
BECAUSE THE ATTIC WAS MY SANCTUARY.
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
[ GASPING ]
AUNT MARY?
I SAW HER GASPING FOR AIR.
MOM? DAD?
SHE WAS BEING ATTACKED.
WHATEVER IS IN THAT ATTIC DID NOT WANT HER THERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S GOING ON?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
NO, LOOK.
WHAT IS THAT?
THERE IS SOMETHING EVIL IN THIS HOUSE.
IT'S A PENTAGRAM.
Mary: SHE THOUGHT IT WAS CONNECTED TO SOME TYPE OF A COVEN.
SHE THOUGHT IT WAS DEVIL WORSHIPPERS.
AND SHE THOUGHT THAT, PROBABLY, IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE DREAMS
AND WHAT I HAD SEEN IN THE DREAMS.
Narrator: AUNT MARY BELIEVES
THAT SATANIC RITUALS IN THE HOUSE
CONJURED THE DEMON, WHICH MAY HAVE TRAPPED
THE SPIRIT OF THE MAN WHO WAS MURDERED IN THE HOUSE.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.
AUNT MARY WARNS THAT YOUNG MARY IS IN DANGER.
AND I THINK IT'S AFTER MARY.
ME?
THE DEMON IS NOW TRYING TO POSSESS HER.
Mary: AUNT MARY SAID THAT SHE HAD THE IMPRESSION
THAT IF WE STAYED ANY LONGER, I WOULD BE POSSESSED,
[Voice breaking] THAT I PROBABLY WOULD'VE KILLED MY PARENTS,
I PROBABLY WOULD'VE KILLED WESLEY.
MAYBE I'D JUST SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE
WITH ALL OF US IN IT, YOU KNOW?
SOMETHING GOD AWFUL WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
THIS HOUSE HAS A GRIP ON YOU, MARY.
SHE ADVISED US NOT TO SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT IN THAT HOUSE.
Narrator: CAROL AND JESSE ARE CONVINCED.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS STUFF TO THE CAR, OKAY?
MEET YOU OUT THERE. OKAY.
BUT SHOCKINGLY, MARY IS NOT READY TO GO.
SHE IS SUDDENLY OVERCOME WITH AN INEXPLICABLE CALM,
AS IF SOMETHING IS HOLDING HER BACK.
Mary: I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WASN'T SCARED ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY.
I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT WES. I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT ME.
MARY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU NEED TO PACK.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FIND ANOTHER HOUSE LIKE THIS.
MARY, THIS HOUSE IS DANGEROUS.
WE'RE NOT STAYING HERE ANOTHER NIGHT.
COME ON. NOW.
I BEGGED AND I BEGGED AND I BEGGED BOTH OF MY PARENTS.
"PLEASE, LET'S JUST STAY," YOU KNOW?
"PLEASE, DON'T MOVE US FROM HERE."
WHY DO WE HAVE TO GIVE UP THIS HOUSE?
BECAUSE OF A LITTLE FEAR?
Wesley: DAD, WHAT'S WRONG WITH MARY?
JUST GET IN THE CAR, WES.
SHE'LL BE BETTER ONCE WE GET HER OUT OF THIS PLACE.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
Mary: I LOVED THAT HOUSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS, LIKE, AN ARTIFICIAL LOVE,
LIKE SOME THOUGHT OR DESIRE THAT THEY HAD PUT IN MY HEAD.
IT JUST FELT LIKE IT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO US
AND THEN RIPPED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH US, YOU KNOW,
LIKE A VERY CRUEL JOKE.
I THINK SOMEONE WAS PLAYING WITH MY HEAD.
IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN A DEMON SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF ME,
MAYBE MY WILL TO LIVE,
BECAUSE, HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK I REALLY CARED
IF WE MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS,
UNABLE TO RENT ANOTHER HOME RIGHT AWAY,
THE FOXES SPLIT UP, LIVING WITH NEARBY RELATIVES.
THEY WOULD NEVER STEP FOOT IN THE HOUSE AGAIN.
IN 1985, TWO YEARS AFTER THE FOXES FLED,
IT WAS TORN DOWN.
YEARS LATER, MARY FOX, HER AUNT, AND HER GROWN BROTHER, WESLEY,
NOW A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR,
RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF THE HOME.
SEVERAL LOCALS SPOKE OF A COVEN THAT ONCE MET AT THE HOUSE.
Mary: THERE WAS A LOT OF RUMORS THAT THERE WAS
DEVIL WORSHIPPING DONE ON THAT PROPERTY.
Narrator: FURTHER RESEARCH CONFIRMS
THAT THERE WAS A MAN WITH A CANE WHO WAS KILLED IN THE HOUSE.
GET UP!
Wesley: I THINK THE MAN WAS HAUNTING THE HOUSE
BECAUSE OF BEING MURDERED IN THE HOUSE.
I THINK THAT WAS HIS DOMAIN,
HIS PLACE TO TORMENT ANYONE THAT HE COULD.
[ INDISTINCT WHISPERING ]
Carol: I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OVER THIS EXPERIENCE COMPLETELY
'CAUSE THERE'S TIMES WHEN I'LL STILL DREAM ABOUT IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.
IF THEY EVER HAVE AN EXPERIENCE WITH IT,
THEY WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND.
Wesley: TODAY, YOU KNOW, I'M SO MUCH INTO THE PARANORMAL.
I DO GHOST TOURS.
I WRITE BOOKS. I DO EVERYTHING.
AND IT'S ALL PARANORMAL, PARANORMAL, PARANORMAL.
SO, TO ME, THIS HOUSE HAS SHAPED MY LIFE.
Mary: TO BE TORTURED BY SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE
BUT YOU KNOW IT'S THERE...
IT'S WORSE WHEN IT'S OVER
BECAUSE THEN YOU GOT TIME TO SIT AND THINK
OF ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED.
Narrator: IN SPITE OF THE TERROR SHE ENCOUNTERED THERE,
MARY LONGS FOR HER HOUSE AND THE ATTIC BEDROOM.
I STILL LOVED THAT HOUSE.
MY FAVORITE BOOK'S "GONE WITH THE WIND,"
AND THIS WAS LIKE OUR TARA.
TO THIS DAY, IF I WIN THE LOTTERY,
I'M GONNA BUILD A HOUSE JUST LIKE IT.
[ ROARS ]