The movie trigger

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An often asked question here is, "Can movies trigger paranormal activity?" You see reports of this quite a bit. What do you think? The reports from many movie sets report this kind of thing. Also, can it trigger activity in your home if you watch one of these movies? Why do you think it may or may not occur?

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This is an interesting phenomenon which I have always been curious about.

I have had a theory about things like seances and Ouija boards as being a bit like fishing. Whether or not you actually catch something is dependent on being in the right place, at the right time with the right kind of bait. The vast majority of the time you aren't going to actually catch anything and there are no shortage of people who enjoy making up fishing stories more than they enjoy catching anything.


The actual process of filming a movie usually lasts for several weeks. This kind of focus on the supernatural by so many people for so long in the same place would kind of act like a 1-2 month long seance. It's not too surprising that something might take notice and go in for a closer look. However at the same time it's also a setting rife with people primed for experiencing over active imaginations. When I was big into the thespian scene (stage plays and the cable access TV station) it seemed like every single set or theater house was rumored to be haunted. In one case it was the ghost of an actress who committed suicide in the building 10 years prior, except that the building was only about 4 years old and was literally an empty field before that.

So while I do believe there is a reason why a horror movie set would be more likely to experience activity I do take such stories with a big grain of salt.

As to watching some movies at home I would caution people to be aware of this same mindset. You should probably take a slightly more skeptical look at anything happening in these circumstances.
If you binge watch all the Paranormal Activity movies and have a nightmare or feel uncomfortable in the shower I'd be more inclined to think it imagination than paranormal. However if it's something more tangible, doors opening or objects moving by themselves then you should breakout the holy water and smudge sticks.
 
This is an interesting phenomenon which I have always been curious about.

I have had a theory about things like seances and Ouija boards as being a bit like fishing. Whether or not you actually catch something is dependent on being in the right place, at the right time with the right kind of bait. The vast majority of the time you aren't going to actually catch anything and there are no shortage of people who enjoy making up fishing stories more than they enjoy catching anything.


The actual process of filming a movie usually lasts for several weeks. This kind of focus on the supernatural by so many people for so long in the same place would kind of act like a 1-2 month long seance. It's not too surprising that something might take notice and go in for a closer look. However at the same time it's also a setting rife with people primed for experiencing over active imaginations. When I was big into the thespian scene (stage plays and the cable access TV station) it seemed like every single set or theater house was rumored to be haunted. In one case it was the ghost of an actress who committed suicide in the building 10 years prior, except that the building was only about 4 years old and was literally an empty field before that.

So while I do believe there is a reason why a horror movie set would be more likely to experience activity I do take such stories with a big grain of salt.

As to watching some movies at home I would caution people to be aware of this same mindset. You should probably take a slightly more skeptical look at anything happening in these circumstances.
If you binge watch all the Paranormal Activity movies and have a nightmare or feel uncomfortable in the shower I'd be more inclined to think it imagination than paranormal. However if it's something more tangible, doors opening or objects moving by themselves then you should breakout the holy water and smudge sticks.
I really like that fishing analogy, Steve. And I tend to agree with your thinking on this. Perhaps they need to have holy water next to the popcorn...
 
Stevedog's perceptions seem right on to me.
I also wonder if there's not also a bit of self-fulfilling prophesy when some people watch a paranormal movie. They get into the mindset of "maybe this could happen to me" and by turn open themselves up to paranormal events they would otherwise reject or be unaware of, or even just be open to the spirit world in ways they wouldn't normally. Once you open the door, something is bound to try to walk through.
 
Stevedog's perceptions seem right on to me.
I also wonder if there's not also a bit of self-fulfilling prophesy when some people watch a paranormal movie. They get into the mindset of "maybe this could happen to me" and by turn open themselves up to paranormal events they would otherwise reject or be unaware of, or even just be open to the spirit world in ways they wouldn't normally. Once you open the door, something is bound to try to walk through.

That's a very good point! Of all the paranormal phenomenon the one that fascinates me the most is the Tulpa, or Thought Form. Basically this is a person creating an entity from their own spiritual energy.

I've never experienced anything like that personally and it's supposed to be something that takes a lot of time and energy to learn how to do. However it does seem like something a person with the right ability could do by accident. I have heard that someone dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings may attract a negative entity. I wonder if someone putting that much negative energy into the area of their home might create a separate instance of negative energy outside if them selves. Likewise, someone who is focused on a specific fear (after, say, watching a scary movie) might actually cause that fear to manifest.
 
I heard about this on a podcast the other day, regarding Rosemary's Baby. So of course I immediately went to youtube. By the way, I was at work when I did this. I didn't have time to watch the movie, so I pulled up the sound track. I listened to it for a couple minutes...it was a little creepy. So a couple minutes later, I get sent to a house where a "small child" was calling 911 and messing around. Now when Dispatch uses the term "small child" it usually means a kid around the age of 5-8. So I go to this house and knock on the door...there is no indication of anyone being home. A dog that sounds like it's in a kennel barks a few times, but I'm convinced there was nobody in that house. The kids name was apparently "Liam". Is it possible there was a small child scared to answer the door?...yeah, but given the timing of the call I couldn't help but think there may be a paranormal explanation. I've driven by the house a couple times since and haven't seen anyone home. I'm gonna follow up on it.
 
Great story.
I guess if there's any lesson to be learned from all of this: turn off the police radio and sit at your desk watching cat videos all day.
 
Stevedog's perceptions seem right on to me.
I also wonder if there's not also a bit of self-fulfilling prophesy when some people watch a paranormal movie. They get into the mindset of "maybe this could happen to me" and by turn open themselves up to paranormal events they would otherwise reject or be unaware of, or even just be open to the spirit world in ways they wouldn't normally. Once you open the door, something is bound to try to walk through.
Yes it could be seen as an assent to the unseen to get involved with your life. Interesting thoughts on this topic.
 
I heard about this on a podcast the other day, regarding Rosemary's Baby. So of course I immediately went to youtube. By the way, I was at work when I did this. I didn't have time to watch the movie, so I pulled up the sound track. I listened to it for a couple minutes...it was a little creepy. So a couple minutes later, I get sent to a house where a "small child" was calling 911 and messing around. Now when Dispatch uses the term "small child" it usually means a kid around the age of 5-8. So I go to this house and knock on the door...there is no indication of anyone being home. A dog that sounds like it's in a kennel barks a few times, but I'm convinced there was nobody in that house. The kids name was apparently "Liam". Is it possible there was a small child scared to answer the door?...yeah, but given the timing of the call I couldn't help but think there may be a paranormal explanation. I've driven by the house a couple times since and haven't seen anyone home. I'm gonna follow up on it.
Wow that’s strange, so you didn’t go in? The dispatcher didn’t stay on the line with the child ?
 
I worked in Hollywood for years and have worked at all the major (and many minor) studios as well as on many shooting locations around LA and I can attest that Hollywood is an exceedingly creepy place. And, I don't doubt that paranormal happenings do occur. I've heard of and even seen a few strange things myself.

However, I think most of these on-set horror stories in the media have more to do with publicity and box office gross than in truth. Nothing piques a horror fan's interest in a film more than a good creepy production story and the studios know this.
 
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