Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong

Episode: HORROR: The Real Possessions Behind The Exorcist

Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Heidi Wong
Theme: Reality is the true horror—exploring the chilling real-life exorcisms that inspired some of horror’s most iconic films, including The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and The Rite.

Episode Overview

Heidi Wong dives into the true stories behind infamous exorcism movies, retelling the facts that inspired The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and The Rite. Wong emphasizes the blurred line between myth, horror, and reality—and how the actual events are often more unsettling than their cinematic adaptations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The True Story Behind The Exorcist

[00:06–24:00]

• Film Summary & Cultural Impact:
  The Exorcist (1973) shocked audiences so deeply that some fainted, vomited, or fled theaters.

  • “This movie was so terrifying that people were actually running out of their seats, throwing up and passing out...” —Heidi [01:02]

• Historical Case:
  The movie was inspired by the 1949 exorcism of 13-year-old Ronald Hunkeler from Maryland.

  • Names and details were shrouded in secrecy for years; in 2021, Hunkeler’s identity was confirmed.
  • “Just like in the movie, it all starts with a Ouija board.” —Heidi [03:10]

• Build-up to Possession:

  • His Aunt Matilda—eccentric, obsessed with the occult—gifts him a Ouija board.
  • After Matilda’s death, Ronald uses the board to communicate with her, which opens the door to sinister phenomena.
  • “Ronald was grieving in pain, which opened him up to the spirit world in a whole new way. Inviting something dark, malevolent.” —Heidi [04:40]

• Escalating Phenomena:

  • Family hears unexplained noises; beds shake; scratch marks and flying objects become common.
  • Ronald’s personality shifts dramatically, and he exhibits knowledge (like Latin) he supposedly shouldn’t have.
  • “On the night of February 26, 1949... huge, deep cuts appeared across Ronald’s body while the boy slept.” —Heidi [11:17]

• Exorcism Attempts:

  • Lutheran minister Luther Miles Schulz witnesses the phenomena but can't act directly due to denominational restrictions.
  • Catholic priest Father Albert Hughes attempts an exorcism; is violently attacked (requires 100 stitches).
  • “At some point, Ronald slipped one of his hands from the restraints... Ronald attacked Father Hughes. Arm was slashed from his shoulder to his wrist.” —Heidi [13:20]

• Resolution:

  • The family travels to St. Louis; up to six priests perform a final, grueling month of exorcisms.
  • “Ronald screamed and twisted in his bed throughout the ceremony. Then all of a sudden, he just stopped, like nothing had happened. He just looked up at the priest and said, ‘He’s gone.’” —Heidi [18:10]
  • Ronald goes on to live a normal, accomplished life, working at NASA, and dies in 2020.

2. The Tragic Case Behind The Exorcism of Emily Rose

[24:01–39:20]

• Film vs. Reality Overview:

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) is a horror-legal drama inspired by the real-life case of Anneliese Michel.
  • Film centers on the priest’s culpability in her death; the true story is far more harrowing.

• Background of Anneliese Michel:

  • Grew up religious, began having seizures as a teen; diagnosed with epilepsy, later prescribed antipsychotics.
  • Experiences intensify in college—she hears voices damning her to hell, sees demonic faces, and can’t enter holy places.
  • “If she did try to enter a holy place, the ground burned beneath her like it was on fire. Which definitely seemed like signs of being possessed.” —Heidi [29:47]

• Descent into Possession:

  • Her behavior grows increasingly bizarre: barking, eating spiders/coal, refusing food/water, biting off a bird’s head.
  • Multiple personalities surface; demons named include Hitler, Judas, and Satan.
  • “Between September 1975 and July 1, 1976, they performed 67 exorcisms on Anneliese Michel... she was so frantic, she’d gnash at her teeth so hard they broke to pieces.” —Heidi [33:37]

• Death & Aftermath:

  • Anneliese dies at age 23—cause: dehydration and malnutrition.
  • Parents and priests convicted of negligent homicide, sentenced to light punishment (probation).
  • Anneliese’s gravesite becomes a shrine for pilgrims and the curious.
  • “But was she actually possessed by demons? Or was she a victim of lack of medical care? Let me know what you think.” —Heidi [36:57]

3. The Rite: A Modern Exorcist’s True Story

[39:21–54:30]

• Film Premise and Real Inspiration:

  • The Rite (2011) is based on the experiences of Father Gary Thomas, a real US Catholic exorcist.
  • Thomas advised on set to ensure realism: “Not only was this movie based on a true story, but the real life protagonist of the story was a consultant on the set.” —Heidi [41:12]

• Father Gary’s Path:

  • Parish priest for 15 years, chosen by his bishop to become an exorcist due to a rise in alleged possessions.
  • Initially skeptical, he enrolls in exorcism training at the Vatican.
  • “He certainly believed that people did evil or sinful things, but he didn’t think that demons made them do it.” —Heidi [43:00]

• Notable Cases & Encounters:

  • Fellow priest, Father Daniel, recounts a chilling incident with a possesed woman whose “jaw unhinged itself, almost like a stiff snake.” —Heidi [45:20]
  • Under tutelage at the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Father Gary observes numerous, varied exorcisms.
  • The case of Sister Janneke stands out:
    • As the prayer intensifies, she slams her head, growls, shrieks in inhuman voices.
    • “What Father Gary heard didn’t sound like a noise that a human... voice could make. It was like an animal, a growl that came from somewhere deep inside her body.” —Heidi [48:40]

• Aftermath & Modern Exorcism:

  • Father Gary returns to California, applies medical and psychological screening to rule out non-supernatural causes.
  • Even in the US, exorcists are rare: “In the US there are currently only about 175 [exorcists], which isn’t a lot. But considering there’s almost 35,000 Catholic priests in the country overall...” —Heidi [52:20]
  • His story becomes the basis for a book and, ultimately, the movie.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heidi’s chilling opener:

  “A demon set free by a child's toy. A girl who hears the voice of the devil anytime she prays. A priest who learns the true nature of evil... they're very real. And they're more terrifying than anything you've seen on the big screen.” [00:06]

• The simple, anticlimactic end to Ronald’s ordeal:

  “No mass of black smoke escaping his mouth. No big climax, no Hollywood ending. The rest of Ronald’s life was just as ordinary.” [19:15]

• Compassion for the tragic consequences:

  “Whatever the truth is, one thing is like Emily Rose. Her story is tragic and she didn’t deserve to die.” [39:13]

• On exorcist rarity:

  “He was, and is, still unusual for a priest to be trained as an exorcist.” [53:10]

• On real evil:

  “To Father Gary: there’s no question true evil does exist. Demons exist, and he’s seen them up close and personal.” [54:00]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Opening & The Exorcist case | 00:06–24:00 | | Real Ronald Hunkeler’s exorcism | 03:10–19:15 | | Transition to Anneliese Michel/Emily Rose | 24:01 | | Anneliese’s possession and exorcism | 27:30–36:57 | | Aftermath and legacy of the Michel case | 36:58–39:15 | | Introduction to The Rite & Father Gary Thomas | 39:21 | | Vatican training, skepticism, and first cases | 43:00–48:00 | | Sister Janneke exorcism details | 48:01–50:45 | | Modern exorcism practice and closing thoughts | 52:00–54:30 |

Tone & Takeaways

Heidi Wong’s narration is direct, curious, and empathetic, mixing dark intrigue with skepticism and care for the victims of these stories. She maintains a conversational, confiding tone, often inviting the listener to reflect (“Let me know what you think.”). The episode blends chilling factual retelling with humane concern—the takeaway is that real-life possession stories are stranger and often sadder than any film, and the borderline between religious belief, medical crisis, and human tragedy remains uncomfortably blurred.