Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong
Episode: The Curse That Followed People Home
Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Heidi Wong
Podcast: Twisted Tales (Crime House)
Overview
This gripping episode delves into the horrifying possibilities of belief—how faith, family, and shared conviction can become so powerful they override logic, leading to tragedy and, sometimes, death. Through chilling true stories—from a notorious Taiwanese family murder case to mass hysteria in Nepalese schools and the viral spread of modern "curses"—Heidi Wong explores how delusion, social pressure, and the digital age can turn legend into lived nightmare. Central to the discussion is the Taiwanese horror film Incantation, inspired by true events, which blurs the line between fiction and reality in sinister new ways.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Wu Family Tragedy: Faith, Delusion, and Death
[03:13] - [09:35]
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Case Summary:
On April 10, 2005, Wu Fengjun was found dead outside Kaohsiung Medical College in Taiwan. The case shocked the nation for exposing how mass delusion and religious extremism led to her death. -
Family Background:
- The Wu's lived in the Gushan district, Kaohsiung.
- Deeply religious, they worshipped Ne Zha, a figure in Chinese folk religion.
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Descent into Delusion:
- It began when the youngest daughter claimed to be possessed by Ne Zha, who warned that a demon had taken over Fengjun.
- Fengjun, visiting home, began experiencing nightmares and, after a mysterious phone call, believed she was possessed by Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy).
- The family was torn: goddess or demon? Seeking spiritual healing at Wuzhi Mountain only escalated their fears, leading all six family members to believe they were possessed by different gods.
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Ritualized Abuse:
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The family attempted to "exorcise" Fengjun with extreme measures—burning her with incense, beating, starvation, and bizarre rituals involving urine and feces.
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The abuse lasted over a month, ultimately resulting in Fengjun's death.
“Her family genuinely believed they were saving Feng Jun’s soul by torturing her body. So the abuse continued for over a month. But surely her organs started to fail. And on the night of April 9, 2005, she died.” — Heidi Wong [08:54]
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The Wus kept the body at home, believing her soul would return, before abandoning it outside a hospital.
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Legal Outcome & Societal Impact:
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The Wus were charged but given light sentences after psychiatrists diagnosed a shared psychotic disorder.
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The case consumed Taiwanese media, raising questions about the power of collective belief.
“Here was a regular seeming family who believed so deeply in their convictions that they killed someone they loved. They genuinely thought they were saving Feng Jun’s soul.” — Heidi Wong [09:32]
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2. Mass Hysteria and Possession in Nepalese Schools
[10:47] - [16:28]
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Case Summary:
In 2015, a schoolgirl's apparent possession triggered a violent mass episode at her Nepalese school. Dozens followed, exhibiting similar symptoms. -
Key Patterns:
- Often begins with a single, stressed individual and spreads through social networks—friends, then classmates.
- It “moves like a disease, but instead of a virus, it was an idea.” — Heidi Wong [12:13]
- The school community treated it with spiritual ceremonies after doctors found nothing physical.
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Cultural Context:
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Across Asia, spiritual possession is a cultural script for expressing distress (examples from India, Korea, and Japan explored).
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Distress is understood through social and familial obligations, not only biology.
“It’s just a different language for expressing the same human pain that we all go through. Possession is a big part of that.” — Heidi Wong [14:13]
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Conditions Required for Possession Epidemics:
- Stress
- Cultural framework supporting possession
- Trigger (such as observing others' symptoms)
- Social reinforcement
3. The Blue Whale Challenge: Modern Myth and Viral Fear
[16:29] - [20:41]
- Summary:
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Panic erupted worldwide in 2016 over the Blue Whale Challenge, an alleged online game coercing children to complete 50 escalating tasks culminating in suicide.
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Media and authorities amplified fears, though investigation later revealed most deaths were unconnected to the "challenge."
“It was a case of good intentions gone wrong. But what happens when a bit of harmless fun spirals out of control?” — Heidi Wong [20:13]
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Ironically, widespread warnings may have introduced the dangerous idea to vulnerable youth.
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4. The Streisand Effect and “Storm Area 51”
[20:42] - [22:46]
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Summary:
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The Streisand effect: Attempts to suppress information only make it more appealing.
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Example: The 2019 viral “Storm Area 51” Facebook event, which began as satire but drew millions of RSVPs and international media.
“Once something goes viral, control is the first thing that disappears.” — Heidi Wong [22:41]
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Takeaway:
- The internet’s viral mechanics apply the same forces found in ancient curses or social delusions, but now on a massive, instantaneous scale.
5. Incantation: When the Audience Becomes Cursed
[25:00] - [32:07]
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Film Summary:
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The Taiwanese film Incantation draws direct inspiration from the Wu case.
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The story: Ronan, a mother, pleads with viewers to help save her afflicted child by participating in a ritual. As the film unfolds, it is revealed that participating viewers weren't helping—they’d been tricked into spreading the curse.
“The Blessing wasn’t protection at all. The incantation, the symbol, the hand gesture, they were all a part of the curse itself. And now that you participated in it, the curse has spread to you.” — Heidi Wong [31:40]
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Meta-Horror & Viral Spread:
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Incantation became Taiwan’s highest-grossing horror film and a viral sensation on Netflix and TikTok, with audiences sharing their fears and even performing counter-rituals.
“For me, it confirms the idea that curses can be real as long as you believe in them enough. And with the power of the Internet and social media, who knows how much damage they could do.” — Heidi Wong [33:12]
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Reflection on the Real Curses of the Digital Age:
- Social media makes us all more vulnerable to contagions of belief, fear, and irrationality.
- The film’s final ambiguity lingers: are curses real if enough believe? Where do horror stories end and reality begin?
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the horror of belief:
“These are darker. New episodes every Monday… Some stories are stranger than fiction. These are darker.” — Heidi Wong [01:01]
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On the Wu family’s genuine conviction:
“They truly thought they’d done nothing wrong.” — Heidi Wong [09:24]
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On cross-cultural scripts for pain:
“Distress gets understood through social harmony, family obligations, and even spiritual balance.” — Heidi Wong [13:54]
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On the viral spread of mass delusion:
“Now we’re all in the same room together all the time. It’s called the for your page, and when the curse hits your algorithm, there’s no escaping it.” — Heidi Wong [34:00]
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On the ultimate horror:
“The scariest thing isn’t what happens on screen, it’s what happens in your head after the screen goes dark.” — Heidi Wong [34:33]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 03:13–09:35 | The Wu Family Tragedy, religious extremism and delusion | | 10:47–16:28 | Nepal mass possession & the psychology of shared hysteria | | 16:29–20:41 | The Blue Whale Challenge and the dangers of viral legends | | 20:42–22:46 | The Streisand Effect & 'Storm Area 51' | | 25:00–32:07 | Incantation: Horror film, audience participation, & viral curses | | 33:12–34:33 | Digital age, social media & the power of belief |
Conclusion
Heidi Wong’s chilling narrative paints a portrait of horror rooted not in monsters or ghosts, but in the profound and sometimes destructive power of human belief—amplified by the connective tissue of family, community, and now, the global reach of the internet. By tracing a line from true crime to viral TikToks, the episode leaves listeners questioning where reality ends, and legend—possibly even a curse—begins.
Have you ever felt haunted by an idea or story? Heidi wants to know—share your tale in the comments, and tune in next Monday for another disturbingly true Twisted Tale.