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Apple TV+’s new Enfield Poltergeist series offers a unique and compelling look at Maurice Grosse’s legendary investigation, though the filmmaker’s selective reenactments can be misleading, writes ANDY MERCER
The paranormal events that took place in a small, semi-detached house in Enfield, London, are probably the most famous example of supposed poltergeist activity in the world and certainly the most intricately documented.
Lead investigator Maurice Grosse recorded copious notes and more than 200 hours of audio, documenting many of the paranormal events “as they happened.”
The poltergeist activity in Green Street, Enfield, started off fairly innocently, with a strange banging coming from the walls. However, events quickly escalated into throwing objects around and moving furniture.
Seeking help and an explanation, the Hodgson family (mother Peggy, daughters Margaret and Janet, and son Billy) contacted the police and council for help, and from there news of the events spread to the media, with both newspapers and TV news get involved.
It was at this point that Maurice Grosse, a member of the Association for Mental Researchwas involved.
Unique treatment of the Enfield Poltergeist case
There have been attempts in the past to dramatize the events of Enfield, ranging from the apparently quite faithful to the ridiculously distorted and fantastical (I leave it to the reader to determine which versions I mean).
But Apple TV+’s docudrama is unique in that it marks the first time that Grosse’s notes and recordings have played a direct role not only in the creation of the program, but also in actors actually lip-syncing Grosse’s recordings.
The series uses actors who in most cases bear a remarkable resemblance to the people they represent, most notably Peggy Nottingham, cousin of Margret Hodgson, and especially Ed and especially Lorraine Warren, who make brief appearances. Unfortunately, not so much the actor who lip-syncs Grosse himself.
As with any docudrama, The Enfield Poltergeist combines interviews with the witnesses to the actual events with dramatic reconstructions of the events. The program begins with the set builders painstakingly reconstructing the internal layout of the Enfield house before introducing those involved and documenting the events.
The miniseries consists of four episodes. The first three document the events chronologically, with the final episode focusing more on Grosse’s own life and motivations, as well as interviews with Janet Hodgson, the apparent focus of the events.
This is juxtaposed with the views of members of the SPR, who seemed more skeptical of the events than Grosse and his eventual research partner, Guy Lyon Playfair.
Nevertheless, the program presents the recorded and reconstructed events relatively uncritically.
However, we as an audience can only judge this based on the evidence that the program makers have chosen to reconstruct, which may only be about five percent of the total. But they do contain the best-known elements, including the eyewitness testimony of the police officer who witnessed the floating and moving of the chair (both the original interview and the reconstruction).
Enfield Haunting scene with flying out of bed
The famous photo series ‘Flying out of bed’ was presented uncritically, with no opinion or explanation offered, apart from Grosse’s own.
The actual photographer only explained how the equipment worked. The makers have made no attempt to reconstruct the ‘flight’; they only showed the photos together, as they were taken, quickly and in order, giving the impression that Janet was moving through the air without assistance.
The production team also created reconstructions of other, lesser-known events, including the many examples of objects that moved for more than just Grosse, including news reporters, photographers and other members of the SPR who visited the house.
The key element of the case that the later episodes focus on is the initially mysterious “voice” that initially seems to come from the building itself and then directly from Janet. (Although “Bill” appears briefly in the opening scene.) Interestingly, this additional phenomenon turned the case into a “classic haunting” rather than a traditional poltergeist manifestation, something Grosse himself comments on.
Bill is certainly the most controversial element of the case, with the program not focusing on any specific explanation as to the origins of the voice, whether it is a voice speaking through Janet or simply a creation of Janet herself. While it is clear what members of the PSI and others were thinking, including the “believer turned ardent skeptic” Dr. Sue Blackmore, who appears to play the role of ‘the voice of reason’ in the programme.
However, the Blackmore interview material the producers chose seemed to focus more on her views on the paranormal in general and less on the actual events.
As I mentioned earlier, the first three episodes focused on the events, while the last focused more on Maurice Grosse’s personal life than the case, making it an unnecessary distraction.
However, what was most interesting in the last episode was the interview with Margaret and especially Janet. And although she didn’t say anything new about the case, it was very interesting to hear from Janet herself, who still seems traumatized by the events of forty years ago.
All in all, in terms of what we are shown, it is an excellent presentation of Grosse’s research and recordings of the events.
Whether or not this is a truly accurate retelling of events will likely depend on what’s on the footage that the production company didn’t use, which is obviously the vast majority.
And one can only hope that they will eventually be released to the public.
Tell us your thoughts on The Enfield Poltergeist Apple TV+ in the comments below!
ANDY MERCER is a writer, researcher and ‘retired’ professional psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience investigating both the paranormal and the esoteric. Mercer is the author of a number of occult titles on subjects such as traditional witchcraft, runes and the works of the 14th century poet Dante Alighieri. Andy is also the producer of a number of internet radio shows and podcasts for the ‘Paranormal UK Radio Network’ and co-hosts ‘High Strangeness Factor’ with Steve Ward. Andy is also the owner of ‘Ninth circle print‘publishing house.
Watch the Apple TV+ trailer for The Enfield Poltergeist
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