Key Takeaways:
– ‘The Entity' is a movie based on the novel by Frank De Felitta, inspired by the real-life experiences of Doris Bither.
– The film, although featuring elements of horror, is more of a suspense thriller.
– The story's horror aspect was creatively backed by Stan Winston's special effects.
– Despite the film's embellishments, it closely mirrors Doris Bither's claims of experiences with the supernatural.
Introduction
‘The Entity' is a popular movie that has captivated viewers over time, blending suspense and elements of the supernatural into an ominously intriguing tale. It's not particularly a possession narrative, but it is indeed marked by enigmatic ghostly activities. Let's dive into the true backstory of ‘The Entity' and its link to the allegedly true events involving Doris Bither.
Film and Background
Frank De Felitta, known for ‘The Entity' and another novel-turned-movie, ‘Audrey Rose,' had his work put on the silver screen by 20th Century Fox despite the underperformance of ‘Audrey Rose'. The movie, directed by Sidney J. Furie, featured star performers like Barbara Hershey, Ron Silver, and Alex Rocco.
Interestingly, ‘The Entity' doesn't strictly classify as a horror film but rather a suspense thriller. It took inspiration from Bither's claimed experiences but has a fair share of creative differences too.
The Storyline
‘The Entity' introduces us to Carla Moran, played by Hershey, a single mom striving to improve her life while caring for her three children. The drama unfolds as she is mysteriously assaulted by an unseen force. Later experiences with this entity escalate, culminating in a team of researchers trying to capture it—only to have it escape.
Real Life Events
Carla Moran's character is based on Doris Bither, a single mother who also encountered supernatural occurrences. Bither had four children and shared her experiences with psychologist Barry Taff. The film's depiction of three entities, with two restraining her while a third one assaults her, mirrors Bither's account.
In the movie, Carla seeks help from parapsychologists she meets in a bookstore. These characters represent real-life figures Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor who conducted interviews and investigations into Bither's claims.
The filmed interpretation and Doris Bither's real-life experiences coincide at several junctures, despite varying overall. The movie did manage to capture the original events while taking creative liberties for a dramatic, captivating story.
Differences from Real-life Events
‘The Entity' does not exactly mirror Doris Bither's experiences. The movie's antagonist, the entity, follows Carla, attaching itself to her rather than residing exclusively in one house. However, the actual events suggest that it was indeed Bither herself, not the house or location, that the entity targeted. There was also no attempt in real life to trap the entity like in the movie.
What makes ‘The Entity' fascinating is its grounding in supposedly true events. Despite its focus on horror and suspense, it draws from the real, eerie experiences of Doris Bither. The film is a compelling blend of terrifying reality and thrilling fiction. So if you are in search of an original supernatural movie, give ‘The Entity' a go and let it send chills down your spine. Don't forget to delve into the real-life events that inspired this chilling cinematic masterpiece.
