You Might Also . "Exists (2014)" is a found footage horror film about a group of friends in the remote Texas woods being stalked by an angry Bigfoot. Unlike many other well-known cases of demonic possession, the Smurl family claimed it was not a person who was possessed. "[21], In February 1936, the 1928 exorcism was profiled in Time magazine.[22]. speak in multiple languages unknown to her, "Emma Schmidt, 23 March 1882, Milwaukee, Wisconsin", Ghosts and Demons: The Lost Things - KyL Cobb - Google Books, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43173-0_2, "The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund Trailer Delivers Some True Story Chills", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anna_Ecklund&oldid=1116257936, This page was last edited on 15 October 2022, at 17:19. She found the role interesting "because it was so varied" and that "The scenes were quite crazy and manic and took up a lot of energy and physical strength as well. Its believed that Annas aunt, Mina, was the source of her attacks. Father Riesinger had been preaching in Earling, Iowa when he was called upon to again remove Annas demons. Anna Ecklund was a pseudonym for Emma Schmidt (March 23, 1882 July 23, 1941), an American woman whose alleged demonic possession and exorcism occurred over several decades, culminating in an extensive exorcism that lasted from August 18 to December 23, 1928 in Earling, Iowa. A Net Inceptions project. This movie is better than I had anticipated and I recommend it for anyone that enjoys found footage style movies. The plot is based on the alleged true story of Anna Ecklund. By this time, it had been 23 days. . Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. From the beginning of her life, Anna Ecklund saw only the worst faces around her, the final phase of which ended with the last three sessions of the exorcism performed on her. Ecklund, whose real name might have been Emma Schmidt, was born in Marathon, Wisconsin in 1882, and claims of her being possessed first surfaced when she was 14, according to InfoBarrel . Anna Ecklund was a pseudonym for Emma Schmidt (March 23, 1882 July 23, 1941), an American woman whose alleged demonic possession and exorcism occurred over several decades, culminating in an extensive exorcism that lasted from August 18 to December 23, 1928 in Earling, Iowa. After a short time, several sisters asked to leave their home for a less troubled convent. These real exorcism stories span centuries and crisscross the globe. He told me [to kill] through his dog, as he usually does, David wrote in his diaries, before revealing concern that he may, one day, evolve into a humanoid or demon in a more complete state.. [21] Young views the publication of the Ecklund case as integral in exemplifying the "American exorcism. So, Father Riesinger sought the help of a St Josephs Parish priest, Father Joseph Steiger. Often said to include speaking in tongues and strange guttural voices, levitating and clinging to bedroom walls, disturbed thoughts and revulsion of holy objects and sacred spaces, Ecklunds possession spanned several decades beginning in 1912 when she was just 14 years old. Her body distorted through expansion and contraction, and she screamed at the people present, telling them information that she could not know in various voices. She vomited twenty to thirty times a day. Although only intended to illustrate Satans power to seminary students, the story of a 1928 exorcism quickly spread to Catholic and secular publications alike. When the schools priests arrived, she became increasingly erratic and angry before confessing to making a pact with the Devil, who then possessed her. [12], In the summer of 1928, Riesinger was again consulted to perform a second exorcism on Ecklund. The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund (Emma Schmidt) Much of what is known about the possession and exorcism of Anna Ecklund comes from the work of Father Carl Vogl. Hope remained, though, as Anna could be brought back to her senses by blessed or holy objects. A few days after the claim, Father Steiger crashed his car into the railing of the bridge. The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund is a 2016 British horror film written and directed by Andrew Jones. Then, she spoke in a clear voice, for the first time in many months. By 1912, he was well-known for his expertise in exorcisms and so was called upon when a young woman by the name of Anna Ecklund (sometimes referred to as Emma Schmidt) reported possession symptoms. She had been talking with herself as if some invisible force was present. We pay special attention to historiographical rigor and balance. Days went by, and Ecklund was not getting better. He also managed to injure the priests several times, and spoke in a guttural voice, symptomatic of people believed to be possessed. It got so bad that she began to feel unable to enter the church being held back by an interior hidden power. Unwilling to let its prey loose, the evil launches an assault against the priests. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. William Peter Blatty drew on the events in Earling while crafting The Exorcist, among other well-known exorcism cases. Anna experienced horrific symptoms, vomiting bile and tobacco-infused liquid. Still to this day the validity of the account is debated. At the age of twenty, he joined the Capuchins, an order of Franciscans monks founded in the 16th century. He mostly deals with subjects such as military history and history in general, literature and film. Anna was tied to an iron bed and held down by the strongest nuns in the convent. "[1], The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund was released in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2016. The plot is based on the alleged true story of Anna Ecklund . To confirm if Anna was not faking the attacks, Father Riesinger sprayed her with fake holy water. Iowa. [2] The film was later released in the United States on 5 April of the same year. As they spoke the opening prayers, Anna sank into a deep sleep with her eyes shut tight. 2017. Riesinger's biography mentioned nearby townsfolk flocked to church, confused by the strange sounds and smells emanating from it, but Riesinger persisted. [14], On December 23, the final day of the exorcism, Father Riesinger commanded the demons in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to depart to Hell. Available at: https://husheduphistory.com/post/619278048738607104/the-evil-and-exorcism-of-emma-schmidt, Lilith. Interesting history topics are just a click away. With the help of the Franciscan sisters of the convent, the exorcism began on August 18. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. In the years that followed, Ecklund was able to live a relatively peaceful existence. In this Video I will tell you about the real story behind this Film that took place in Amer. According to a 2003 article in the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Daily Nonpareil which revisited the exorcism, Schmidt's "Aunt Mina was reputedly a witch who had . Riesinger once again performed an exorcism on Ecklund, per his biography on the Capuchin Order website, and it was this exorcism that put Ecklund's case on the map. Between August and December in 1928, intense sessions of exorcism were performed on her demon-possessed body. Plot Summary However, the car refused to accelerate to full speed. Top Image: Two exorcisms were performed on Anna Ecklund. Allegedly, when the exorcism was over, a sulfuric odor could be sensed in the room. In the aftermath, he was arrested by the police as he walked naked beside the road, covered in blood. There, Anna was put under the care of Father Theophilus Riesinger, an expert in exorcism. The controversial episode of a Wisconsin womans possession and exorcism has since become the most prominent and publicized exorcism cases in American history. The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund Photo Credit: North Bank Entertainment Often said to include speaking in tongues and strange guttural voices, levitating and clinging to bedroom walls, disturbed thoughts and revulsion of holy objects and sacred spaces, Ecklund's possession spanned several decades beginning in 1912 when she was just 14 years old. The devil will try his utmost to foil our plans. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Written in the 1930s by Carl Vogl, it was only translated into English by Celestine Kapsner in 1973, and it was only with this translation that the story surrounding Anna Ecklund received wide attention. Anna Ecklund was a pseudonym for Emma Schmidt , an American woman whose alleged demonic possession and exorcism occurred over several decades, culminating in an extensive exorcism that lasted from August 18 to December 23, 1928 in Earling, Iowa. Theophilus Riesinger was born in Germany in 1868. The cause of death was starvation. And, Mina claimed she had placed a curse on Anna with the help of Annas father. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Related: 6 Paranormal Cases Investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren That We Cant Stop Talking About. Described as a charming and engaging woman, Julia was the queen of a satanic cult. It soon attracted media attention, includingTimemagazine. Upon realizing that this is the case, the two try to take the woman, Anna Ecklund, to a convent to perform an exorcism. Nonetheless, Horror fans who dig films about demonic possession should absolutely check the film out. 4 of 4 found this interesting | Share this The film was shot on location at Llanelly House in Llanelli and the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay as well as at various interior locations around Mumbles in Swansea, South Wales. Once a mild mannered churchgoer, she is now prone to bo. The demons were eventually exorcised, and Ecklund went on to live her life, with only milder possessions after. 1896: Anna Eklund SHUTTERSTOCK Anna Ecklund was not her real name, but it's the one people associate with this classic case of demonic possession, thanks to the 2016 horror film, The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund. Instead, they claimed their West Pittston, Pennsylvania double-block home had been taken over by a poltergeist. Nearly 70 exorcisms were performed in secrecy under the order of the church. I have had numerous experiences in presenting my research to a variety of audiences from academic, public and children. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Anna Ecklund is today considered to be one of the most famous exorcisms in the United States, perhaps most famously portrayed in the 2016 film The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund. With so many movies about exorcisms, it is interesting that it took until 2016 for Ecklund's story to be filmed. Back in 2014 we bought you a list called '10 Terrifying Real-Life Tales of Demonic Possession!', with one of the entries being the strange case of Anna Ecklund, a young Catholic woman living . [20] According to Francis Young, a theology scholar, elements of the account published by Vogl were repeated in a written account of Robbie Mannheim in Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1949 by Jesuit priests. However it was allowed to be continued and at 9pm on December 23rd, Anna finally leaped up and claimed to have been freed from a terrible burden. Whether or not such evil forces exist, or if this practice does relinquish them, is all a matter of supposition. Her face twisted, her eyes and lips swelled to huge proportions, and her stomach became hard. Her body grew heavy, and pressed upon the iron-wrought bed frame with such weight that it bent. She later reported that on her arrival she experienced a feeling of unprecedented rage. Praised be Jesus Christ! Together, they decided to bring Anna to an isolated convent in Earling, run by the Franciscan Sisters to ensure privacy and protection. Unfortunately, it did not last. But what was the truth behind it? Photo by fa.b Festa S.Filippo Limina (ME)CC BY-SA 2.0. Whatever it was, if we see her life very closely, we can understand that it was the time when Annas life reached a climax to normalize everything in her life. 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