Conjuring 2: Real-life dead body mystery sparks hysteria
Cinema death during Indian screening of horror film leads to upsurge of supernatural panic and fascination online
A man has reportedly suffered a heart attack and died while watching the horror film The Conjuring 2 in India - but it was when his body went missing that people really started to panic.
The 65-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh collapsed at a cinema in Tiruvannamalai, in Tamil Nadu, after complaining of chest pains during the film's terrifying climax, reports the Times of India.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead soon after. Doctors then ordered that his body be sent to another hospital for post-mortem - but the corpse, together with the person transporting it, has reportedly gone missing. Police are now investigating.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While there are no doubt rational explanations for both the man's death and the disappearance of his body, the story has "fuelled a wave of supernatural panic on social media that has accompanied the film's release", including reports of mysterious apparitions, says the Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile, a video uploaded to Facebook, watched almost five million times, claims to show a woman becoming "possessed" while watching the film. News sites such as Today in Manila have reported the story as fact, but the viral video is thought to have been filmed in 2013, long before the release of The Conjuring 2.
Bob Leeper, from website Nerdvana, wonders what has possessed internet users to become obsessed with the film, adding that there has been spike in online searches for "Valak", a demonic nun in the film, with some asking if the character is real.
But it's all good news for the film distributors, who will no doubt be happy to drum up whatever interest in The Conjuring 2 they can as they try to hold their own against daunting rivals at the box office.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The initially hefty ticket sales for the film suffered a dip on its second weekend and the family-friendly crowd-pleaser Finding Dory threatened to monster its rival with a record-breaking opening weekend of $136.2m (£93.3m), making it the most successful launch for an animated film in US box office history.
-
How digital ID cards work around the worldThe Explainer Many countries use electronic ID to streamline access to services despite concern by civil rights groups they ‘shift the balance of power towards the state’
-
Uttar Pradesh: from a once-in-a-generation festival to tiger tracking in an ancient forestThe Week Recommends Soak up the state's rich culture on one of Explorations Company's specially curated tours
-
What happened to Air India Flight 171?Today's Big Question Preliminary report reveals 'fundamental reason' why jet crashed, but questions remain about whether it was 'deliberate, accidental or if a technical fault was responsible'
-
Anshu Ahuja's golden coconut and butter bean curry recipeThe Week Recommends Plump, creamy beans in a sweet, spicy sauce
-
How to go on your own Race Across the WorldThe Week Recommends The BBC hit show is inspiring fans to choose low-budget adventures
-
Ancient India: living traditions – 'ethereal and sensual' exhibitionThe Week Recommends Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are explored in show that remains 'remarkably compact'
-
One great cookbook: 'I Am From Here' by Vishwesh BhattThe Week Recommends Where India meets the American South meets I-want-to-cook-it-all
-
The 'vulgar' question causing outrage in IndiaUnder The Radar Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia under police investigation for "dirty" comment on YouTube show


