In 2009, A Haunting in Connecticut hit theaters, bringing to life a chilling real-life story of a family who experienced terrifying paranormal events in their home.
The film, based on the real-life haunting experienced by the Snedeker family, recounts the terrifying experiences that occurred in their Connecticut house, which was believed to have once been a former funeral home.
While the movie captured the unsettling events faced by the family, the production itself was allegedly marked by strange occurrences that seemed to mirror the supernatural terror being portrayed on screen. Cast and crew members reported hearing whispers, feeling sudden cold spots, and sensing an overwhelming oppressive atmosphere during filming in a location tied to the real-life haunting.
But was this merely the influence of the film’s disturbing content, or was there something more at play during the production?
As the cast and crew filmed the terrifying scenes, the unsettling occurrences on set made some wonder if the spirits tied to the real-life events were still lingering at the location, influencing those who were involved in telling the story.
Here’s a look at the strange events surrounding the filming of A Haunting in Connecticut and how the supernatural atmosphere on set may have been more than just coincidence.
The True Story Behind A Haunting in Connecticut
Before we go further into the eerie happenings on set, it’s important to understand the haunting that inspired the film.
The movie is based on the real-life experiences of the Snedeker family, who moved into a house in Southington, Connecticut, in 1986. They were initially unaware that the house had once been a funeral home, a fact that would later reveal itself to be crucial to their terrifying ordeal.
The family began experiencing strange and disturbing occurrences shortly after moving in. The house seemed to be alive with activity.
Objects moved on their own, doors slammed shut, and there were reports of strange figures appearing in mirrors.
The most unsettling event involved the family’s son, who claimed to be tormented by a dark figure in the basement, a place that had once been used to embalm bodies.
Over time, the activity in the house escalated, and the Snedekers sought help from paranormal investigators to try and rid the house of the malevolent entities.
While the Snedeker family’s story has been met with skepticism, it has nonetheless left a lasting mark on the world of paranormal lore.
The house was eventually featured on a TV show called The Haunting, and its story was later adapted into the 2009 film. However, the eerie atmosphere that plagued the Snedeker family’s real-life experience seemed to follow the filmmakers as they worked to bring this chilling story to the screen.
Strange Happenings on Set
Filming a horror movie is never a typical production, but the making of A Haunting in Connecticut was reportedly filled with strange and eerie occurrences that some believed were linked to the location and the terrifying story being told.
Cast and crew members began to experience odd phenomena that felt far too real to be just coincidental.
From whispers in empty rooms to cold spots and the feeling of being watched, the set seemed to be alive with paranormal energy. The following occurrences were reported during the production:
Whispers in the Dark
One of the most common and unnerving reports from the cast and crew was the sound of whispers in empty rooms. On several occasions, people working on the set would hear faint voices, but when they turned around, no one would be there.
Crew members would walk into rooms, only to hear soft whispers that seemed to be coming from the walls, the air, or the shadows themselves. Some claimed that the whispers felt like they were speaking directly to them, creating an unnerving feeling that the spirits of the real-life haunting might still be present.
At first, these whispers were written off as sounds produced by old houses or simply by the creaking of an old building. But the frequency of the occurrences and the sense of unease that accompanied them made many on set question if something more sinister was at play.
Sudden Cold Spots
Another recurring phenomenon reported by those on the set of A Haunting in Connecticut was the sudden appearance of cold spots in specific areas of the filming location. Many actors and crew members reported feeling intense cold in certain rooms or hallways, even when the temperature inside the building didn’t seem to warrant it.
The cold spots were often described as being “unnatural,” as if a breeze was passing through or a cold wind was blowing from an unseen source.
For some, the cold spots seemed to appear out of nowhere, sometimes moving from one area of the set to another. It was as if something—or someone—was following them through the house, making its presence felt.
The oppressive chill that seemed to settle over certain rooms heightened the already tense atmosphere on set, causing many to feel as though they were not alone.
The fact that these cold spots seemed to linger in specific places made them all the more unnerving.
An Overpowering Sense of Oppression
Perhaps the most intense report of paranormal activity came in the form of an overwhelming sense of oppression that plagued the set.
Some of the cast and crew described feeling as though they were being weighed down by an invisible force. The feeling of being watched was common, and many people reported a general sense of unease as they worked.
For actors, it was especially difficult to ignore the sense that something malevolent was lingering in the space.
While in character, they felt as though they were constantly under scrutiny, unable to shake the feeling that the house—or whatever spirits may have still been residing there—was aware of their presence.
The intense pressure made the work environment even more tense, adding to the authenticity of the chilling scenes being filmed.
The House’s Dark Energy
The film’s production took place in an old mansion that had been specifically chosen to capture the haunted essence of the Snedeker home. The house had a long and storied history, one that included a series of strange incidents before it was even used for filming.
The mansion was chosen not only for its architectural resemblance to the real-life house but also because of its own peculiar energy. Its walls seemed to hold onto something dark, a residue of past events that left an impression on everyone who entered.
While the specific house used for the film’s production was not the actual Snedeker home, many believed that the energy tied to the real-life haunting was still lingering in the air.
Paranormal experts have often claimed that locations with a dark history, especially those involved in traumatic or violent events, tend to hold onto residual energy.
This energy can manifest in strange and inexplicable ways, as evidenced by the reports of strange phenomena during the production of A Haunting in Connecticut.
Did the Real Haunting Influence the Film?
As the production moved forward, the eerie events on set seemed to suggest that the spirits tied to the real-life haunting of the Snedeker family had made their presence felt. The similarities between the paranormal experiences in the film and the strange occurrences during filming were uncanny.
It’s possible that the intense focus on the true-life tragedy, paired with the negative energy surrounding the set, made the spirits more active, or perhaps the spirits themselves had never truly left the area.
While some skeptics believe that the strange occurrences on set could be attributed to the heightened emotions and stress that come with making a horror film, others are not so sure.
Many who were on the set that day described the atmosphere as being more intense and unnerving than anything they had ever experienced while making other films.
Whether these paranormal events were caused by the weight of the story or were a result of the haunted location is still a mystery.
The Lasting Impact of the Haunting
Even after filming wrapped, the cast and crew continued to talk about the strange atmosphere that lingered in the house long after the cameras were turned off. Some even claimed to have experienced lingering feelings of dread or unease in the months that followed, especially when they visited the set for reshoots or promotional events.
The idea that the film’s subject matter and location were so intertwined with the supernatural world gave the entire production a unique and eerie aura.
For those involved in the making of A Haunting in Connecticut, the experience left a lasting impression.
Whether or not the events on set were a result of real paranormal activity is open to debate, but it’s clear that the film’s production was not without its strange and unnerving moments.
The combination of the terrifying true story, the haunted location, and the powerful emotions of those involved in telling the tale led to an experience that many described as chilling…
…both on and off screen.