THE ENTITY

ENTITY: INVESTIGATING THE TERRIFYING PARANORMAL CASE THAT INSPIRED A CULT HORROR FILM

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The house was quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to cling to the walls, amplifying the creak of each hesitant step. She walked slowly down the darkened hallway, feeling an unsettling chill that seemed to follow her from room to room. She glanced behind, seeing nothing but shadows, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, something pressing close, just out of reach. Every so often, she’d hear a faint shuffle—a soft, almost inaudible breath that made her heart race. The air felt dense, heavy, as though something unseen was lurking in it, observing her with a dark, patient intensity. Doris quickened her pace, pulse pounding, but the presence only seemed to draw closer, an invisible shadow matching her every move, refusing to let her be alone.

The movie The Entity (1982) is based on the real-life experiences of a woman named Doris Bither, who claimed to have been tormented by unseen forces in the early 1970s. The story became well-known after parapsychologists from UCLA, including Dr. Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor, investigated her claims.

DORIS BITHER

Doris Bither was a 33 year old single mother of four children (three sons and one daughter) when the reported paranormal phenomena began. She lived in a small, rundown home in Culver City, California, a location that may have already had its own dark history, though no concrete evidence of prior hauntings was ever substantiated. Her personal life was troubled. She reportedly struggled with alcohol abuse and had a history of emotional instability, often attributed to past trauma, including abusive relationships. According to accounts, the environment within the home was chaotic, and she and her children were living in very stressful conditions, which may have contributed to the intensity of the phenomena.

Physical Attacks by Entities

Doris Bither claimed that she was physically attacked by not one, but three invisible entities. The most aggressive of these entities was described as a large, dominant male presence, while the other two were smaller and less powerful. She reported that the larger entity sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, pinning her down while the two smaller ones seemed to hold her in place.

Sexual Assaults

Doris described the assaults as intensely violent, leaving her with bruises, scratches, and other marks on her body. She stated that she would feel an overwhelming force pressing down on her, followed by the sensation of being physically restrained and attacked. These attacks reportedly occurred regularly, with witnesses (her children) claiming to see her being thrown around the room by an unseen force.

Witnesses to the Attacks 

Her children, especially her eldest son, also reported witnessing his mother being physically attacked by unseen forces. He described seeing her lifted and thrown across the room, as well as hearing her screams when she was assaulted. While he did not always see the entities themselves, he confirmed that the events were violent and disturbing.

Poltergeist Activity in the House

In addition to the personal attacks, Doris reported classic poltergeist activity throughout the house. This included various household items, such as picture frames, furniture, and kitchen utensils, were said to move or fly across the room without any apparent cause. These occurrences were often witnessed by Doris's children and the parapsychologists who later investigated the home.

The family frequently heard loud bangs, knocks, and other unexplained noises. These sounds seemed to originate from the walls, ceilings, and floors, and were sometimes accompanied by footsteps or the sounds of something heavy being dragged across the floor.

There were frequent electrical disturbances in the home, including flickering lights, appliances turning on and off, and radios playing strange, static-like noises. These disturbances heightened the tension and fear within the household.

THE INVESTIGATION

Parapsychologists Dr. Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor became involved after hearing of Doris’s case. When they visited her home, they witnessed some unusual phenomena. One of the most famous events involved strange lights appearing around Doris, which were captured in photographs below.

Taff and Gaynor reported that the energy in the home was volatile and that many of their instruments detected unusual electromagnetic fields. Some witnesses, including the investigators, claimed to have seen strange orbs or misty apparitions. However, despite their observations, they couldn’t provide a solid explanation for the phenomena.

SO WHAT IS A POLTERGEIST?

A poltergeist is a type of paranormal phenomenon typically associated with physical disturbances, such as objects being moved, loud noises, and other unexplained physical activities. The term comes from the German words poltern (to make noise or to knock) and geist (ghost or spirit), essentially meaning "noisy ghost."

Poltergeist phenomena are typically temporary, lasting for a few weeks to a few months. They often seem to escalate over time before abruptly stopping. In some cases, they may recur but tend to diminish in intensity over time. Once the activity ceases, it rarely returns with the same level of intensity or disturbance.

Characteristics of Poltergeists

The most defining feature of a poltergeist is physical activity. Objects may be thrown across a room, furniture may be moved, doors may slam, and other items might appear or disappear. This sets them apart from other hauntings, which typically involve more subtle signs of a ghost's presence.

Poltergeists are often associated with loud, unexplained sounds, such as knocks, bangs, footsteps, or voices. These sounds might seem to come from nowhere and can sometimes be intense or disruptive.

Electrical disturbances like flickering lights, turning electronic devices on or off, and phone malfunctions are also commonly reported.

In rare cases, poltergeist activity has been associated with sudden unexplained fires or water pools forming without an identifiable source.

Some poltergeists are said to physically interact with people, including pushing, scratching, or hitting them. Unlike traditional hauntings, which are often more passive, poltergeists can be much more aggressive and noticeable.

Theories Behind Poltergeists

One traditional explanation is that poltergeists are spirits of the deceased, especially those who died violently or have unresolved issues, causing them to manifest as disruptive entities.

Another popular theory, especially in parapsychology, is that poltergeist activity is caused by unconscious psychic energy, often linked to a specific person known as the "agent" or "focus." This theory suggests that stress or emotional turmoil can result in involuntary psychokinesis, which manifests as poltergeist phenomena. This means the activity is not caused by a spirit but by the mental or emotional state of a living person.

Some researchers suggest that natural environmental factors like seismic activity, infrasound (low-frequency sound), or other physical causes might explain some poltergeist-like phenomena. These factors might cause objects to move or sounds to occur, which are then interpreted as paranormal.

Sceptics often attribute poltergeist activity to psychological factors, including hoaxes, the power of suggestion, or mass hysteria. In some cases, children or teenagers may stage poltergeist events for attention, or people may subconsciously misinterpret natural events as paranormal due to fear or belief in the supernatural.

THE MOVIE ADAPTION

The Entity was adapted from a book written by Frank De Felitta, who fictionalized Doris Bither’s story. In the movie, the protagonist is renamed Carla Moran (played by Barbara Hershey), and the events are dramatized for the screen. The film stays true to many of the details of Doris’s alleged experiences, particularly the physical and sexual assaults by invisible entities. However, like most films based on true stories, it takes some creative liberties.

Differences between the movie and the true story

1. Names and Locations:

In the Film: The protagonist is named Carla Moran (played by Barbara Hershey). The setting is portrayed in a more generic suburban location.

In Real Life: The real-life woman was named Doris Bither, and her haunting took place in Culver City, California. The film changed her name and other personal details to fictionalize the story.

2. Depiction of the Paranormal Activity:

In the Film: The paranormal attacks are heavily dramatized. Carla is frequently assaulted by an invisible entity, with violent, almost cinematic special effects. The entities are shown as having immense power, and the scenes are depicted in a terrifying, graphic manner. There’s a scene where she is attacked while driving, and the film suggests the paranormal force has an extreme, almost unstoppable presence.

In Real Life: Doris Bither reported being physically assaulted, but the documentation of the events is much less visually dramatic than in the film. While she claimed to have been attacked by three entities, the actual phenomena reported were less spectacular than what is shown in the movie. There were no instances like the car attack scene, for example.

3. Scientific Investigation:

In the Film: The film shows the involvement of a team of parapsychologists who set up experiments in Carla’s house to try to capture the entity. There’s even a dramatic sequence where they recreate her home in a gymnasium with liquid nitrogen to try to freeze and contain the entity. This scene is highly fictionalized for the sake of dramatic tension.

In Real Life: There were investigators from UCLA, including Dr. Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor, who visited Doris Bither’s home. However, their investigation was much more limited and low-tech. They used some basic equipment to measure electromagnetic fields and observe the phenomena but didn’t attempt elaborate experiments or containment like in the film. They did report witnessing strange lights and objects moving but didn’t try to physically capture the entity.

4. The Visual Representation of the Entity:

In the Film: The entity is portrayed through special effects like lights, shadows, and in some instances, visible energy forms. There’s a visible, almost tangible presence to the entity, especially in the attacks.

In Real Life: The "entity" in Doris Bither's case was not something that people could visually see in a clear form. Witnesses, including her children and the parapsychologists, reported seeing strange lights and misty shapes, but there was no strong visual representation of the entity like what the movie shows. It was more about feelings, noises, and movements of objects.

5. Carla’s Personal Life:

In the Film: Carla Moran is depicted as a hardworking single mother who is attempting to maintain a normal life for her children. Her trauma is emphasized, and the film explores her psychological struggle to convince people that what is happening to her is real. Her children are frightened but not as directly involved in the paranormal attacks.

In Real Life: Doris Bither had a troubled life, with a history of alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and emotional instability. Her personal issues may have contributed to her experiences or the perception of them. Her children were more directly involved in the real-life case than depicted in the movie, and they too claimed to witness some of the paranormal events. Bither’s troubled background is less emphasized in the film, making Carla’s portrayal somewhat more sympathetic and grounded than the real Doris Bither’s life.

6. Tone and Conclusion:

In the Film: The film ends on an ambiguous note. Carla survives the ordeal, but it’s suggested that the entity is still present in her life, continuing to haunt her despite her efforts to move away and escape. The movie emphasizes the terror and supernatural power of the entity, making it a chilling conclusion.

In Real Life: After moving away from her original home, Doris Bither reported that the attacks continued but with less intensity. The real-life story did not have a dramatic resolution or climax like in the film. Eventually, the activity subsided, but there was no definitive conclusion, and Doris lived with the belief that the entities continued to follow her, albeit in a less aggressive manner.

7. Emotional and Psychological Focus:

In the Film: Much of the film focuses on Carla’s emotional and psychological journey, questioning her mental stability and the toll the haunting takes on her relationships and mental health. The psychological horror aspect of being disbelieved by those around her plays a significant role.

In Real Life: Doris Bither’s case didn’t delve as deeply into the psychological implications in the way the film does. While Doris had a complex and troubled life, the real case focused more on the paranormal events than on her emotional journey. The film heightened the psychological tension for dramatic effect, while the real story was more about the paranormal investigation and her claims.

The 1982 movie trailer

SCEPTICISM AND CONTROVERSY

There were sceptics who believed Doris’s experiences were the result of her mental state or that she was fabricating the events due to her troubled life. Others pointed to her alcoholism and unstable family situation as potential contributing factors to her claims. However, Doris remained adamant that she was being attacked by unseen forces, and her children also backed up some of her stories, claiming they too had witnessed paranormal events.

Doris eventually moved out of the Culver City home, but she claimed that the attacks continued in her new residences. She remained haunted by the entities for the rest of her life, though after the move, the experiences became less intense. Doris Bither passed away in the 1990s, and much of her story remains shrouded in mystery.

LEGACY

Doris Bither’s case remains one of the most infamous in paranormal history. Some paranormal researchers continue to debate whether her experiences were the result of poltergeist activity, psychological factors, or a combination of both. The case also sparked discussions about the role of emotional and psychological trauma in paranormal experiences, with some theorizing that Doris’s troubled life may have contributed to the manifestation of the strange events.

In the world of paranormal investigation, the Bither case remains a mysterious and controversial chapter. While many are sceptical of her claims, the events witnessed by researchers and her family make it a compelling story that has persisted in paranormal lore.

SCPUK CONCLUSION

At SCPUK, our analysis of Doris Bither delves into the intricate layers of her personality and the challenges she faced throughout her tumultuous existence. It is clear that her struggles with mental health issues, substance abuse, and a potential history of undisclosed trauma profoundly shaped her perceptions and experiences. While we acknowledge the impact of these factors on her reported paranormal encounters, we refrain from dismissing them as mere manifestations of her psychological state or fabrications.

The presence of corroborating witnesses such as Dr. Barry Taff, Kerry Gaynor, and her own children adds credibility to her claims. We propose a nuanced perspective that suggests a supernatural element may have indeed interacted with Doris, utilizing her as a conduit for negative energies or entities. This hypothesis aligns with the observations made by reputable individuals who were present during some of the alleged paranormal incidents.

However, we exercise caution when considering some of the more extraordinary aspects of Bither's accounts, attributing them instead to potential drug-induced psychosis resulting from her substance dependencies and chaotic lifestyle. By acknowledging the complexity of Doris Bither's life and the multifaceted nature of her experiences, we aim to approach the subject with a balanced and thoughtful perspective. Our analysis underscores the need to consider all facets of her story, including the psychological, emotional, and potentially supernatural elements, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the events surrounding her.