00;00;09;23 - 00;00;58;10 Unknown And if you dig the twisted, admired the outlandish and are enamored by the unusual, you're in the right place. True crime, the supernatural, the unexplained. Now you're speaking early, which if you agree, join us as we dive into the darker side, you know, because it's more fun over here. Welcome to Total Conundrum. 00;00;58;13 - 00;01;28;05 Unknown When she was first moved on the phone call to stop this disclosure, she paused. hey there, Conundrum crew. Jeremy and Tracy are back in the studio, and today we're venturing into the eerie world of cursed movies. Buckle up. It's about to get spooky. That's right, Jeremy. We're taking a stroll down the haunted Hollywood Boulevard where movies aren't just on the screen. 00;01;28;12 - 00;01;55;18 Unknown They're tangled in a web of curses. But before we descend into cinematic supernatural, a friendly reminder to hit that, like, unsubscribe button on YouTube. And for audio aficionados on Apple and Spotify, toss us a haunting five star rating. We appreciate the love from our cast. And I'm cursed movie lovers alike. And speaking of love, let's give a shout out to our podcast pals. 00;01;55;20 - 00;02;22;09 Unknown This week, we're swapping trailers was scary tales and serials where the spooky meets the serialized. And let's talk turkeys serving up a feast of laughter. Check them out. It's a podcast Trailer Swap Bonanza. Now back to the Spooky business. Cursed Movies. Jeremy They say making a movie is like summoning a ghost. You never know what you'll end up with. 00;02;22;11 - 00;02;52;29 Unknown That's true. Crazy from curse sets to haunted props, it's a whole cinematic ghost story waiting to be told. Tracy Any favorite cursed movie that sends shivers down your spine? definitely, Jeremy. But let's not give away all the screams just yet. We've got cursed productions, haunted film sets, and maybe a ghostly cameo or two. Well, a conundrum crew, get ready for a spooky movie marathon like no other. 00;02;53;01 - 00;03;17;12 Unknown It's showtime for Cursed Films, and Tracy's got the popcorn curse. Of course you know it, Jeremy. Grab your ghost detector and let's dive into the world where the silver screen is coated in mystery, magic and a touch of the supernatural. We'll be back after these messages. 00;03;17;14 - 00;03;45;00 Unknown Hey, guys. I'm Tara and Mara. And together we are scary tales and serials. They are two best friends, ghost hunters and moms who know all too well that mom Annie. Easy. So we do this to relax and unwind. We communicate with spirits because let's face it, they're the only ones that truly listen anyway. If you like the paranormal, all things spooky, true crime, and downright murderous tales, then you're in the right place. 00;03;45;02 - 00;04;08;03 Unknown Join us on our spooky adventure. Each episode we tell you a story and use humor and some great banter to keep the craziest stories light. We share tales of our ghost hunting adventures and hot takes on some of the wildest cases out there with our episodes. You may hit a range of emotions laughing, horror, anger and even some tears depending on the case. 00;04;08;08 - 00;04;34;05 Unknown But we promise we keep it fun. Tara That's me, is the self-proclaimed overachiever, delving deep into the cases to uncover as many fans as possible. And Mara sprinkles in the razzle dazzle with her wit and humor. There is something for everyone with us. You can find us on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, just about anywhere you listen to your podcast. 00;04;34;07 - 00;05;04;27 Unknown You can also follow us on our socials. We are on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Give us a listen and tell your friends we hope to see you there. Until next time to do. Hey, Jeremy, How are you today? I'm good. Just living the dream. Living the dream. I'm not sure whose dream it is, though. So it's like another day in paradise. 00;05;05;00 - 00;05;36;11 Unknown Minus the beach and the pina coladas. And pretty much I feel like a million bucks after taxes. All right, all right, enough with our goofy puns. Are you ready for our exciting story today? For shizzle. Sorry I had to slip one more. Let's hear what you got for us today. All right. So in the bustling world of Hollywood, a film called Poltergeist took the silver screen by storm, released in 1982. 00;05;36;14 - 00;06;05;24 Unknown The movie captivated audiences with its thrilling tale of a suburban family tormented by a malevolent spirit. Little did the cast and crew know that their involvement in this cinematic masterpiece would lead to a haunting curse that would echo through the years. The curse began with the tragic and untimely death of Dominique Dunne, the talented young actress who portrayed the eldest daughter, Dana Freeling, in the film. 00;06;05;26 - 00;06;31;12 Unknown Just months after the movie's release, Dominique's life was cut short at the tender age of 22. She fell victim to a senseless act of domestic violence, leaving her family and the entire industry in shock and disbelief. The curse had claimed its first victim. As the years passed, the curse seemed to grow stronger, targeting the cast members in increasingly eerie ways. 00;06;31;15 - 00;07;01;15 Unknown Heather O'Rourke, the young actress who portrayed the iconic character Carol Anne Freeling, became a focal point of the curse. Tragically, at the age of 12, Heather fell gravely ill. Despite desperate attempts to save her life, she succumbed to a misdiagnosed intestinal obstruction. The curse had taken another innocent soul. The curse did not discriminate between the young and the old. 00;07;01;18 - 00;07;30;19 Unknown Julian Beck, the actor who portrayed the terrifying Reverend Kane, met a similar fate. Diagnosed with stomach cancer shortly after the release of Poltergeist to the other side, Julian's health deteriorated rapidly. His once robust figure withered away, leaving him a mere shadow of its former self. He passed away before the film was even released, becoming another victim of the curses evil. 00;07;30;21 - 00;07;58;13 Unknown As if these tragedies weren't enough. Will Sampson, who played the shaman Taylor in Poltergeist two, the other side encountered his own share of misfortune. A respected Native American actor and artist Wil battled serious health issues throughout his life. He underwent a heart and lung transplant, but sadly, his body rejected the new organs and he passed away shortly after the surgery. 00;07;58;15 - 00;08;28;00 Unknown The curse had claimed yet another life, leaving those involved with the film puzzled and terrified. Even those who worked behind the scenes were not spared from the curses grasp. Richard Lawson, an actor who portrayed Ryan in the movie, survived a harrowing plane crash in 1992. Miraculously, he and a few other passengers survived the tragedy, but the curse had left its mark on his life forever. 00;08;28;03 - 00;08;55;09 Unknown Throughout the years, rumors and speculation surrounded the Poltergeist franchise. Some claimed that the curse was a result of the filmmaker's decision to use real human skeletons in the film, an act that was believed to have angered the spirits. Others suggested that the themes and the subject matter of the movie had attracted negative energy that clung to those involved regardless of the cause. 00;08;55;12 - 00;09;23;08 Unknown The curse of the Poltergeist cast served as a haunting reminder of the delicate balance between the supernatural and the human realm. It stood as a testament to the power of storytelling and lingering presence of otherworldly in our lives today. The legacy of the curse lives on. The Poltergeist movies continue to captivate audiences, drawing in new generations with their chilling tales. 00;09;23;11 - 00;09;59;01 Unknown The tragedies that befell the cast serve as a somber reminder of the delicacy of life and the mysterious forces that may lie beyond our understanding. Yet, admits the darkness is also a glimmer of hope. The curse of the Poltergeist cast has also sparked conversations about the importance of honoring the memories of those lost. It has brought forth discussion about mental health, domestic violence and the need for improved safety measures in the entertainment industry. 00;09;59;03 - 00;10;36;13 Unknown They organized charity events, dedicating funds to causes that support victims of domestic violence and promote mental health initiatives. Through their efforts, they strive to transform the Christmas legacy into one of compassion, empathy and positive change. As time moves forward, the curses grip gradually weakens its presence fading into the archives of Hollywood lore. The tales of tragedy became a cautionary reminder not only for those involved in the film, but for all who encounter the supernatural. 00;10;36;15 - 00;11;01;02 Unknown So do you remember watching Poltergeist as a kid? I barely remember it. I don't remember that movie very well. See that one is stuck in my brain. Like, astonishingly, that's the second time you've asked me that on that movie. And that's. You haven't looked it up. We should watch that tonight. We should. We really should. Because I'd like a trip down memory lane. 00;11;01;03 - 00;11;26;01 Unknown I'm game. Yeah, because it's been probably 25 years since I've seen it. Maybe even longer. I don't know why I remember so much of that movie from them walking into the kitchen and all of their chairs being stacked on the table. To the little short lady that tries to get Caroline out of the abyss, you know, because she gets taken away from the family. 00;11;26;04 - 00;11;48;14 Unknown The whole skeleton thing, that freaks me out so that towards the end of the movie basically means spoiler alert. If you haven't watched this movie by now, get on it. Fast forward a little bit here, but at the end of the movie, basically this the reason it's haunted is because they built it on a Native American burial ground. 00;11;48;16 - 00;12;13;05 Unknown And at the end of the movie, it's down pouring in this like sinkhole forms and the mom gets pulled in or falls into the sinkhole and there's, like skeletons all around from boy. Yeah. And to find out after the fact that those were actually real skeletons. my God. That is so creepy. Probably. But for me, Jake Holmes, probably. 00;12;13;07 - 00;12;39;15 Unknown Yeah. But the one thing that they in my research of this that I forgot to include is the little brother, the little boy in the movie. There's a scene and I've talked about the scene before where he's sitting in his bed. There's this creepy old tree outsider's window and the lightning keeps illuminating it and he's getting really, really scared. 00;12;39;18 - 00;13;01;27 Unknown And he's counting one 1000 to 1000, three 1000 in between the lightning and thunder to see how close the storm is. And he flashes and looks at this clown sitting on his creepy ass clown, sitting on this chair in his room, and then the clown is gone. And then all of a sudden he gets attacked by this clown. 00;13;01;29 - 00;13;27;15 Unknown But the people, the producers of the movie, the filmmakers, thought he was just really acting really well. Well, this thing was an animatronic that actually malfunctioned, and it almost strangled him to death. really? Yeah. So those were, you know, some of the things that have terrorized me. My entire childhood. But I want to watch it again because I want to see it. 00;13;27;17 - 00;13;45;21 Unknown Watch it. I'm ready. I mean, just picture Caroline sitting there next to the TV. That way, the next time you ask me for information about this movie, I might have. Well, maybe I'll have some about the other ones. Actually, I'm sure you will, because I know. You know, I got one. I know you've seen some of these other ones, so. 00;13;45;24 - 00;14;14;23 Unknown But yeah, I just every time I think of Poltergeist, I just think of Carolyn sitting in front of that TV with their hands on it. And she looks back and she's like, They're here, Johnny. All right, on to the next one. We are going to cover the infamous Omen movie Curse. yeah. It's a tale that has intrigued and fascinated people for decades. 00;14;14;25 - 00;14;47;02 Unknown Legend has it that the production of The Omen, a horror film released in 1976, was plagued by a series of eerie and tragic events, leading some to believe that the movie itself was curse. It all began with the production's initial struggles to find a suitable filming location. The filmmakers eventually settled on a grand mansion in England, which they believed would be perfect for creating the eerie atmosphere required for the movie. 00;14;47;05 - 00;15;16;12 Unknown Little did they know that the mansion had its own dark history and a history that would intertwine with the making of The Omen. Shortly after the production began, a lightning strike hit the film's main star, Gregory Peck's airplane. Miraculously, no one was injured, but it set the stage for a series of bizarre incidences. You definitely don't want to be in a plane on these horror movies, apparently. 00;15;16;13 - 00;15;43;16 Unknown No, it seems to be like a trend. A trend? Yeah. There'll be more that will have this kind of same thing. It's freaky, Yaz. I mean, I always thought flying in a plane was safer than a car. But according to some of these curses, when you're in a horror, the crew experienced numerous accidents and mishaps during filming from car crashes to on set injuries. 00;15;43;19 - 00;16;14;10 Unknown Some attributed these events to mere coincidence, but others couldn't help but wonder if something more sinister was at play. Tragedy struck when the assistant to the film's executive producer was involved in a horrific car accident. His car collided with the truck, killing him instantly. Shortly after, a member of the special effects team, John Richardson, was involved in another car accident while working on a different film. 00;16;14;12 - 00;16;38;29 Unknown Tragically, his girlfriend was decapitated from the accident. Yikes. Yeah. And it mirrored a chilling scene from the Omen itself. So if that's not irony, it's another movie I haven't seen in, like, 25 years. I know, I know. I've seen it. But it's been a long time. I now I don't remember much from this movie as an omen with Damien. 00;16;39;03 - 00;17;09;01 Unknown I believe so. But there's some of them that I kind of mixed together, too, from back in that day, because a lot of them were similar. So we're going to have to make a list. Poltergeist The Omen is good, but the eerie incidents didn't stop there. The plane, again, that was chartered to transport several key members of the production, including the film's writer David Seltzer, was struck by lightning again during a flight. 00;17;09;08 - 00;17;45;11 Unknown Fortunately, everyone aboard survived, but the event only fueled the growing belief in the curse. I think I'd be a believer, right? That's two lightning strikes and two planes. I'm a believer. Perhaps the most chilling of all was the discovery that the son of the film's lead actor, Gregory Peck, committed suicide shortly before The Omen was released. This heartbreaking event added another layer of darkness to the film's already haunted reputation. 00;17;45;14 - 00;18;20;08 Unknown The rumored Curse of The Omen reached its peak when a tragic accident occurred during the film's marketing campaign. A private plane carrying several executives from the film's distributor crashed, killing everyone on board. So that was three plane incidences during the filming of this plane or on that movie. Now, this incident further fueled speculation that a malicious force was at work exacting its toll on those associated with the film. 00;18;20;11 - 00;18;52;11 Unknown While skeptics argue that these events were nothing more than unfortunate coincidences, the tale of the Omen movie Curse has endured, captivating the imaginations of moviegoers and horror enthusiasts alike. So that is crazy that there was that much. I mean, you've got the beheading of the girlfriend. You've got the suicide of a son, the three plane incidences, you know, thank God the first two, nobody died. 00;18;52;14 - 00;19;28;05 Unknown But again. No, thank you. Nope, Nope. All right. Now, the next one we have covered in a whole episode, you'll probably be able to add a little bit to this one. A little bit. So the next one we're going to cover is The Curse of The Exorcist movie. The Exorcist movie is a legendary and chilling phenomenon that has fascinated fans and movie enthusiasts for decades, considered one of the most cursed films and cinematic history. 00;19;28;07 - 00;19;59;27 Unknown The curse is said to have plagued the cast and crew involved in the production, leading to a series of unfortunate events and eerie occurrences. The curse seemed to take hold even before filming began. The set was mysteriously destroyed by a fire, which some attributed to supernatural forces, and it destroyed everything. But Regan's bedroom. Regan's bedroom? Yeah. Just going to ask you that because I remembered you covered that. 00;19;59;28 - 00;20;38;19 Unknown Yeah. So everything. But you didn't touch the room at all? my gosh. Everything on the set was gone. Trippy. Very trippy. Several key members of the production team, including the son of the author of the original novel experienced near fatal accidents and illnesses during the filming process, strange and unexplained incidents continued to unfold. The actress Ellen Burstyn, who portrayed the mother of the possessed girl, suffered a back injury when a rigged stunt went wrong. 00;20;38;21 - 00;21;05;22 Unknown So was that the one where Regan was like, projected her up against the wall or something, dear? Something like that. But I know that there was a crew member that was holding her on wires in the back and the crew member pulled on the cable so hard that it dislocated her back. my gosh. the pain. I can feel it. 00;21;05;24 - 00;21;34;12 Unknown Yeah. Life. Lifelong injury there. Yeah. Well, Linda Blair, the young actress who played the possessed girl, Reagan, was injured when a malfunctioning harness caused her to be violently thrown around during a particularly intense scene. So I'm assuming that was like a levitation scene or something where she kind of levitated off the bed or maybe the body was going all over the place convulsing. 00;21;34;14 - 00;22;04;27 Unknown Yeah. So she again, had a lifelong injury from this spinal injury. Yeah. The cast and crew also experienced peculiar happenings offset. Reportedly a lightning bolt struck a cross atop a nearby church, further fueling the belief that the supernatural forces were at work. And this cross apparently fell off the roof and right into the middle of the church that was filled with church goers. 00;22;04;27 - 00;22;42;19 Unknown And it didn't hit and it didn't hit a single soul. That is crazy. I'd be like retreat. Additionally, members of the production team reported strange sounds, objects moving on their own and inexpressible, inexplicable disturbances in their hotel rooms. Tragically, the deaths of several individuals associated with the film added to the mystique of the curse. Actor Jack McGauran, who played the role of Burke Dennings, passed away from influenza shortly after filming his scenes. 00;22;42;21 - 00;23;18;15 Unknown Max von Sydow, who portrayed the iconic father Merrin, experienced the loss of his brother during the production. The curse even extended beyond the immediate cast and crew. Reports surfaced of movie theaters showing The Exorcist experiencing mishaps such as fires and audience members fainting or becoming ill during screenings. It seemed as though the curse had the power to affect anyone connected to the film, even the audience members themselves. 00;23;18;17 - 00;23;54;20 Unknown While skeptics dismiss the curse as a mere coincidence or exaggerated folklore, the persistence and unsettling nature of the events surrounding The Exorcist continue to capture the imagined version. The curse has become an integral part of the film's legacy, adding an eerie mystique that has contributed to its enduring popularity. Yeah, so the opening of the film, when audience members went into the theater, sat down and started watching the film. 00;23;54;23 - 00;24;27;19 Unknown It was so bad that every single person in the whole movie theater was puking and do you think it was like kind of like a monkey? See? Monkey? Yeah. A chain reaction. One person starts puking, causing more people to start puking. I don't know, but that it's crazy. That was another tidbit that I had in my story. Well, I remember when you were researching your story, I wrote this story months and months ago, and I kind of put it on the back burner because Jeremy covered The Exorcist. 00;24;27;19 - 00;24;48;10 Unknown But then I decided I still wanted to do it because The Exorcist was only one small part of it. And so I loved the fact that he did a whole story on it. But I remember when you were watching, like, interviews and stuff, they were interviewing people coming out of the theater and they're like, I got so sick. 00;24;48;12 - 00;24;52;14 Unknown It was like, Really? Yeah, really. 00;24;52;16 - 00;25;12;18 Unknown Cinema. Yeah. And then I. I hadn't. I don't think I've ever watched The Exorcist from start to finish. I watched just bits and pieces when you were watching it because I was working on a different story and I remember watching bits and pieces of it growing up, but I think it scared me too bad to watch it when I was younger. 00;25;12;21 - 00;25;36;14 Unknown So that's another one that I would like to actually sit down. And the good one watch it and I mean it. It's still pretty freaky today. Yeah. 20 something years after filming it, still? Well, actually, it'd be more than that. It'd be closer to, what, 35, 40 years? But yeah, wasn't it it. I had it in the beginning though. 00;25;36;14 - 00;26;07;08 Unknown I don't remember when I'd film, but regardless. Yeah. It, it holds. It definitely holds. All right. So the back into it, whether the curse is a result of tapping into dark supernatural forces or simply a series of unfortunate coincidences, The legend of the Curse of The Exorcist serves as a haunting reminder of the power of cinema to blur the lines between fiction and really the. 00;26;07;10 - 00;26;44;08 Unknown It remains a captivating enigma for those who dare to explore the darker side of the silver screen. Yeah, so we're on to the crow. I think you're excited about this one. Let's see the movie The Crow is notorious for its association with the tragic and widely discussed curse. Released in 1994, the film was based on the comic book of the same name and stars Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. 00;26;44;10 - 00;27;19;17 Unknown In his final role. The curse that surrounds the production revolves around a series of unfortunate incidents that occurred during filming, leading to the untimely death of Brandon Lee and other eerie events during the filming of The Crow. A tragic accident took place on set in a scene involving a gun. A malfunction occurred and a projectile became lodged in the barrel when the gun was subsequently loaded with blanks for a later scene. 00;27;19;20 - 00;27;54;19 Unknown The force of the blank cartridge caused the lodged projectile to shoot out, striking Brandon Lee in the abdomen. You would think at this point that they would stop putting these blanks in these guns and figure out how to use it with CGI, because there's been a lot of accidents. Yeah. Or just maybe do better safety checks. I mean, because, you know, what was it just two years ago you had Alex Baldwin accidentally shoot another cast member and they know there's more. 00;27;54;19 - 00;28;22;08 Unknown I just can't think. Right. There's a lot of them. But I mean, that's only a couple of years ago. Right. I just can't believe that that could still happen these days. You know, with all the safety checks that they're supposed to do. Right. But so at this movie, you know, not only do you have this supposed movie curse that's affecting multiple people, but with the Bruce Lee story, there's also a curse involved in that. 00;28;22;11 - 00;28;55;23 Unknown So when Bruce Lee was just a kid, his father actually named him a girl's name and dressed him in dresses because his father believed that there was a curse that would take their first born child. Right. And so that was something that Bruce Lee kind of thought throughout his life up until he died, and that a lot of people think that that curse is what took Bruce Lee's life eventually, which, you know, and then and Lee was also the first born child. 00;28;55;24 - 00;29;25;01 Unknown Right? First male. Born child. Right. Yeah. Kind of crazy. It is kind of crazy. We when we were practicing and going over this story and stuff last night, Jeremy, you know, we went inside and he popped on what was the name of the movie The Real Bruce Lee story or something like that? Really good movie. And I had never heard of I mean, I knew who Bruce Lee was and I. 00;29;25;04 - 00;30;06;04 Unknown I knew of the Curse of the Crow, but I didn't realize that there was a curse on the Lee family, supposedly, as well. And I always found that interesting because, you know, the ages, too. I mean, Brandon Lee, when he died, he was 28 when Bruce Lee died, he was 32. Right. Well, and Bruce Lee's dad basically had him start martial arts at a very, very young age, because according to this curse, there was a warrior that was supposed that he was supposed to fight, and he wanted him to be able to defeat this warrior. 00;30;06;06 - 00;30;41;15 Unknown And so, yeah, that's how he, you know, learned his martial arts. And he had the martial arts to his wife and his children as well. Yeah, it's a pretty interesting story, you know? Yeah, I know that. You know, obviously there's a reason why Bruce Lee died. Right. It was a head injury or it wasn't a headache that he took a pellet steak and then he took a pill, which there's a lot of possibilities, I guess, because they were talking that he might have been using other drugs and then mixed the one drug. 00;30;41;16 - 00;31;05;20 Unknown Right. But the curse is what did it. We know it. It's all about the curse. It's all about the curse. All about the curse, all about the base. Well, I have to say, I actually made it through the whole movie. I only have. You blinked once. You mean. You mean I only had to wake you up once? Once I made it. 00;31;05;20 - 00;31;40;12 Unknown I did? Yeah, Which is a rare occurrence. I am infamous for. But ten, 15 minutes into the movie, start snoring. Lots. Well, anyway, getting back to the crow. Despite immediate medical attention, Lee tragically passed away from the injuries sustained during the accident. This incident alone created a sense of unease and tragedy surrounding the film. However, reports of other peculiar occurrences soon surfaced. 00;31;40;14 - 00;32;20;03 Unknown Some crew members claimed to have experienced unexplained phenomena and strange accidents during the production. Lights would inexplicably go out on their own. Equipment malfunctioned and crew members suffered injuries. The circumstances surrounding Brandon Lee's death and the alleged paranormal activity on set led to speculation that a curse was at play. The idea of a curse gained traction when it was revealed that a real crow used during filming as a symbol in the movie had attacked members of the production team. 00;32;20;06 - 00;32;55;10 Unknown hell no. Birds are creepy and freaky is how so? No. Alfred Hitchcock, then. I. You can ask Jeremy. I do not handle birds very well, especially when they dive. Bomb me when we're sitting on our dock. I laughed that whole movie. Did you? Alfred Hitchcock, Killer Bird, The Birds. Well, this further added to their belief that supernatural forces were at work seeking revenge or expressing their disapproval. 00;32;55;16 - 00;33;28;25 Unknown The Curse of the Crow movie also extended beyond the set. Several individuals involved in the production and promotion of the film tragically passed away shortly after its release. These included the movie's directors girlfriend who was killed in a car accident and a construction worker who fell to his death on a separate movie set. These incidents, while not directly connected to the production itself, contributed to the sense of doom and tragedy associated with the film. 00;33;28;28 - 00;47;51;13 Unknown Despite the tragic events and eerie coincidences, skeptics argue that the curse of the crow can be explained by a combination of unfortunate accidents, human error and coincidences. However, the curse has become deeply ingrained in popular culture and has added an air of darkness and mystique to the legacy of the film. Don't, don't, don't. So that one was it was kind of cool to, like I said, go back and watch that movie that Jeremy put on last night to kind of get a little.