In 1984, a case of alleged demonic possession occurred in Durango; 37 years later, this event, which is still mysterious, inspired the film “Karem, the possession”, filmed precisely in Durango territory in 2019, and which was released in 2021.
It is known that the director, Henry Bedwell, learned the story by chance when a friend of his, interested in the subject of exorcisms, discovered the disturbing story of a girl under 15 years old. According to the testimony, the alleged possession of the young woman triggered a series of inexplicable events that left a deep mark on the family with the surname Briseño.
True story of an exorcism in Durango from which a film was made
Thus, Henry Bedwell based himself on local stories and even investigated police files to give realism to the story. The mystery of what happened remains in force to this day.
Legend has it that the Briseño family, originally from the United States, moved to Durango in search of a new life, settling in an old house that, according to rumors from the inhabitants, was cursed.
The local community viewed the newcomers with suspicion, as their distant attitude and lack of attachment to religious traditions made them seem untrustworthy. The family, with atheistic beliefs, ignored the rumors about their home and stayed away from the social life of the town.
Karem, the youngest daughter, was the one who suffered the most from this isolation. At school she was the target of mockery and harassment by her classmates, which led her to take refuge in her own world. In that context, she began to talk about an “imaginary friend” called Naro, whom she claimed to have met one night after following some whispers that led her to the basement of her house.
Over time, her behavior changed drastically. From being a withdrawn and solitary girl, she went on to display aggressive attitudes towards her classmates and her own family. On several occasions, those around her claimed that her voice transformed into a guttural and chilling tone, as if someone else was speaking through her.
Among the most terrifying events told about Karem, there is an incident that occurred at her school, where the paper dolls they made in a school activity supposedly began to move on their own in front of the students and teachers.
Fear grew in the community, and the inhabitants, convinced that Karem was possessed, insisted on performing an exorcism on her. However, her parents flatly refused and opted to seek medical help, without obtaining satisfactory answers. The situation became even darker when, in 1984, members of the Briseño family were found dead inside their own home under strange circumstances, further fueling the theory of demonic possession.
The film based on this event was released in 2021, reviving interest in this case that remains a source of mystery.
