The “Devil Made Me Do It” case, which unfolded in 1981, centers around Arne Cheyenne Johnson. He infamously used demonic possession as his defense in the murder of his landlord. This historic and bizarre legal case saw supernatural elements collide with the courtroom.
A 2021 horror movie, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” featuring paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, has already explored this chilling tale. Netflix now offers its own documentary, titled “The Devil On Trial”, which delves into the eerie events with interviews of those directly involved in the real-life case. “When I was eleven, I was possessed by the devil” – the trailer for the documentary begins with this dramatic declaration by an interviewee.
In the official trailer for the Netflix documentary, viewers get a glimpse of Arne Cheyenne Johnson’s testimony, which has already sparked debate in the comments section of YouTube. Some might lean towards believing Arne was genuinely possessed, while others see him as a murderer who cunningly shifted blame onto the supernatural. Then are others who think it could’ve been a case of schizophrenia and that Arne needed the intervention of mental health experts and not exorcists.
However, the documentary might not bring entirely fresh insights, aside from previously unseen photographs and unheard interviews with key figures. Nevertheless, many horror enthusiasts are excited about firsthand accounts shedding light on what truly transpired—or at least what they believe did. “The Devil On Trial” will be available to stream on October 17.
Watch the trailer below.