The opening to the well is shown as kept open with a pair of pliers. Later, when Clay opens it fully, the stench is overwhelming. Had there been such a stench, keeping the lid open even slightly would have allowed the full stench to fill the basement and eventually permeate the entire house.
Twice the fire/police were called and then were "cancelled". Emergency services will always show up despite a call to cancel. Yet, none showed up. Bogus.
They are told during the first visit that the pliers are in the well lid because if it shuts all the way, it requires a special tool to open and the lid is very heavy. Sonny later removes the well lid, and then replaces it flat without the pliers. In the final scene later that night, he is in the basement and the pliers are wedged back under the lid.
Clay and his wife are wearing exactly the same clothes on their 'second' visit showing it was filmed the same day.
The house had a large tree in the front yard in the early 2000s that does not appear the in mocked up newspaper report.