The True Story Behind Every Conjuring Movie Explained (A Shocking Amount Was Actually Real)

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Back in 2013, when James Wan’s “The Conjuring” hit theaters, it left an indelible impression with its tagline, “based on a true story.” This differentiating factor, rooted in the authentic case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, distinguished it from the average haunted house movie blockbusters. And boy, did the marketing strategy pay off! What started as a standalone film in 2013 has now expanded into a sprawling multimedia franchise with a staggering value of over $2.3 billion. As a fan, I can’t help but marvel at the success and immersion this concept has brought to life.

Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are no longer alive, were known for documenting supposed hauntings, possessions, and demonic activity throughout their lives. In the films based on their experiences, portrayed by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, a balance is struck between authentic historical details and genre expectations, with each movie upping the ante. With the addition of The Conjuring: Last Rites to the series, it’s an ideal opportunity to revisit the real-life events that inspired each film and delve into where the movies might have embellished the truth.

1) The Conjuring

The Perron family’s unusual story took off in 1971 when they settled into an antique farmhouse in Rhode Island. Strange occurrences surfaced with family members claiming to hear disembodied voices and a nauseating odor, which eventually led them to seek help. Their concern grew so much that they contacted Ed and Lorraine, who upon inspection, identified Bathsheba Sherman – a woman from the 19th century allegedly practicing witchcraft – as the suspected supernatural source of these disturbances.

In her memoir “House of Darkness House of Light,” Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter of the family featured in the movie, shares that while it portrays a dramatic exorcism, no such event occurred in reality. Instead, there was a séance where she recalls seeing her mother speaking in an unknown language and seemingly floating in her seat. Eventually, they left their home in 1980. Contrary to what the film suggests, local cemeteries have gravestones for Sherman, but historical documents do not confirm the movie’s assertions about child sacrifices or cursed grounds on that property.

2) The Conjuring 2

The sequel shifts focus to the notorious Enfield Poltergeist incident in London, where a single mother named Peggy Hodgson reported strange occurrences in her home, including furniture moving on its own and a curtain attempting to choke her. Even the police confirmed her story, having witnessed chairs move independently. Matters escalated when Janet, aged 11, claimed to be possessed, speaking with the voice of a deceased man named Bill Wilkins who had previously lived in the house. The Warrens, Ed and Lorraine, were called upon to investigate, with the documentary for The Conjuring 2 labeling this case as one of their most harrowing experiences.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share some intriguing insights about the events that unfolded. The genuine haunting I experienced stretched over approximately 18 months and lacked a dramatic finale as seen in movies. However, the silver screen adaptation compacted these occurrences into a concise timeline and transformed the story into a confrontation with the demon Valak, a character concocted for the film that later anchored “The Nun” spin-offs. Another figure of terror, the Crooked Man, who tormented the children in the movie, was also born in the imagination of Hollywood. In an interview with ITV, Janet herself confessed to fabricating some incidents “once or twice” to assess whether investigators would uncover the truth. The controversial photographs showing her seemingly levitating still spark heated debates today.

3) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

In 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson left a mark in court history as his legal team claimed that he was driven to commit murder due to demonic possession. This violent incident started with young David Glatzel displaying strange and unusual behaviors which his family believed were caused by supernatural forces. Later, during an exorcism carried out by the Warrens, Johnson voluntarily challenged the demon to take over him instead of David. Shortly afterwards, Johnson fatally stabbed his landlord following a dispute.

The court case attracted widespread media coverage as Johnson’s legal team endeavored to establish something that was seemingly impossible. The Warrens even provided testimonies supporting him; however, Johnson ended up being found guilty of manslaughter and served five years behind bars. The movie takes the sensational case a step further by weaving an intricate conspiracy involving Satanic cults and witchcraft, imparting a spooky folk horror touch, but this narrative twist lacks factual support in the actual case events.

4) The Conjuring: Last Rites

The final installment of the latest Conjuring movie is heavily influenced by the genuine story of the Smurl family, often regarded as one of the most harrowing incidents in the Warrens’ professional history. In 1973, Jack and Janet Smurl settled into a Pennsylvania duplex. Almost as soon as they moved in, they began reporting strange occurrences: mysterious odors without an identifiable source, repetitive pounding in threes, terrifying screams, and apparitions of shadows. The family asserted that one of their daughters was violently thrown down the stairs, and that Jack himself suffered from physical and sexual attacks by a malevolent spirit. Despite local clergy attempts to help, nothing seemed to work.

Due to the intense media coverage, the Warrens became aware of the situation. Ed and Lorraine asserted they recorded unsettling occurrences during their nighttime investigations, such as growls, floating objects, and brutal assaults. With the approval of their bishop, numerous exorcisms were carried out; however, each attempt was unsuccessful. Eventually, the Smurls found tranquility after departing from their residence in 1988. In contrast to the neat resolutions typically depicted on television, this actual haunting lasted for 15 years without a definitive resolution.

The Smurl family’s absence might have prevented the entire Conjuring franchise from existing. Their story was initially dramatized in the 1991 TV movie titled “The Haunted,” which was a personal account by Jack Smurl himself. In an interview with Daily Dead, Michael Chaves (director of Devil Made Me Do It and Last Rites) stated that this very TV movie served as James Wan’s (director of the first two Conjuring films) introduction to the Warrens and their cases.

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2025-09-10 20:13