Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Final Case Inspires The Conjuring Finale

The Conjuring: Last Rites, the latest and final installment of the Conjuring series, dramatizes the true story of the Smurl family haunting, one of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren's most infamous cases. The Smurl family moved into a house in West Pittston, Pennsylvania in 1973 after being displaced by flooding from Hurricane Agnes, and began experiencing minor disturbances that escalated into violent and terrifying paranormal activity by the mid-1980s. Ed and Lorraine Warren were called to investigate the case in 1986 and corroborated the family's claims of a malevolent presence, though the film takes creative liberties such as adding a mirror as a catalyst and compressing timelines for dramatic effect. The Warrens are portrayed as heroic figures in the film, but they have faced skepticism about their work, with some critics questioning the authenticity of their cases and their role as entertainers. The Conjuring franchise has become the most lucrative horror franchise in history, blending real-life hauntings with family drama and supernatural terror to captivate audiences worldwide. Despite the controversy, the Warrens' investigations left a lasting impact on the families involved and popular culture's portrayal of the paranormal.