The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to hit theatres on September 5, 2025, and will be the final instalment of the Conjuring Universe, which has spooked generations of moviegoers. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as the demon experts and paranormal investigators, ‘Ed’ and ‘Lorraine Warren’. No strangers to demonic possessions, this time, the ghost-hunting couple is going to attempt to help the Smurl family escape the clutches of an evil entity.
As the previous movies of the Conjuring Universe have been based on true paranormal stories that the real-life ‘Ed Warren’ and ‘Lorraine Warren’ encountered, this final chapter in the story is also based on true events that transpired in the Smurl haunting. Before The Conjuring: Last Rites hits the big screens, here’s everything to know about the story on which it is based.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is based on the Smurl haunting
Janet and Jack Smurl, along with their four daughters, moved into a duplex house on Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania in 1973. However, the family of five was soon disturbed by an unseen presence that caused a lot of commotion around the house and became increasingly aggressive. Over time, the family members claimed that the presence would even physically assault them. After more than a decade of experiencing these hauntings, paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren finally made their way to help the Smurl family.
In the trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites, ‘Lorraine’, who has been showcased as being clairvoyant, says to ‘Ed’ that she feels an ‘evil’ is there in the attic. She also reveals to the family that the ‘thing’ which has taken over their house is a demon. Similarly, when the real-life Ed and Lorraine investigated the Smurl residence, they reportedly claimed that the entity was ‘very powerful’. In a 1986 interview, Jack Smurl told to Lorraine:
“Up until a year ago, I thought that these type of things only happened in movies. And I always felt, of course, that movies were, you know, always overstated to begin with, so I wasn’t really a believer.”
What happened to the Smurl family shown in The Conjuring: Last Rites?
The real-life Smurl family, depicted in the upcoming Conjuring film, stated that several priests had attempted to perform exorcisms, but they remained unsuccessful. Ed and Lorraine also said that they tried to get the entity out by praying, however it still lurked around and allegedly sent them messages to ‘get out’. The investigating couple also concluded that the family was being haunted by four entities. Three spirits and a demon who was controlling them to ‘destroy’ the family. Most reports allege that the Warrens could not help the Smurl family to get rid of their supernatural problems.
However, a nearby pastor later claimed that things had gone back to normal after an intense prayer session by the Smurls. However, Janet Smurl, on the contrary, said that they still heard noises and saw shadows. In 1988, the Smurl family left the house. Debra Owens, the next resident of the house, later stated to reporters that she never encountered anything paranormal.
More about The Conjuring: Last Rites
The Conjuring franchise is coming to a close with the upcoming movie, slated for release on September 5, 2025. The spine-chilling adventures of ‘Ed’ and ‘Lorraine’, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, will conclude the popular Smurl haunting. Directed by Michael Chaves, the film also stars Rebecca Calder as ‘Janet Smurl’ and Elliot Cowan as ‘Jack Smurl’.
What are your thoughts on the real story that inspired The Conjuring: Last Rites? Let us know.
Also Read: After Glen Powell, Is Sydney Sweeney Now Dating Scooter Braun? Here’s What We Know About It