The Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the box office for a decade, and many have tried to recreate that success by creating their own cinematic universes – and Warner Bros. with New Line Cinema is no exception.
In 2013, they released a supernatural horror called The Conjuring, which grossed over $ 300 million worldwide. It spawned a direct sequel and then five more spin-off films. All of these movies culminated with the recent release of The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It in theaters and on HBO Max. This entry even pushed The Conjuring Universe to surpass the $ 2 billion box office mark.
The Conjuring films themselves tell the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, an actual couple who began investigating paranormal activity in the 1960s. The first two Conjuring films are based on files of some of their most terrifying experiences, while the other universe films, including Annabelle and The Nun, serve as origin stories for the demonic entities that haunt the Warrens.
You can watch all The Conjuring Universe movies in the order of their theatrical release. It’s always fun. But a more interesting and perhaps even horrifying viewing experience is watching them in the order of the events that occur.
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The story of Ed and Lorraine Warren
Edward Warren Miney (September 7, 1926 – August 23, 2006) and Lorraine Rita Warren (born- January 31, 1927 died on April 18 , 2019in Monroe) are a couple of American paranormal researchers and authors. Their reports of major cases of paranormal activity have forged their fame, and their stories have inspired many Hollywood books and films.
Ed was a WWII US Navy veteran and former police officer who went on to become a self-taught and self-proclaimed demonologist, author, and lecturer. Lorraine is a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and medium who worked closely with her husband. Together, they claimed to have worked on over 10,000 paranormal cases.
In 1952, the Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research, the oldest group of ghost hunters in New England. They have written many books on the paranormal and on their private investigations into many reported cases of paranormal activity.
The couple decided to open a museum in the early 1980s, after their collection of haunted items started to pile up. This museum is located in the basement of the Warren Residence in Monroe, Connecticut, and contains haunted artifacts and images taken during their investigations and exorcisms all over the world.
What happened to Ed and Lorraine Warren?
Ed Warren died on August 23, 2006, and Lorraine Warren ceased active investigations shortly thereafter. She nevertheless remains a consultant with the New England Society for Psychic Research. According to the official Warrens website, “she will pass the torch to her son-in-law, Tony Spera, who has worked with Ed and Lorraine Warren for over thirty years.”
Ed and Lorraine have been criticized a lot over the years by many skeptics who say they are good at telling ghost stories, but unable to provide any real evidence. Anyway, it is undeniable that this couple of investigators left their mark on the paranormal world. Their legacy is solidified by the dozens of horror films and TV series that have drawn inspiration from their many instances of demonic possessions.
Some of their most significant paranormal investigations
Annabelle
According to the Warrens, in 1970 two roommates claimed that their Raggedy Ann doll was possessed by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle Higgins. The Warrens took the doll, telling the roommates that it was “manipulated by an inhuman presence,” and exhibited it at the family’s “Occult Museum”. Several horror films are inspired by this story of the Warrens: Annabelle, Conjuring: The Warren Files and Annabelle 2: Creation of Evil.
Amityville Horror
The Warrens are arguably best known for their involvement in the 1976 Amityville Horror affair, in which New York couple George and Kathy Lutz claimed their house was haunted by a violent and demonic presence so intense that it ended up. by driving them out of their homes. The authors of the book Amityville Horror Conspiracy, Stephen and Roxanne Kaplan, called the case a “hoax.” But Lorraine Warren told a reporter from The Express-Times newspaper that the Amityville Horror case was not a hoax.
The Arne Johnson case
In 1981, Arne Johnson was charged with killing his owner, Alan Bono. Ed and Lorraine Warren had been called in before the murder to deal with the alleged demonic possession of Johnson’s fiancée’s younger brother. The Warrens went on to claim that Johnson was also possessed. At trial, Johnson attempted to plead not guilty by reason of demonic possession, but his plea was unsuccessful. The case was described in the book The Devil in Connecticut published in 1983 by Gerald Brittle.
Five terrifying cases that made paranormal expert Lorraine Warren famous
Thursday, April 18, 2019, the medium died at the age of 92. All her life she has traveled the world in search of occult phenomena. We has selected five of them that are sure to give you goosebumps.
Amityville Haunted House
On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family: his parents, and his four siblings. It will take no less than a year for the house of drama to find a taker. The new inhabitants, George Lutz, Kathy Lutz and their three children, stayed there only 28 days. Terrified by the paranormal phenomena occurring there, they called on the Warren couple. There, the couple Ed and Lorraine witnessed strange voices, deafening noises and clouds of insects appearing out of nowhere. In an interview with Yahoo in 2013, the medium confided that this affair was by far the worst she has ever had to live.
The scary Annabelle
Buying vintage and second-hand items is rarely a bad idea. Except, perhaps, when it comes to an evil doll. Unfortunately, two American roommates learned this the hard way, bringing an old Raggedy Ann home with her. Quickly, they realized that what they thought was an innocent object was actually possessed by an evil spirit from a seven-year-old girl: Annabelle Higgins. On site, the Warren couple blessed the apartment, before taking the doll. This one still rests today in the museum of the occult, installed behind the house of Lorraine Warren. The latter preferred not to look her in the eye, for fear of being haunted in turn.
The poltergeist case
London Branch to one of the most controversial cases of the entire career of Warren. In 1977, the couple flew to the London suburbs to settle a poltergeist affair – defined by Larousse as “a spontaneous and repetitive paranormal phenomenon, manifested by movements or levitations of objects, by blows, etc.” Convinced that a little girl was indeed possessed by the demon, the couple had to face criticism, convinced that all this was really just the prank of a child who needed attention.
The Perron family
It all started in 1736, when a Bathsheba Thayer moved with her four children to a large house in Harrisville, Rhode Island. Considered a satanist by the inhabitants of the city, she would have murdered three of her children before hanging herself at the bottom of her 200 hectare garden. Many years later, Roger and Carolyn Perronsettled there with their five daughters. Without, of course, knowing the past of their new home sweet home. Quickly, a spirit took possession of the place – rumors have it that it was the former owner’s. This one attacked most often the mother of the family, to the point that the latter decided to call the Warrens. Unfortunately, their presence only made matters worse. The couple were subsequently asked to leave the premises, without being able to resolve the issue.
The werewolf man
As a child, Bill Ramsey was a boy like any other. It was not until he blows out his nine candles for him to start showing a strange behavior. As an adult, he will explain being possessed by a werewolf demon. Once married, he will face countless nightmares, and will develop inhuman behavior. After having attacked one of his friends in a car, he will be interned for several years in a psychiatric hospital. The Warrens, who had heard of the affair, traveled to Essex, England, accompanied by a priest. It was there that they performed an exorcism. The latter was filmed, and a handful of videos are said to be available on the internet – no, we didn’t search because it’s scary.
The Conjuring: How to Watch Movies in Chronological Order
The couple Lorraine and Ed Warren did exist. Specializing in the occult sciences, they have helped solve cases of possessions, exorcisms and ghosts! We are talking about 4000 stories, each more terrifying than the next. Their most famous case remains the Amityville Haunted House in 1975. It has the virtues of a medium. He defines himself more as a ” demonologist “. Together, they wrote many books but the story told in ” The Conjuring ” comes from a work written by Andrea Perron, one of the five daughters of the family who lived the events.
The nun
The Nun is first set in The Conjuring Universe – in 1952 in a monastery in Romania. After a resident finds the body of a nun in the tracks of the monastery, the Vatican sends Father Burke (Demian Bichir) and Irene (Taissa Farmiga), a young nun who has not yet taken her vows, to investigate. Once there, the couple must explore the centuries-old complex and the origins of a demon named Valak.
Now, it’s not official, but the internet seems to believe that Irene could be Lorraine Warren. The actors playing the two characters are sisters and look alike. The characters themselves are said to be the same age, are both religious, and have visions. As we said, this has not been confirmed, but it is something to keep in mind as you watch The Conjuring Universe, the movies that everyone should see at least once, and connect dots.
Gary Dauberman wrote The Nun, and it was directed by Corin Hardy. Dauberman is also known for creating the new IT and IT: Chapter Two.
Annabelle: Creation
Set in 1955, Annabelle: Creation is actually a prequel to Annabelle from 2014. It tells the story of a doll maker named Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife (Miranda Otto). After a local orphanage closed, they opened their home to six orphans and Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman). But, since this is a horror film, the orphans are urged not to enter the bedroom of the late Mullins’ daughter. Almost immediately, a polio-stricken girl, Janice (Talitha Bateman), finds a way in and unleashes a once-contained evil.
Keep an eye out for clues and links to other universe movies. For example, we spotted Valak, as a demonic nun, in a photo. Additionally, Gary Dauberman wrote Anabelle: Creation and Annabelle, while David Sanberg, who also directed Shazam and Lights Out, directed this film.
Annabelle
Set 12 years after Anabelle: Creation, Annabelle’s first film is directed by John Leonetti and begins with a young doctor (Ward Horton) gifting his pregnant wife, Mia (Annabelle Wallis), a rare doll – Annabelle – which she wishes to finish. her incredibly spooky doll collection. Soon after, the couple experience a horrific tragedy, forcing them to throw the doll away and flee to a new apartment. But Annabelle follows them. Janice, the girl with polio in Anabelle: Creation, also makes an appearance in this film, although she looks nothing like herself.
The Conjuring
The first movie in The Conjuring Universe is actually the fourth movie, chronologically. He’s also the first to focus on Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga). They come to the aid of the Perron family, who have moved into an old farmhouse and have begun to suffer from violent paranormal attacks. We also see a bit of Annabelle, which is stored in the Warrens Artifact Room.
James Wan, co-creator of the Saw and Insidious franchises and producer of most of The Conjuring Universe films, directed The Conjuring. But the script for the film was written by brothers Chad and Carey Hayes.
Annabelle Comes Home
Annabelle Comes Home shows the immediate aftermath of the Warrens taking Annabelle to the nurses who received the doll and now claims that this is the source of the paranormal activity they experienced. The story then jumps into the future, roughly a year after the events of The Conjuring, and we see the Warrens hiring Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman) as a babysitter for their daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace).
Because babysitters can never have a good quiet evening in horror movies, Annabelle and several other spirits and demons locked in the Artifact Room accidentally escape over the course of a single night – and all while the Warrens are away from home at their home. Gary Dauberman wrote this episode of Annabelle again, starring James Wan, and he directed it as well.
The Curse of La Llorona
The Curse of La Llorona takes place in 1977 and follows widowed social worker Anna Garcia (Linda Cardellini). After Anna investigates the home of a traumatized family, she recommends that two young boys be taken away from their mother, Patricia (Patricia Velásquez). When the boys are found dead that night, she soon learns that their mother was protecting them from a vengeful Mexican spirit who is now after her children, Samantha (Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen) and Chris (Roman Christou).
There is a priest in this movie who also appeared in Annabelle. We also briefly hear about the Warrens in one scene. But, other than that, The Curse of La Llorona is more of a standalone production that’s technically part of The Conjuring Universe, but it doesn’t really feel like it.
Michael Chaves wrote this film, while Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis directed it.
The Conjuring 2
The Conjuring 2 resumes with the Warrens following an investigation into the Amityville murders and a subsequent media storm. It is set primarily in the London suburb of Enfield and stars a single mother, Peggy Hodgson (Frances OConnor) and her family. They begin to experience paranormal events after Peggy’s daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe) plays with a ouija board. Fortunately, the Warrens can help.
The Conjuring 2 really ties into The Nun, but we don’t want to say too much, so you’ll only have to watch them both to find out how.
Additionally, James Wan returned to direct The Conjuring 2. It was written by Chad and Carey Hayes, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Wan.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The latest installment of The Conjuring Universe was released on June 4, 2021 on HBO Max and in theaters. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Warrens to help defend Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who in 1981 claimed his innocence against a murder charge by claiming he was possessed by a demon. The Warrens soon discover that there is a whole new demonic threat they will have to face. Michael Chaves, who made The Curse of La Llorona, directed this film, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick as screenwriter.
7 Paranormal investigations by Real Ed and Lorraine Warren that inspired the Conjuring franchise
Ed and Lorraine Warren; two of the most renowned paranormal investigators in American history. While now known to a wider audience for their characterizations in the hugely successful franchise from The Conjuring films, the Connecticut natives racked up nearly four decades of paranormal investigations – long before the current wave of reality based on ‘ghost hunting’ TV shows to watch on Netflix or HBO. So, without further hesitation, let’s take a look at seven of the most notorious investigations led by Ed and Lorraine Warren.
“The fear of the Smurf”
The Smurl Haunting is named so, for Jack and Janet Smurl. They claimed that a demon haunted their home in West Pittston, Pa. Between 1974 and 1989. The demon allegedly threw the family dog into a wall and pushed their daughter down the stairs. The Warrens arrived at the Smurls in 1986 to conduct their own investigation. Ed Warren described the demonic presence as “very powerful” and claimed that the entity was able to shake mirrors and move furniture. Warren claimed to have recorded audio footage of the blows and beatings caused by the demon.
“The Enfield poltergeist”
This well-known affair was the subject of The Conjuring 2. This case saw the Warrens fly overseas to London, England, to investigate suspected battering activity in the north London Borough of Enfield. Peggy Hodgson – a single mother – initially called the police after two of her four children reported hitting the walls. Peggy herself claimed to have seen furniture move without any explanation. This was apparently also corroborated by a police officer who visited the house.
Ed and Lorraine Warren were convinced that the events were supernatural in origin and seemed to focus primarily on two of Peggy Hodgson’s teenage daughters – the girls at times seemingly seemingly levitating off the ground. It should be noted, however, that the two daughters, Margaret and Janet Hodgson, later admitted to playing pranks on investigators. This haunting also formed the plot of a Sky television series, screened in 2015; the three-part miniseries, The Haunting of Enfield.
“The house of the conspiracy”
The house in question, located in Harrisville Rhode Island, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman believed to be a witch. The commonly accepted story claims that the woman killed herself and her son in order to haunt the future occupants of the house. The Warrens’ investigation took place in 1974 when they made repeated visits to the property to investigate reports of a malicious entity capable of lifting beds, while filling the air with a smell of rotting flesh.
This particular was of course the basis of the first titular film in the series, The Conjuring. While Ed Warren had already passed away during production of the film, Lorraine Warren served as a consultant on the project. Of that investigation from a long time ago, she admitted, “The things that happened there were incredibly scary. It still affects me to talk about it today. “
“Annabelle”
An affair that absolutely does not need to be presented, as it has started a series of spin-offs set in The Conjuring universe. Not quite the creepy doll depicted in the movies, real life Annabel was a pretty ordinary Raggedy Ann doll. However, this doll would have been haunted.
Originally given as a gift to a nursing student in 1970, the doll apparently began to behave strangely. A psychic informed the nursing student that the doll was haunted by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle. Despite the student and her roommate’s best efforts to come to terms with and even take care of the allegedly haunted doll, Annabelle repeatedly exhibited malicious and frightening behavior.
The Warrens were called in to investigate the doll. After their investigation was completed, the Warrens said the doll was possessed by demons – and moved it to secure it at their own museum in Monroe, Connecticut. A brief rumor surfaced in 2020 claiming that Annabelle had somehow escaped from her enclosure at the Warren Museum, although it should be noted that the rumors were quickly hushed up. Annabelle remains safe inside her enclosure.
“The Snedeker House”
A former funeral home, the Warrens arrived in 1986 to conduct their investigation. The owners of the house had claimed that their son was suffering from violent personality changes as a result of a demonic presence in the house. The veracity of these claims must be questioned, however, given the reported possibility that the son suffered from schizophrenia.
In addition, other investigators found the case particularly trying. Horror writer Ray Garton wrote his own account of the alleged haunting, Into a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting(1992). In this non-fiction novel, co-written with Ed Warren, Lorraine Warren, Al Snedeker and Carmen Snedeker, Garton spoke of his frustration in trying to piece together the true story. Garton said, “The family involved, who were going through serious issues like alcoholism and drug addiction, couldn’t keep their story straight, and I became very frustrated; it’s hard to write a non-fiction book when everyone involved tells you different stories ”. Of Lorraine Warren, Garton was quoted as saying, “If she told me the sun would rise tomorrow morning, I would have a second opinion”. The phenomenon at home has been documented through a series of media, including the 2009 feature film, The Haunting Connecticut.
“Amityville”
Another case that requires absolutely no introduction. If the Amityville horror as it became known, became a full-fledged multi-million dollar franchise, you could be forgiven for thinking that the films were their own brand of fiction. However, it is also probably the most publicized case of the investigations carried out by the Warrens.
Paranormal events at George and Kathy Lutz’s home apparently culminated in their flight from their Long Island home in 1975. A year before George and Kath arrived at the home, it was reported that Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered all six of his family members with a gun. The Warrens investigated the house at length and were confident enough in their findings to declare the house haunted. However, further investigations have since concluded that the alleged paranormal activity in the house was in all likelihood a hoax.
The case received enough media coverage in 1977 to warrant a book, The Amityville Horror – adapted into film adaptations of the same name in 1979 and 2005. Interestingly, attorney William Weber said that with the occupants of home and author of The Amityville Horror, Jay Anson, they invented the horror story surrounding the house “over many bottles of wine”. The Conjuring 2 would be a retelling of Ed and Lorraine’s account of what happened during the Amityville horror.
“The devil made me do it”
Perhaps it is appropriate to close our list with the most recent entry in The Conjuring series. The trial of a certain Arne Cheyenne Johnson in 1981 would become better known as the “The Devil Made Me Do It” case. For the US justice system, this would be the very first time that a defendant has claimed “demonic possession” as a central element of the defense.
Johnson had been accused of killing his owner, Alan Bono. Prior to that, the Warrens had been called in to investigate a demonic entity apparently possessing Johnson’s fiancée’s younger brother. The Glatzel family had claimed that 11-year-old David Glatzel was possessed by a demon. Lorraine claimed David would levitate, stop breathing for inexplicable periods of time, speak in foreign languages, and even share premonitory visions – including Johnson’s future manslaughter. The demon, after being exorcised from David’s body, is said to have taken up residence inside Arne Johnson, directly contributing to the manslaughter of owner Alan Bono.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was released in the UK on May 26, 2021 and in the US on June 4, 2021. As part of its plans for all 2021 US releases, The Conjuring : The Devil Made Me Do It will also be available to stream on the HBO Max service for a month. Thereafter, the film will be withdrawn from HBO Max until the regular national release period.
