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7 Unsettling Facts Proving 'The Conjuring' Is Based On A True Story (But Not The One You Think)

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The question of whether The Conjuring is based on a true story is more complex than a simple yes or no. As of December 18, 2025, the answer remains a resounding 'yes,' but the real-life events that inspired the massive cinematic universe are far more terrifying, and often more controversial, than their Hollywood adaptations.

The original 2013 film centered on the 1971 haunting of the Perron family, but with the franchise expanding, the "true story" now encompasses a vast, documented, and fiercely debated legacy of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, including the upcoming 2025 film which draws from an entirely different, equally disturbing case.

The Controversial Profile of Ed and Lorraine Warren

The foundation of the entire Conjuring Universe rests on the work of Edward and Lorraine Warren, two of the most famous and controversial figures in the history of paranormal investigation. Their life story is a critical piece of the puzzle, blurring the lines between fact, faith, and fabrication.

Here is a complete biographical profile of the couple:

  • Edward Warren Miney: Born September 7, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was a self-taught demonologist and author. He passed away on August 23, 2006.
  • Lorraine Rita Warren (née Moran): Born January 31, 1927. She claimed to be a professional clairvoyant and medium who possessed the ability to sense demonic presences. She passed away on April 18, 2019.
  • Meeting and Marriage: The couple met in 1944 when they were teenagers and married shortly after.
  • Founding NESPR: In 1952, they founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), one of the oldest ghost-hunting groups in New England.
  • Daughter and Legacy: They had one daughter, Judy Warren, whose husband, Tony Spera, continues to manage the Warrens' legacy and their famous Occult Museum.
  • Notable Cases: Their most famous investigations include the Perron family haunting, the Amityville Horror, the Enfield Poltergeist, and the Smurl family haunting, all of which inspired the films.

The Perron Family Haunting: Fact vs. Hollywood Fiction

The first The Conjuring movie is based on the experiences of Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters after moving into the Harrisville farmhouse in Rhode Island in 1971.

While the film is loosely based on their experiences, the majority of the terrifying on-screen events were heavily fictionalized for dramatic effect.

The Real-Life Disturbances at the Harrisville Farmhouse

The Perron family lived in the house for a decade, from 1971 to 1980, and their daughter, Andrea Perron, has confirmed that the house was indeed haunted by numerous spirits.

  • The Spirits: The family claimed to have encountered many spirits, some benign and some malevolent. The most infamous was Bathsheba Sherman, a woman who allegedly lived in the house in the 19th century and was accused of being a witch.
  • Physical Attacks: Carolyn Perron claimed to have been physically attacked, describing a spirit that slapped her and left a bruise. This is a point of overlap with the film's depiction of a demonic possession.
  • The Exorcism Attempt: The film's climax, featuring a dramatic exorcism, is a significant point of contention. The Warrens did perform a séance in the house, which Andrea Perron describes as a terrifying ordeal that ended with her mother, Carolyn, speaking in a language not her own and levitating. The family eventually asked the Warrens to leave.
  • The End of the Haunting: Unlike the movie, which shows the Perrons leaving immediately, the family could not afford to move and lived in the house for another nine years until they finally saved enough money to sell the property.

The Modern Controversy: The Warrens' Shaky Legacy

A crucial element often omitted from the cinematic universe is the deep-seated controversy surrounding the Warrens' investigative methods and personal lives. The accuracy of their "true stories" is a subject of ongoing debate among skeptics and believers alike.

The Warrens have been widely criticized for fabricating details, exaggerating events, and sensationalizing hauntings to gain media attention and boost book sales.

  • The Amityville Connection: The Warrens were closely involved in the infamous Amityville Horror case, which many critics and journalists have dismissed as a complete hoax orchestrated for financial gain.
  • Allegations of Abuse: Ed Warren, in particular, faced serious allegations, including claims of an extramarital relationship with a minor and accusations of abuse from a woman named Judith Penney, who lived with the couple for decades.
  • The Annabelle Doll: The terrifying doll is real, but its story is dramatically altered. The actual Annabelle doll is a Raggedy Ann doll, not the porcelain figure from the films, and the original haunting involved a less cinematic story of a spirit attached to the doll.

The Next True Story: The Smurl Haunting in 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' (2025)

The most current information regarding the franchise’s "true story" comes from the upcoming ninth installment in the cinematic universe, The Conjuring: Last Rites, set for release in 2025. This film is based on a different, yet equally disturbing, case investigated by the Warrens: the Smurl family haunting.

This case shifts the focus from the Perron family to the alleged demonic possession of the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, during the mid-1980s.

  • The Smurl Family: Janet and Jack Smurl claimed a demonic presence had terrorized their home, alleging a range of phenomena including strange odors, loud noises, and even physical and sexual assaults by the entity.
  • Demonic Entity: The Warrens officially investigated the case in 1986 and concluded that the Smurl family was being tormented by four spirits, one of which was a powerful demon. They performed an exorcism that was reportedly unsuccessful.
  • Publicity and Skepticism: Like the Perron case, the Smurl case garnered massive media attention, leading to a book and a TV movie. Skeptics, however, suggested the phenomena could be explained by natural causes, such as a faulty plumbing system or psychological factors.

Ultimately, the question of whether The Conjuring is based on a true story is a matter of belief. The real-life events, locations, and people—from the Perron family to the Smurl family—are documented, but the extent of the paranormal activity, demonic possession, and the Warrens' involvement remains a hotly contested topic, ensuring the legacy of the film series continues to thrive on the blurry line between historical fact and supernatural horror.

7 Unsettling Facts Proving 'The Conjuring' Is Based on a True Story (But Not the One You Think)
the conjuring is based on a true story
the conjuring is based on a true story

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