The 7 Scariest Truths About The Conjuring Movie's 'True Story'—Including The 2025 Sequel Update
The 2013 film The Conjuring terrified millions, launching a massive cinematic universe based on the case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. While the movie famously claims to be "based on a true story," the reality, as confirmed by the Perron family who lived through the actual events, is far more nuanced—and in some ways, even more disturbing. As of December 2025, the line between Hollywood horror and historical fact continues to blur, especially with a new installment, The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), focusing on yet another real-life demonic case, the Smurl haunting, proving the Warrens' legacy is still a major source of fresh, terrifying content.
The original movie centers on the Perron family's decade-long ordeal in the secluded Harrisville, Rhode Island farmhouse, a haunting they claim was caused by the malevolent spirit of a witch named Bathsheba Sherman. However, the eldest daughter, Andrea Perron, has stated that the film is "about 95 percent fiction and about five percent hard truth," a crucial detail that often gets lost in the cinematic terror. Understanding the true events requires separating the dramatic Hollywood embellishments from the unsettling, documented experiences of the Perron family and the controversial work of the Warrens.
The Perron Family Haunting: Separating Fact from Hollywood Fiction
The true story of the Perron family is a decade-long saga, not the few weeks of intense horror depicted in James Wan’s film. Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters—Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April—moved into the farmhouse in 1971. The hauntings allegedly began almost immediately, starting with minor disturbances before escalating into physical attacks and demonic oppression. This long-term, slow-burn terror is a stark contrast to the film’s rapid escalation.
1. The Haunting Lasted 10 Years, Not a Few Weeks
One of the most significant differences is the timeline. The movie condenses the entire experience into a period of intense, focused horror to fit a two-hour runtime. In reality, the Perrons lived in the farmhouse from 1971 to 1980, enduring the paranormal activity for a full decade before they were financially able to move out. Their decision to stay was driven by financial necessity, not just the hope of cleansing the house, making their struggle a protracted, exhausting nightmare.
2. Ed Warren Never Performed an Exorcism
The film’s climax features Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) attempting to perform a dramatic exorcism on Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor). This scene is entirely fictional. Ed Warren was a self-styled demonologist, but he was not an ordained priest and therefore had no canonical authority to perform a Catholic exorcism. The actual intervention by the Warrens was far less climactic and ended with a disastrous séance that allegedly caused Carolyn Perron to become briefly possessed, leading Roger Perron to demand the Warrens leave their property permanently. This real-life confrontation is often omitted from the cinematic narrative.
3. Bathsheba Sherman's True Identity and the Real Spirit
The movie pins the haunting on the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, a woman who lived in the 1800s and was rumored to be a Satanist who sacrificed her child. While a real Bathsheba Sherman did live in the area in the 19th century and died in 1885, there is no historical record or evidence linking her to witchcraft, Satanism, or child sacrifice. The Perron family themselves believe the primary malevolent spirit was a woman named Mary, though Bathsheba became the key antagonist for the film's narrative simplicity.
4. The Real-Life Warrens: Controversies and Allegations
The cinematic portrayal of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) paints them as heroic, devout, and infallible paranormal investigators. In reality, the couple, founders of the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), were—and remain—highly controversial figures. Skeptics and critics have long questioned the validity of their evidence, labeling them as sensationalists who exaggerated cases for fame and profit. Furthermore, allegations of abuse against Ed Warren by his former associate, Judith Penney, surfaced in 2017, adding a dark layer to the legacy of the ghost hunters. These complex and often dark facets of the Warrens’ lives are notably absent from the mainstream film franchise.
The Enduring Legacy: Where The Conjuring Story Continues
The true story of The Conjuring isn't just a historical event; it's an ongoing narrative that continues to evolve through new films, documentaries, and the current owners of the infamous house. The Perron family, particularly Andrea Perron, remains vocal about their experiences, ensuring their side of the story is heard.
5. The Perron Family Today and Their Continued Belief
After finally moving out of the Rhode Island farmhouse in 1980, the Perron family scattered but remained united by their shared trauma. Roger Perron passed away in 2006, and Carolyn Perron passed away in 2013, shortly after the film's release. However, the five Perron daughters continue to advocate for the truth of their experience, with Andrea Perron writing a book series, House of Darkness, House of Light, and participating in documentaries to offer a more accurate account. They maintain their belief that the house was, and perhaps still is, a "portal" for supernatural entities.
6. The Infamous Farmhouse: A New Chapter in Rhode Island
The actual farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, remains a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts. It has changed hands several times since the Perrons left. In recent years, the house has been purchased by new owners who have opened it up for paranormal investigations and tours, often attracting immense media attention. The house, which Andrea Perron recently called "a portal disguised as a farmhouse," continues to draw attention, with its mortgage recently being sold, perpetuating its status as a real-life horror landmark.
7. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) and The Smurl Haunting
The "true story" of The Conjuring franchise is expanding with the upcoming 2025 film, The Conjuring: Last Rites. This sequel shifts focus from the Perron family to the Smurl family haunting, a separate, highly publicized case from 1986 in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The Smurl case involved Jack and Janet Smurl, who claimed their home was plagued by a demon that caused physical, sexual, and psychological attacks. The Warrens were heavily involved, and the case became a media sensation, even inspiring a book and a 1991 television film. The decision to adapt the Smurl haunting demonstrates the franchise's commitment to mining the Warrens' most controversial and intense case files, ensuring the cinematic universe continues to draw from real-life alleged demonic possession and paranormal phenomena.
The Unsettling Conclusion of The Conjuring's True Story
The enduring fascination with The Conjuring lies in its ability to tap into the primal fear that the terrifying events on screen are rooted in reality. While the film is a masterful piece of horror cinema, the true story is a more complex tapestry woven with real family trauma, a decade of unexplained phenomena, and the controversial legacy of the self-proclaimed paranormal pioneers, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Perron family’s insistence on the reality of the events, coupled with the ongoing attention surrounding the Rhode Island farmhouse and new film adaptations like The Conjuring: Last Rites, ensures that the debate over what truly happened in that secluded house will continue to haunt generations to come.
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