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7 Terrifying Facts About The Smurl Haunting: The Real Story Behind The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

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The Conjuring: Last Rites, the highly anticipated final chapter in the core *Conjuring* film series, has finally arrived, hitting theaters on September 5, 2025. This latest installment once again brings paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren back to the big screen, portrayed by the iconic duo Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, to confront what is billed as their most harrowing and definitive case. Unlike previous entries that have covered well-known cases like the Amityville Horror or the Enfield Poltergeist, the "true story" underpinning *Last Rites* is a deeply disturbing and less-publicized account of a family terrorized by what they claimed was a demonic presence: the chilling Smurl Haunting.

The film’s subtitle, "Last Rites," signals a profound sense of finality, suggesting a case so intense it pushes the Warrens to their absolute limits—a final, desperate spiritual battle to save a family from a vicious entity. The real-life events that inspired this cinematic conclusion are the alleged demonic attacks experienced by the Smurl family in their West Pittston, Pennsylvania, home, a case that garnered significant media attention in the 1980s and is considered one of the most controversial in the Warrens' extensive career.

The Smurl Family Haunting: Biography of a Real-Life Nightmare

The foundation of *The Conjuring: Last Rites* is the alleged haunting experienced by the Smurl family, a working-class Catholic family whose lives were reportedly turned upside down by malevolent forces.

  • Family Members: The core family unit consisted of Jack Smurl, Janet Smurl, and their four daughters. They also shared the two-family home with Jack’s parents, John and Mary Smurl.
  • Location: The alleged events took place in a double-block home located in West Pittston, Pennsylvania.
  • Timeline of Haunting: The family moved into the home in August 1973, but the most intense and terrifying activity began in 1985 and continued through 1986.
  • The Phenomena: The Smurls claimed to experience a wide range of intense paranormal activities, including strange scratching noises, foul odors, levitation of objects, and physical and sexual assaults.
  • The Entity: The family and the Warrens later claimed that the home was plagued by four distinct entities, including a vicious, powerful demon that was responsible for the most violent acts.
  • The Warrens’ Involvement: Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in to investigate the case in 1986. They concluded that the house was indeed infested by a demonic entity.
  • Publicity: The case became a media sensation, leading to a book, *The Haunted*, and a 1991 TV movie, making the Smurl Haunting one of the most famous—and skeptical—cases of the era.

The True Horrors of the Smurl Case That Inspired The Conjuring 4

The Smurl haunting is often cited as one of the most extreme and controversial cases investigated by the Warrens, far exceeding the typical poltergeist activity seen in other films. The sheer brutality and personal nature of the alleged attacks make it a fitting, and terrifying, subject for the final film in the series. The true story details paint a picture of relentless psychological and physical torment.

1. Allegations of Demonic Sexual Assault

One of the most shocking and disturbing claims made by the Smurl family was the alleged sexual assault by the demonic entity. Janet Smurl and, later, Jack Smurl, both claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the unseen presence. This element of the case is incredibly dark and personal, pushing the boundaries of what the Warrens typically encountered and setting a grim tone for *Last Rites* as the "darkest chapter."

2. The House That Moved

The activity was not limited to one area; the entities seemed to follow the Smurls even after they attempted to move. The family initially experienced the haunting in their West Pittston home. When they briefly moved to a new location, the phenomena reportedly followed them, suggesting a personal attachment by the demon rather than a simple location-based haunting. This raises the stakes significantly, as the Smurls had no sanctuary from the torment.

3. Physical Manifestations and Levitation

The Smurls reported classic, yet terrifying, physical manifestations. Objects would levitate and be hurled across rooms. They also claimed to have seen the physical manifestation of the demon, which was described as a shadowy figure. The physical attacks were frequent, including being shoved down stairs and dragged from their beds. These tangible, violent acts are what elevated the Smurl case from a simple haunting to a full-blown demonic infestation in the eyes of the Warrens.

4. The Involvement of the Catholic Church and Multiple Exorcisms

Due to the severity of the claims, the Smurl family sought help from the Catholic Church. Several priests were involved, and multiple exorcism attempts were allegedly performed on the home. However, the family claimed that these attempts only seemed to anger the entity, leading to even more violent and intense activity immediately following the rites. This struggle against the limitations of the Church’s power is a central theme that the movie's title, *Last Rites*, is likely to explore.

The Controversy and Skepticism Surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Final Case

Just as the film series is notorious for its scares, the Smurl case is notorious for its controversy. While the Warrens were convinced of the demonic nature of the haunting, the case was met with significant skepticism from the public, media, and even some members of the clergy.

The primary point of contention was the lack of independent, verifiable evidence. Many critics suggested the phenomena were the result of psychological factors, specifically a shared delusion or the family’s intense desire for media attention. The Smurls’ willingness to go public with their story, including appearances on talk shows and in national news, fueled the debate. However, the Warrens stood by their investigation, claiming to have recorded evidence of disembodied voices and other phenomena, which they presented as proof of the demonic infestation.

This conflict between belief and skepticism is a powerful narrative tool. For *The Conjuring: Last Rites* to truly be the Warrens' "final haunting," it must confront the sheer difficulty and emotional toll of a case that was not only terrifying but also publicly ridiculed. The "last rites" may refer not just to a final exorcism but to the final, definitive act of a career dedicated to validating the unseen world against overwhelming doubt.

What "Last Rites" Means for The Conjuring Cinematic Universe

The title *Last Rites* strongly suggests that this film will serve as the definitive conclusion to the main storyline focusing on Ed and Lorraine Warren. While the broader *Conjuring* Cinematic Universe (CCU), which includes spin-offs like *Annabelle* and *The Nun*, may continue, this film is set to be the final chapter for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s characters.

The Smurl case, with its themes of extreme spiritual warfare, personal attack, and public scrutiny, offers a perfect narrative climax. It allows the writers to explore the toll that decades of confronting pure evil has taken on the Warrens' marriage and faith. By confronting a case that required multiple, failed exorcisms and involved such vicious, personal attacks, *Last Rites* promises to be the darkest and most emotionally exhausting case the couple has ever faced, making it a fitting, if terrifying, farewell to the investigators who started it all.

7 Terrifying Facts About The Smurl Haunting: The Real Story Behind The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
the conjuring last rites real story
the conjuring last rites real story

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