Is The Conjuring 4: Last Rites Based on a True Story?
Is The Conjuring 4: Last Rites Based on a True Story? To put it briefly, probably not. To put it even more briefly, absolutely positively definitely not. Oh, that was actually way less brief, sorry about that.
Listen now:
The Conjuring Last Rites True Story, the Smurl Haunting, and the Warrens | Madame Strangeways
Just in time for the newest Conjuring movie, episode 39 of Madame Strangeways is the latest installment in my paranormal deep dives into Ed & Lorraine Warren's case files.
Which are you? Team The Warrens Are Hucksters? Or Team The Warrens Are Legit? Strange minds want to know!
The Smurl Family Haunting
This is one of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s paranormal case files.
They were the infamous ghost hunting couple, with Lorraine being a self-proclaimed light trance medium who can speak to spirits, and Ed Warren being a self-proclaimed and self-taught demonologist.
This story is the basis for The Conjuring: Last Rites, but you don't need to have seen any of (or care about) the Conjuring movies to listen! The Smurl Family Haunting in 1986, who were allegedly tormented by a demon and three ghosts in their home: an evil demon who wants to destroy them, an evil woman ghost who wants to destroy them, a confused old lady ghost with Alzheimer's, and a ghost man with a mustache.
I start the episode with a retelling of most of the purportedly true activity as published in the purportedly true book The Haunted: One Family's Nightmare, then get directly into the research and breakdown. Classic horror movies, Satanic Panic, The Beach Boys, Harlequin Romance Novels... and the incubus and succubus who prey on the married couple.
Paranormal Claims from the Smurl Case
Claims made by the Warrens and the Smurls:
Invisible hands began to slap at Janet.
The walls shook violently.
The unplugged television turned on again.
Words even began to appear in the bedroom mirror.
A dog being levitated and dematerialized.
A daughter being thrown into a wall.
Radios, faucets, and objects turning on and off.
A claim of demonic sexual assault (which is so messed up for them to use as a marketing tool to sell more books).
Looking at the Claims
I start with a retelling of the Smurl's story at the beginning of the episode so that you have an understanding of the paranormal claims as they’re presented to us from the Smurls and the Warrens themselves.
Without the old Hollywood razzle dazzle.
Though I assure you, there’s a healthy amount of razzle dazzle already baked in.
It’s almost like they just kind of threw a bunch of stuff at the wall to see what stuck.
The Conjuring Last Rites True Story
Join me on a strange trip through strange rabbit holes as I expose the truth behind The Conjuring: Last Rites and examine Ed and Lorraine Warren’s involvement.
Remember: you can feel afraid and not be in danger.
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