Running for the last seven years, THE CONJURING franchise has become what is unquestionably one of the most popular and successful in the entire horror genre, not only releasing amazing movies as part of its eponymous central series, but also awesome spinoffs like the ANNABELLE trilogy and THE NUN. In 2020, the brand will be expanding even further with the arrival of THE CONJURING 3, aka THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, and we are over-the-moon excited.
A departure from both THE CONJURING and THE CONJURING 2, which were both haunted house movies at heart, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT will be taking a whole new approach to the franchise, and will be one of the few horror films that is also a courtroom procedural. While the story may be different, however, there will be key things that you need to remember from the previous entries in order to get the most out of the experience… which is where we come in.
We’ve put together this guide that breaks down everything you need to know about the franchise prior to seeing THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT later this year. So, without further ado, let’s dig into it!
Lorraine Warren
While Lorraine and Ed Warren are equal partners in their marriage and their business as paranormal investigators, Lorraine brings something a little extra special to the latter, as she has a particularly close connection with the spirit world. The specific nature of her abilities has never been fully explained by THE CONJURING films, but they are an incredible asset in her work trying to banish evil from our plane of existence, as she is able to sense things that others don’t, and also regularly sees things that others can’t. Unfortunately, it does take its toll on her both emotionally and physically.
Vera Farmiga first played Lorraine Warren in 2013’s THE CONJURING, and she will be back in the role for the fourth time in THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, following her supporting part in ANNABELLE COMES HOME. Not knowing much about the plot of the upcoming sequel, we don’t know precisely right now how Lorraine will fit into the story, but we can imagine that she will be a witness in support of a young boy who claims demonic possession as a defense in a criminal case.
Ed Warren
Lorraine Warren may be the one with special gifts, but that doesn't make Ed’s role in the paranormal investigator business less crucial. When his wife ventures into dangerous waters in advancement of the fight against evil, he is her rock who can always bring her back from the darkness and make sure that she doesn’t push herself too far. He also has a great deal of mechanical know-how, which is helpful when it comes to the technology used for demon hunting, or just helping out with odd jobs around the house to earn the trust of the folks who hire the Warrens.
Like his on-screen wife, Patrick Wilson will be back as Ed Warren for a fourth time in THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, and we are definitely excited to see what new things we learn about the character in the new franchise chapter.
The Famous Cases
THE CONJURING and THE CONJURING 2 feature three of the most high-profile cases that Ed and Lorraine Warren ever worked.
In the first movie, the paranormal investigators are featured looking into some very strange disturbances involving the Perrons, a family living in Rhode Island in 1971 that starts experiencing some very strange phenomena. As it turned out, the cause of all the terror was a curse from an accused witch from the mid-19th century named Bathsheba Sherman, who sacrificed her week-old baby to the devil before committing suicide.
THE CONJURING 2 then began with Ed and Lorraine Warren looking into one of the most iconic cases of their careers: the Amityville Horror. That was a situation that saw husband and father Ronald DeFeo Jr. kill his entire family, and the Warrens were brought in to investigate whether or not the crime was committed because of a demonic presence.
Following their work in Amityville, the married couple then traveled to England to look into the Enfield poltergeist, another case of a family being disturbed by unnatural occurrences. It turned out that there was an evil entity in the house, but it was being controlled by a more powerful demon named Valek, which Lorraine was able to banish after learning its name.
It has not yet been confirmed if THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT will be based on one of the Warren cases from real life or an entirely original idea.
The Warren Family Artifact Room
Thanks to their long and storied career in the world of paranormal investigation, Ed and Lorraine Warren are trusted by many to contain evil, and the Warren family artifact room is a perfect extension of that. While it could be a museum unto itself, the artifact room is a special section of the Warren household where the couple keeps items that have been used as conduits by demonic entities. It’s primarily a safety measure, as the Warrens regularly have a priest come in and say a prayer that keeps the malevolence at bay, but it is also an archive of memorabilia from significant cases.
The room, of course, is the home of Annabelle, the terrifying doll from THE CONJURING and the ANNABELLE trilogy, but she isn’t exactly lonely. The music box from the Perron family in THE CONJURING is stored on the shelves, as is the Crooked Man zoetrope from the Enfield poltergeist in THE CONJURING 2. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, though, as ANNABELLE COMES HOME showcases many of the different haunted objects that are kept safely locked in the room.
We can’t say for sure if THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT will feature the return of the Warren artifact room to the big screen, but it’s probably safe to assume that the end of the new movie will feature the collection being expanded.
Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Sterling Jerins, Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard and Charlene Amoia, and directed by Michael Chaves, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT will be in theatres everywhere on September 11.
