The Five Most Chilling True Story Secrets Of 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' (And What Really Happened To The Smurl Family)
The Conjuring: Last Rites, the much-anticipated final chapter in the main Conjuring Universe saga, has finally hit theaters, and as of this current date in December 2025, it is dominating the horror conversation. The film promises a definitive, terrifying conclusion to the story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, a story which, like all entries in the franchise, is rooted in an alleged real-life case. This time, the terrifying focus is on the infamous Smurl family haunting, a case so intense and controversial that it became a national media sensation in the 1980s.
The latest installment, directed by horror veteran Michael Chaves, sees stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren for what they have confirmed is their final on-screen investigation. The film delves into the disturbing claims of the Smurl family, whose home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was allegedly plagued by a violent, sexually aggressive demonic entity for over a decade. The movie takes its title seriously, suggesting a final, desperate battle against an overwhelming evil, making this one of the darkest and most personal cases the Warrens ever undertook.
The Warrens' Final Case: The Smurl Family Haunting
The true story that serves as the foundation for The Conjuring: Last Rites revolves around Jack and Janet Smurl and their four daughters. In 1973, after being displaced by Hurricane Agnes, the family moved into a double-block house on Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. What began as minor, unexplained phenomena quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis of alleged demonic infestation that lasted for over a decade.
The haunting was not the typical ghostly activity seen in earlier Conjuring films; the Smurl case was characterized by extraordinary violence and explicit claims of sexual assault against both Jack and Janet. This level of alleged depravity is what sets the Smurl haunting apart as one of the most chilling and controversial cases in the Warrens' archives.
Key Claims of the Smurl Family Haunting
- Violent Physical Attacks: The family claimed to have been repeatedly pushed, shoved, and thrown down the stairs by an invisible force. Objects, including a heavy bookcase, were allegedly moved by themselves.
- Explicit Sexual Assaults: Both Jack and Janet Smurl claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a demonic entity. Janet claimed to have been raped, while Jack described a creature with "leathery skin and coarse hair" attempting to assault him.
- Auditory and Visual Phenomena: The family reported hearing pigs grunting, disembodied voices, and terrifying banging sounds. They also claimed to see apparitions, including a shadowy figure and a woman in a blue dress.
- Demonic Exorcisms: The Warrens became involved in 1986 and concluded that the house was infested by not one, but four separate spirits, one of which was a powerful demon. They performed multiple exorcisms, which the Smurls claimed only temporarily alleviated the activity.
The case received massive media attention in the 1980s, leading to a public frenzy and intense scrutiny. The Smurls even appeared on numerous talk shows to share their story, which further polarized public opinion between those who believed their harrowing tale and those who dismissed it as a hoax or psychological distress.
Cast and Crew: The Final Rites for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga
The success of the main Conjuring franchise is inextricably linked to the compelling portrayal of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The Conjuring: Last Rites marks their final appearance as the iconic couple in the core series, giving the film a sense of heavy, emotional finality.
'The Conjuring: Last Rites' Key Personnel
| Role | Name / Actor | Entity Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Lorraine Warren | Vera Farmiga | Final portrayal of the psychic investigator. |
| Ed Warren | Patrick Wilson | Final portrayal of the demonologist. |
| Judy Warren | Mia Tomlinson | The Warrens' now-grown daughter. |
| Director | Michael Chaves | Also directed The Curse of La Llorona and The Devil Made Me Do It. |
| Screenplay By | Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing | Writers tasked with concluding the saga. |
The return of the core cast, especially with the emotional weight of it being their last time, adds a profound layer of gravitas to the film. The narrative thread involving their daughter, Judy Warren, also suggests a deeply personal and potentially devastating conclusion for the couple, forcing them to confront the toll their work has taken on their family.
The Demonic Claims: Fact vs. Hollywood Fiction
While The Conjuring: Last Rites is based on the Smurl family’s claims, the film takes creative liberties to fit the established narrative of the Conjuring Universe. The movie’s plot centers around an antique mirror that Ed and Lorraine investigate, suggesting this object is the conduit for the demonic entity plaguing the Smurl home. This element—the cursed antique mirror—is a classic horror trope and a fictional addition, as the real Smurl case focused on the house itself being the site of the infestation.
The real-life controversy surrounding the Smurl case is much darker than a typical haunted object story. The extreme claims of sexual assault and the intense public and media scrutiny made it a difficult case for all involved. The Catholic Church, in a rare move, reportedly did not confirm the presence of a demon, with some priests who visited the home claiming they experienced "no harmful activity." This skepticism is a crucial, often overlooked part of the true story, providing a counter-narrative to the Warrens' findings.
However, the film uses the core element of the Smurl haunting—a family terrorized by a malevolent, powerful, and persistent entity—to deliver its final, terrifying message. The inclusion of a character named Father Gordon, who is attacked by a demon and commits suicide, suggests the film will explore the spiritual and psychological toll that confronting such evil can take, a theme central to the Warrens' own life story.
The Legacy of the Final Rites
The Conjuring: Last Rites serves as a powerful capstone to the main series, not just by tackling one of the Warrens' most disturbing cases, but by confronting the ultimate question of their legacy. The film forces Ed and Lorraine to face an entity that is not only violent but seems to target their spiritual and familial vulnerabilities. The Smurl case, with its long duration and extreme claims, provides the perfect backdrop for a story about enduring faith and the ultimate sacrifice required to fight a true demonic presence. The film successfully merges the verifiable history of the Warrens' involvement with the fictionalized terror of the Conjuring Universe, ensuring that the final chapter is as memorable as it is frightening.
Whether you believe the true story of the Smurl haunting or not, the latest installment stands as a chilling reminder of the alleged real-life horrors that inspired the entire franchise, delivering a fittingly intense and emotional farewell to the iconic paranormal investigators.
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