‘The Conjuring’ franchise has become one of the most iconic horror series of the 21st century. The film series grounded in the real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren have become pop culture essentials.
Now, as the saga prepares to conclude with ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, set to release in theaters on September 5, 2025, fans are eagerly speculating about which chilling case will serve as the Warrens’ final cinematic confrontation. Let’s look at the most compelling candidates that could inspire ‘Last Rites’, and what they could bring to the grand finale of this supernatural saga.
The Smurl Family Haunting
If there’s one case that seems tailor-made for The Conjuring’s signature formula, it’s the Smurl family haunting of 1986. The family’s ordeal, which began in the quiet town of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, started with simple disturbances. However, like the films, it escalated to terrifying ghostly activity. The Smurls claimed they witnessed shadowy figures, experienced physical attacks, and even saw their dog lifted and thrown by an unseen force.
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One family member suffered a heart attack, and the daughter narrowly escaped being crushed by a falling chandelier. This wasn’t your average haunted house. When the Warrens arrived to investigate, they reportedly discovered four distinct entities: two female spirits, a male spirit, and a dominant demonic presence. Several exorcisms were attempted, but even when the Smurls moved homes, the evil followed them.
A fourth and final exorcism, assisted by the Catholic Church, allegedly ended the haunting. What makes this case especially ripe for adaptation is its complexity. The idea of innocent spirits being manipulated by a greater evil creates a compelling moral conundrum. Plus, the Warrens wrote extensively about the Smurl haunting in their 1988 book, ‘The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare’, giving filmmakers a lot of source material.
The Southend Werewolf
While the Smurl case is grounded in traditional Catholic demonology, the Southend Werewolf case is something far stranger. This lesser-known but deeply unsettling investigation centered on Bill Ramsey, a man from Essex, who believed he was possessed by a demonic werewolf spirit. His symptoms began as a child, where he would growl and gnaw at fences, and continued into adulthood.
Friends, family, and even hospital staff witnessed him acting like a beast. The Warrens, captivated by a UK television program detailing Ramsey’s plight, flew him to Connecticut in 1989. There, they performed a dramatic exorcism. According to Ed and Lorraine, Ramsey’s hands contorted into claws, and his face twisted into a feral snarl before the demon was finally expelled.
He reportedly never experienced a transformation again. While ‘The Conjuring’ films have largely avoided folklore, this case could offer a chilling break from tradition. Ramsey’s possession represents the intersection of mental illness, folklore, and faith, creating a horror tale with layers. A werewolf possession also introduces body horror. So, this storyline could help in visually differentiating ‘Last Rites’ from the previous entries.
Snedeker House And Union Cemetery
Another strong possibility is the Snedeker House, known to horror fans from the 2009 film ‘The Haunting in Connecticut.’ The real-life case involved the Snedeker family moving into a former funeral home. However, this led to them being surrounded by sinister forces, especially targeting their son, Philip, who was undergoing cancer treatment. The haunting featured classic tropes: possessions, mood changes, shadowy figures, and exorcism.
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While ‘The Conjuring’ universe tends to reimagine cases with artistic license, this one checks all the boxes. Then there’s the Union Cemetery investigation of 1990, Ed and Lorraine’s final major case. This ghost story is smaller in scale but could offer the emotional closure the series needs. Union Cemetery is allegedly haunted by the “White Lady,” a spirit who appears to lone travelers.
Unlike the demons of past films, she’s not evil but mournful, possibly representing the lives touched during the Warrens’ career. Including this in the film’s final act could provide a reflective conclusion to Ed and Lorraine’s journey. Additionally, this makes their goodbye feel earned, peaceful, and strangely beautiful. Whatever ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ follows, it must accomplish one thing above all: honor the legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren. This final chapter should terrify and bring closure to the emotional arc that began back in 2013.
