5 Chilling Facts About The Conjuring's Real Story That Will Make You Question Everything (Updated 2025)

The Conjuring franchise has cemented itself as one of the most successful horror series in history, largely because of its claim to be "based on a true story." As of December 2025, the original 1971 case involving the Perron family and paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren continues to generate headlines, especially with the latest developments concerning the infamous Rhode Island farmhouse and the expansion of the *Conjuring* universe. This article dives deep into the facts, the fiction, and the most recent updates on the haunting that started it all.

The core of the story revolves around the terrifying experiences of the Perron family, who moved into the Arnold Estate in Harrisville, Rhode Island, in 1971. Their decade-long ordeal of unexplained phenomena and alleged demonic possession was eventually chronicled by their daughter, Andrea Perron, and became the foundation for the 2013 blockbuster film, *The Conjuring*.

The Central Figures: A Biographical Profile of the Perrons and the Warrens

The true narrative of *The Conjuring* is inextricably linked to two families: the victims and the investigators.

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The Perron Family

• Roger Perron (Father): Moved his family to the Harrisville farmhouse in 1971. He was reportedly the one who eventually asked the Warrens to leave, concerned for his wife's mental stability due to the intense nature of the investigation and a terrifying séance.
• Carolyn Perron (Mother): Allegedly the primary target of the haunting, culminating in a frightening séance where she was reportedly possessed. She passed away in 2013.
• The Five Daughters: Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April Perron. Andrea Perron has been the most vocal, writing a book series, *House of Darkness, House of Light*, that details their ten-year ordeal.
• The Haunting Period: The family lived in the house from 1971 until 1980, enduring years of escalating paranormal activity before finally being able to afford to move.

Ed and Lorraine Warren

• Edward Warren Miney (1926–2006): A self-taught demonologist and author, born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was the only non-ordained demonologist recognized by the Catholic Church.
• Lorraine Rita Warren (1927–2019): A self-proclaimed clairvoyant and spiritual medium who worked alongside her husband. She was a key figure in the investigation, often claiming to communicate directly with the entities.
• Career Highlights: The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in 1952. Their most famous cases include the *Amityville Horror* (1975), the *Annabelle* doll case, and the 1986 Smurl haunting. They never charged a fee for their investigative work.

Fact vs. Fiction: 5 Truths the Movie Left Out (or Changed)

While *The Conjuring* (2013) is a terrifying cinematic experience, the real-life events, as described by the Perron family, spanned a much longer time and involved details the film either condensed or completely fabricated for dramatic effect.

1. The Haunting Lasted a Decade, Not Weeks

The movie suggests the haunting was a short, intense ordeal that culminated in a dramatic exorcism. In reality, the Perron family lived with the paranormal activity for nearly ten years, from 1971 to 1980. The phenomena started subtly—strange sounds, objects moving—and slowly escalated into physical manifestations and alleged possession. The family could not afford to move until 1980, meaning they endured the terror for a full decade.

2. Bathsheba Sherman Was Not the Only Entity

The movie focuses heavily on the malicious spirit of Bathsheba Sherman, a suspected witch who allegedly cursed the land. Andrea Perron has stated that while Bathsheba was present, she was not the only, or even the worst, entity haunting the Arnold Estate. The property was reported to be home to numerous spirits, some of whom were benign, with one particularly nasty spirit being a malevolent, non-human entity. The house's long history, dating back to the 1700s, meant the family was dealing with a tangled mess of folklore and numerous residual hauntings.

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3. The Séance Was the Breaking Point, Not the Climax

The film's climax is the exorcism attempt on Carolyn Perron. In the real story, the scariest moment for the Perron family was a séance conducted by the Warrens. During this event, Carolyn Perron was allegedly possessed, speaking in a voice that was not her own and levitating from her chair. This terrifying incident prompted Roger Perron to demand the Warrens leave the property, fearing for his wife's mental health and safety, and ending their official involvement.

4. The Warrens’ Involvement is a Point of Major Controversy

While the Warrens are celebrated in the films, their methods and claims have been heavily scrutinized and criticized by skeptics. Some critics and researchers suggest that the Warrens often sensationalized details of cases, including the *Amityville Horror* and the Perron haunting, to generate media attention, book sales, and profit. The family's own testimony, however, remains a pillar of the "true story" narrative, regardless of the controversy surrounding the investigators.

5. The Real Haunting Was More Subtle Than the Movie

The movie is filled with jump scares, dramatic door slams, and visible ghost attacks. Andrea Perron confirmed that while the events were terrifying, they were often more subtle and psychological. Phenomena included the smell of rotting flesh, beds levitating a few inches, objects moving, and the sensation of being poked or pulled. The slow-burn nature of the ten-year haunting in the Harrisville farmhouse, where the entities were a part of daily life, is arguably more psychologically disturbing than the film's quick scares.

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The Conjuring Universe in 2025: From Harrisville to the Smurl Haunting

The legacy of the Perron family case continues to evolve, not just through the original film, but through the entire cinematic universe it spawned.

The Latest Status of the Conjuring House (Arnold Estate)

The Harrisville farmhouse, now known globally as "The Conjuring House," remains a focal point of paranormal tourism and controversy. In recent years, the house was owned by Cory and Jen Heinzen, who ran it as a business offering tours and overnight paranormal investigations. However, the property has recently been the subject of legal disputes, including a foreclosure auction that was ultimately canceled after a new buyer stepped in to purchase the dwelling. The frequent change in ownership and the legal battles highlight the difficulty of owning such a historically charged and highly publicized property, even in 2025.

The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) and The Smurl Haunting

The *Conjuring* franchise continues its commitment to exploring the Warrens' case files. The upcoming film, *The Conjuring: Last Rites*, scheduled for release in 2025, moves away from the Perron family and focuses on a different, equally infamous case from the Warrens' history: the Smurl family haunting.

The Smurl haunting allegedly took place in a Pennsylvania home starting in 1986. The Smurl family claimed to suffer demonic torment for over ten years, involving physical abuse, sexual assault by an unseen entity, and other severe paranormal phenomena. Ed and Lorraine Warren became involved, classifying it as one of their most significant cases of demonic possession and activity. This shift demonstrates the franchise's ongoing effort to maintain topical authority by drawing from the extensive, and often controversial, archive of the Warrens’ paranormal investigations.