How true is The Conjuring: Last Rites to real events and where’s Judy Warren now?

by

The film titled “The Conjuring: Last Rites” has made its way into movie theaters, continuing to narrate a tale based on authentic case records belonging to Ed and Lorraine Warren.

This time, we delve into the tale of the Smurl family, who reported supernatural occurrences in their house between 1974 and 1987. The Warrens were among those who probed this mystery, attracting widespread media coverage across the United States.

In the film “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” the events depicted aren’t exactly identical to those experienced by the Smurl family, as the movie incorporates their daughter Judy into the case. This raises questions about what is factually correct and what has been fictionalized. Let’s delve deeper to find out the truth.

What to Read Next

The Conjuring: Last Rites true story explained – how accurate is it?

Just like the other films in the “Conjuring” series, this movie incorporates aspects inspired by true events, yet primarily serves as a springboard for crafting an imaginative and fictional tale.

According to reports, the Smurl family, which included Jack, Janet, their four daughters, and Jack’s parents, claimed they had numerous encounters with strange, supernatural occurrences within their house located in West Pittston, Pennsylvania.

In the original film, scenes such as the family pet being violently hurled against a wall and one daughter sustaining a head wound from a falling chandelier occur. However, certain elements, including the appearance of ominous shadows within the household, are omitted in the updated version of the movie.

As a dedicated gamer diving deep into the realm of unexplored mysteries, I can confirm that back in 1986, Ed and Lorraine Warren, renowned paranormal investigators, found themselves right in the heart of the Smurl haunting case. Convinced by their beliefs, they were convinced that the unfortunate family was being subjected to some chilling supernatural torment.

According to Ed, as reported by The Times Leader, the Smurl family appears to be under some form of visual harassment. He believes there’s an unidentified entity residing in their home, which he claims to have documented proof of.

In no time, I didn’t experience even a second’s delay before a noticeable drop in temperature by around 30 degrees occurred. Subsequently, a sizable dark shape materialized approximately three feet in front of me. I heard a faint noise behind me, as if something was moving or shaking.

The Smurl family in 1986

Although the Warrens believed in the Smurl haunting, many others labeled it a “fabrication,” suggesting potential causes like Jack Smurl experiencing “hallucinations or cognitive issues” after undergoing surgery recently.

Instead, he pointed out that around 30 others also encountered similar occurrences, just like his family did.

As a gamer diving into a chilling supernatural tale, I’d rephrase it like this:

“According to the findings of the New England Society for Psychic Research, I uncovered evidence suggesting that the Smurl family was being tormented by four mysterious entities. These included an old woman’s specter, a young girl’s spirit, a deceased male resident’s essence, and a malevolent demon manipulating the other three to haunt the unfortunate Smurls.

In this scenario, the movie portrays an additional element of the true story, where the fictional characters, the Warrens, claim that three spirits were manipulated by a demon. Yet, it’s at this point that the most significant deviation occurs.

In the film, the unnamed demon waited for an opportunity to possess Judy Warren, encountering the Warren family on the very night she was born. This demon was associated with a mirror later moved into the Smurl household.

Afterward, this entity manipulated the Smurls to lure the Warren family towards the property, providing it an opportunity to overtake Judy. It attempted to harm Judy, but Ed, Lorraine, and Judy’s fiancé Tony intervened, eventually joining forces to expel the demon from her.

In reality, the haunting affecting the Smurl family concluded in October 1986 as “deeply felt prayers” reportedly drove away the offensive odors and malevolent spirits that had plagued their home, according to Reverend Joseph Adonizio, who served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in West Pittston during that period (as reported by The Times Leader)).

At their residence, some slight issues continued, like sounds of wall-knocking, but in October 1987, Janet Smurl stated that these problems were manageable for them.

By February 1988, another individual had taken residence in what used to be the Smurl family’s home, reporting no unusual occurrences during their stay there.

In collaboration with the Smurl family and local author Robert Curran, the Warrens wrote a book titled “The Haunted“, which later became a television film by the same name in 1991. This work provides a detailed account of the events surrounding the Smurl haunting.

Where is Judy Warren now?

Judy Warren has consistently appeared in the “Conjuring” movie franchise since its beginning. However, in “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” her role seems to be expanded significantly, perhaps even more so than in “Annabelle Comes Home.

It’s worth noting that the timeline in the movies regarding Judy doesn’t align with reality. Contrary to what’s depicted, she was born in 1946, not 1964. By the time the Warrens gained notoriety, Judy was already well into her twenties.

As a child, she did not reside with Ed and Lorraine, since they were frequently on work-related travels. Instead, Judy stayed with her grandparents.

To clarify, although Judy wasn’t involved with the Smurl case in real life, she did encounter Tony Spera, a retired law enforcement official as portrayed in the film. Interestingly, their first encounter occurred in 1979, which predates the reported hauntings of the Smurl house.

The film suggests a resemblance between Judy’s powers and those of her mother, however, this isn’t entirely accurate as depicted in the story. In an interview with Den of Geek in 2020, she shared, “I’ve had certain occurrences happen, but I don’t delve into it. I tend to avoid such matters.

I’ve experienced some unusual occurrences that leave me amazed and wondering how they happened. Whether these incidents are related to my mother’s abilities or not is uncertain, but I’ve definitely had some strange dreams and warnings – even from my father.

Patrick Wilson, Tony Spera, Judy Spera and Vera Farmiga in 2019

Judy has steered clear of the paranormal world so extensively that her husband, Tony, is now in charge of the New England Society for Psychic Research and serves as the primary caretaker of the Warren Occult Museum, while she stays away from such activities.

Since 2019, the museum has remained closed to the general public. However, it has recently gained attention when it was purchased by comedian Matt Rife and YouTube personality Elton Castee.

As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase that to say: Now, Judy and Tony hold the title of museum owners and custodians for the 750 eerie artifacts that the Warrens collected throughout their years. Yet, it’s still officially Judy and Tony who personally own these chilling items, as reported by CT Insider.

Back in 2020, I sat down for an interview for the chilling docuseries, “Devil’s Road: The Real Tale of Ed and Lorraine Warren.” But since then, I’ve chosen to mostly lay low and stay away from the limelight. (Judy Spera, formerly known as Judy)

She shared with Den of Geek back in 2020, “My husband will manage from now on since I had no interest in the museum. It was he who inherited it.” In other words, she emphasized, “He should live longer than me and maintain that establishment well!

The Conjuring: Last Rites is out now in cinemas.

The latest issue of Digital Spy’s print edition is available now! You can purchase the “Oasis – Live in ’25” magazine from newsstands or online, priced at an affordable £8.99.

Read More

2025-09-05 14:21