As ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites Hits’ Theaters, See the First Time the Warrens Story Was Told

Jack and Janet Smurl moved into a home in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, in 1973. Within a year, they were experiencing physical abuse, awful smells, and loud noises, which they claimed were caused by a spirit inhabiting their home. The story made national headlines, as the family pleaded for help, hoping to rid their home of any demonic possession before things went too far.

If that story sounds familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen a trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites — the fourth in the Conjuring series and ninth in the franchise (Jesus Christ). The films center around real-life demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren as they nobly attempt to help rid families of the ghouls and ghosts that are terrorizing them. The truth is far less exciting.

The Warrens were not the upstanding, superhero-like demon hunters as they are portrayed as in the films. Even if you ignore the accusations brought against them in 2017, the Warrens were fame-obsessed hucksters who preyed on families claiming to be dealing with possession, while likely just experiencing mental and/or physical trauma and abuse. However, like the judge in Ghostbusters 2, I’m not here to litigate the legitimacy of ghosts, but it doesn’t take much to question the legitimacy of the Warrens.

Not only do the true stories behind the Conjuring films portray the Warrens as more money-hungry opportunists, but many of their clients have claimed that things worsened when the Warrens arrived, either supernaturally or due to the increased attention they purposely brought. However, some of the supposed victims welcomed the Warrens. The Smurls certainly did.

The story of the Smurls may also sound familiar because they ended up writing a book with the Warrens and journalist Robert Curran about their experience, and, like magic, after it was released, everything was fine. They attributed the change to prayer and blessings. It’s more likely that they were ready to move on, which they did the next year, as they waited for their story to be turned into a film. But they didn’t have to wait until 2025.

1991 saw the release of The Haunted, a made-for-television movie that told the story of the Smurls’ haunting and the intervention of the Warrens. It was the first time the Warrens were portrayed onscreen, as they had been omitted from adaptations about a certain home in Amityville (much to their chagrin, I’m sure). Despite being obsessed with the Warrens’ chicanery for some time, I had never heard of The Haunted, but it looks like a blast.

The movie is easy enough to watch. Just click around a little on YouTube. I’ve only skimmed through so far (I’ll definitely watch it this weekend), but from what I can see, the portrayals of the Warrens seem more honest here. They’re still a pair of charlatans, but they are presented more like the myth they built around themselves, and not like they could do battle with Thanos.

If Last Rites ends up being the last onscreen iteration of the couple, as promised, perhaps a new series can be devised that shows their uglier side. It’s far more interesting. Until then, I’ll stick with a 1991 television movie and a book they wrote about exorcising a werewolf demon (it’s real, and it’s dumb as hell).