By Audrey Ze//
The latest installment in the “Conjuring” franchise continues to draw from the documented case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two investigators whose work has inspired a range of films, including “The Conjuring” and “Annabelle”.
The central theme of “The Conjuring 4” reflects the Warrens’ belief in confronting supernatural activity rather than avoiding it. Ed Warren once said, “The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow.”
Lorraine Warren explained her approach in an interview: “In the work that we do, there is no such thing as ‘I don’t believe.’ You either accept it as real or you’re going to be in serious trouble.” She would lie on beds during investigations, claiming it allowed her to detect and absorb psychic energy.
The Warrens gained fame for their investigations into alleged hauntings that began in the mid-20th century. Their case files documented incidents that included accounts of demonic possession, poltergeists, and unexplained phenomena.
The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) in 1952, which is still maintained today by their daughter, Judy Spera, and her husband, Tony Spera.
Artifacts from their investigations remain housed in the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. One of the most well-known items is a Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle, displayed in a glass case with a sign that reads, “positively do not open.” According to Tony Spera, “That doll is what I’d be most frightened of.”
Although Ed Warren died in 2006 and Lorraine Warren in 2019, their work continues to influence popular culture. Their daughter, Judy, who was once hesitant to engage with the supernatural, now helps preserve their archives and legacy through NESPR.
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