'The Conjuring' universe: Closing the doors on a decade of fear | The Haunted Column
Ten films, a demon nun, a possessed doll, and plenty of sleepless nights later, we’re at the doorstep of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, hitting theatres on September 5.
Ten films, a demon nun, a possessed doll, and plenty of sleepless nights later, we’re at the doorstep of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, hitting theatres on September 5.
Ten films, a demon nun, a possessed doll, and plenty of sleepless nights later, we’re at the doorstep of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, hitting theatres on September 5.
When ‘The Conjuring’ released in 2013, no one expected it to birth one of the most successful horror universes of our time. Ten films, a demon nun, a possessed doll, and plenty of sleepless nights later, we’re at the doorstep of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, hitting theatres on September 5. If this really is the final chapter of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story, it’s worth taking one last walk through the haunted hallways of the franchise.
The demon nun who started it all
Strangely enough, the Conjuring timeline doesn’t begin with the Warrens at all, but in a Romanian abbey in 1952. ‘The Nun’ introduced Valak, the demon cloaked in holy robes, and established the entity that would go on to torment the Warrens in future years. Its sequel, ‘The Nun II’, doubled down on Valak’s presence and hinted at how deeply this evil had embedded itself in the wider universe. Love it or hate it, Valak became the face of the franchise.
Annabelle: From porcelain doll to horror icon
If there’s one character that gave Valak competition, it’s Annabelle. The cracked porcelain doll first appeared briefly in ‘The Conjuring’, locked away in the Warrens’ museum of cursed objects. Fans were so spooked that she earned her own spin-off trilogy.
‘Annabelle: Creation’ (set in 1955) showed how grief and tragedy turned an ordinary toy into a vessel for darkness. ‘Annabelle’ (set in 1967) placed her in the hands of unsuspecting parents, with predictably nightmarish results. Then came ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ (set in 1970s), where the doll unleashed chaos inside the Warrens’ own house. Each film added new layers of dread, cementing Annabelle as one of modern horror’s most enduring figures.
The Warrens take centre stage
The heart of the saga, of course, lies with paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. ‘The Conjuring’ (set in 1971) was their breakthrough, a haunted farmhouse tale that reminded audiences why old-school ghost stories still work. James Wan’s meticulous build-up of tension, coupled with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s strong performances, made the film an instant genre classic.
‘The Conjuring 2’ (set in 1977) shifted the action to England, where the Warrens faced the infamous Enfield haunting. This was where Valak fully stepped into the spotlight, testing the Warrens’ strength and faith like never before. By the time ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ arrived (set in 1981), the series had moved into courtroom territory, dramatising a real-life case where demonic possession was used as a legal defence.
Where it all leads
Through all its detours, one thread has stayed consistent: the Warrens’ fight against evil. Whether they’re facing possessed children, murderous dolls, or demonic nuns, their story has always been about the weight of belief, the cost of courage, and the question of what happens when faith falters.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ promises to close their case files once and for all. The title suggests a farewell, perhaps even a reckoning with Valak, who has loomed like a shadow across the franchise. Fans are expecting scares, yes, but also closure for a story that began in a haunted Rhode Island farmhouse more than a decade ago on screen.
The legacy of fear
The spin-offs may have been uneven at times, yet the Conjuring Universe secured its place in horror history with something truly rare. It built a shared mythology without ever losing sight of human stories. Behind every demon and curse was a grieving parent, a vulnerable child, or a couple burdened by belief. That’s why these films linger long after the jump scares. Even today, adults might hesitate before opening a cupboard or climbing into an attic—that’s the kind of fear the Conjuring Universe mastered.
As ‘Last Rites’ approaches, the franchise returns to its core promise: evil never truly dies, but neither does the fight against it. And if this is indeed the final chapter, the Conjuring Universe will bow out the way it began—making us glance twice at the shadows in our own homes.
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