If there’s one modern horror franchise that is well worth revisiting this Halloween (and, let’s be honest, every Halloween), it would bethe Conjuring Universe. Made up of three mainlineConjuringpictures, threeAnnabellespin-offs, and two installments ofThe Nun, the series first began a decade ago with the originalJames Wan-directed feature, which introduced the world toPatrick WilsonandVera Farmiga’s Ed and Lorraine Warren. But as these paranormal investigators (who were real people) engage in spiritual warfare on the screen, audiences might wonder if there were any supernatural happenings that occurred during the making of the first two James Wan films. Well, consideringThe Conjuring 2brought in a Catholic priest to bless the set, fans won’t be surprised to hear that the answer to that spooky question is, “Yes.”
‘The Conjuring 2’ Called a Catholic Priest After the First Film’s Haunted Happenings
When makingThe Conjuring2—itself based on the real-life paranormal case often called “The Enfield Poltergeist”— the film’s producers invited a priest to the set for Part 2.Father Steve Sanchezfrom the Archdiocese of Sante Fe in Albuquerque arrived as production began andperformed a house blessingon the film set that resembled the location of one of the most notable hauntings in the past 50 years. He made sure to bless every room on the set before Wan could yell, “Action!” “[He also] offered for people to get personal blessings and a number of people came up for personal blessings,” producerRob CowantoldYahoo! Entertainment. But why did the production ask a Catholic priest to show up and bless their efforts? Well, the first flick had made them a little paranoid.
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It turns out,strange things happened on the set ofThe Conjuringas well, with cast and crew members waking every night at the “Witching Hour” (3 am), and objects being moved at random, and seemingly by nobody in particular. But that’s not all. “I’ve experienced some weird occurrences, especially since shooting this, like a teacup flying off a shelf,” recalled leading lady Vera Farmiga. “I oftentimes get little cuts in threes, like three little claw marks… The first time around, I had a really prominent bruise that was like three claw-mark bruises. [There were] a lot of weird, inexplicable things.” The way producerPeter Safrandescribed it, everyone was on edge with “a general sense of unease” while filmingThe Conjuring, a feeling that crept over to the production ofthe following year’sAnnabellespin-offas well.
The Conjuring Films Are Based on Real-Life Cases of Paranormal Hauntings
As it turns out,Father Sanchez was also a close friend of the real-life Lorraine Warren, on whom the films were partially based (viaRTÉ). Understanding the circumstances was likely paramount for the priest, who was sure to call upon the power of God himself to protect those involved in the production. As one can hear during the end credits of the mainline Conjuringfilms, each installment in the current trilogy (a fourth film,The Conjuring: Last Ritesis currently in the works) is based on a real-life case taken on by the Warrens, who took on a shocking total of 10,000 different cases during their lifetime. Though Ed Warren died prior toThe Conjuringbeing made,actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga spent time with Lorrainewhile working on the first two films before her own death in 2019.
Before the Conjuring Universe, which is easily the best adaptation of their work,the Warrens' case files had been ravaged by Hollywood for years, withpictures such asThe Haunting in ConnecticutandThe Amityville Horrorbeing the most famous. According to the Warrens, they’ve tackled everything from ghosts and demons to even werewolves (something we’re still hoping to see in The Conjuring Universe); it’s no wonder Hollywood pounced on these “true stories.” Having beenpreviously known for horror flicks likeSawandInsidious, that’s exactly what drew director James Wan toThe Conjuringin the first place were the real-life investigators. “One thing I had never explored was the chance to tell a story that’s based on real-life characters, real-life people,” Wan toldEntertainment Weeklyback in 2013. “So those were the things that led me toThe Conjuring.” We’re glad he did, because without James Wan, the Conjuring Universe likely never would have happened.
The Conjuring 2
The ConjuringandThe Conjuring 2are both available for streaming on Max.
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