NOTE: This story contains spoilers to a number of films from The Conjuring universe of extended movies, including the most recent installment The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
It might not strike the average Torch reader as a good idea to venture into the horror movie genre. The intense violence of movies like Halloween, The Purge (another series subject to analysis in this newspaper), and Scream are brutal and murderous, while series like Paranormal Activity, Sinister, and The Conjuring ventur einto the sordid world of demonic possession and are perhaps even dangerous to one’s soul. I myself never ventured into the genre, as even the trailers for the above films horrified me.
However, this year one of my roommates roped me into watching horror movies with him. I reluctantly submitted to peer pressure and watched Sinister and The Conjuring, which turned into watching the entire Conjuring extended universe of films, including the two sequels and three spin-offs about the Annabelle doll. I can confirm that the universe of movies is as spiritually and psychologically depressing and horrifying as advertised, and I was horrified (mission success?) after each film. That said, The Conjuring’s plots, motifs, and symbolism are deeply Catholic.
The films are all “based on true stories,” which are drawn from the case files of two demonologists named Ed and Lorraine Warren. “Based on” is pretty vague, and further research into the stories shows that most of the plot is a fictionalized spin on Warren’s account of the case. Even so, there is a lot that Christians can learn from watching these movies.
The most important point that the movies drive home is that God is real and that the devil is real. The last image on screen of the first Conjuring movie reads:
“Diabolical forces are formidable. These forces are eternal, and they exist today. The fairy tale is true. The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow. —Ed Warren”
Not only are there both forces of good and evil in the world, but there are real stakes as to what we as people choose to believe, and how we live our lives. Ed and Lorraine are two examples of those who choose to follow God and believe in Him, and use their skills to help cast out demons and literally save souls.
Many online critics of the films are skeptical of not only the accounts offered in the movie, but of the veracity of the underlying stories. Many critics call Ed and Lorraine frauds and charlatans who trick weak-minded people into thinking that they are possessed by demonic forces in order to push a Christian agenda and make money. However, this mindset is a symptom of modern thinking and is to be rejected by believers. The stories of possession in The Conjuring movies are actually quite close to the Biblical accounts of Jesus and His Apostles casting out demons from the afflicted.
The Conjuring films show that the Catholic Church has the power to cast out demons, though the Church is portrayed as reticent to act without proper vetting so as not to confuse psychological disorders with true possession. In fact, in The Conjuring 2, the possessed girl “fakes” an incident to drive the Warrens away so that the demon can steal the souls of the family. Luckily, Lorraine, who is clairvoyant, manages to see past the ruse just in time to save the family and command the demon back to Hell.
The most important themes in the movie are that faith can save, and that love has ultimate power. In a battle for the souls of the afflicted, the possessed are called upon to recall memories with loved ones, which gives Carolyn, who is possessed, the power to defeat a devil and save her soul. Likewise in the most recent film, Lorraine calls upon Ed to remember their first memories together in order to prevent him from killing her while he was bewitched.
While frightening and scarring, The Conjuring movies express belief in the truth of the Catholic faith, and set the appropriate tone regarding the stakes of belief and disbelief. They also remind us that the evil spirit stands ready to steal our soul from God. They can even be important tools for the conversion of sinners for anyone brave enough to watch the films.
Featured image courtesy of Subham37 via Wikimedia Commons
Tom is a senior in the Lynch School, where he is studying Secondary Education, History, and Philosophy, with a minor in Restorative Justice. He is President of the Boston College Republicans, and President emeritus of the St. Thomas More Society. When not taking too many classes or writing for The Torch or The Free Press, Tom loves to watch sports, listen to metal music, and defend Leo Strauss against (unfair) accusations of Gnosticism.
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- The Conjuring Universe: Not for the Faint of Heart, Good for the Weak of Faith - April 29, 2022
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