The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
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Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren must confront a terrifying case involving a murder trial where demonic possession is claimed as a defense.
The story
In 1981, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to investigate the exorcism of a young boy in Brookfield, Connecticut. During the ritual, a man named Arne Johnson invites a demon into himself to save the child. The following month, Arne is accused of a brutal murder, becoming the first American case where demonic possession is used as a legal defense. The Warrens must navigate a complex investigation involving ancient witchcraft and a mysterious curse to determine the truth behind the crime and protect the community from a rising supernatural threat.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1981, Ed and Lorraine Warren witness a demon enter Arne Johnson during a ritual to save a young boy. Arne subsequently murders his landlord. The case becomes a landmark trial where demonic possession is used as a defense. The Warrens discover a witch's totem in the Glatzel home, linked to a curse. They later find a similar totem in Massachusetts linked to the death of Katie Lincoln. Lorraine sees a vision of a missing girl, Jessica, who was possessed before her death. The Warrens learn of a 'Stregherian' curse and a hidden altar. During a confrontation, Ed is nearly overcome by the curse, but Lorraine helps him regain his senses to destroy the altar. The villain, an occultist named Isla, is killed by the demon she summoned. Arne is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years, during which he marries Debbie.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 112
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Chaves
- Writers
- David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick · screenplay; David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick · story; James Wan · story
- Cast and characters
- Vera Farmiga · Lorraine Warren; Patrick Wilson · Ed Warren; Ruairi O'Connor; Sarah Catherine Hook; Julian Hilliard
- Genres
- supernatural horror; horror thriller
- Themes
- Demonic possession; Faith and belief; Occultism
- Tone and mood
- Somber; Meditative
- Setting
- 1981, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on true events; Legal thriller; Supernatural investigation
- Franchise connections
- The Conjuring Universe
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances of the leads while others noted a shift in tone from previous entries.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 56% · scale: percentage · review count: 253; Metacritic · score: 53 · scale: 100 · review count: 39; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 78% · scale: percentage
- Production trivia
- The film was released simultaneously on HBO Max for one month.; The film was originally slated for a September 2020 release.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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