THE CONJURING UNIVERSE

 The Conjuring Universe is an American media franchise and shared universe that focuses on a collection of supernatural horror films. These films dramatize the alleged real-life experiences of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were paranormal investigators and authors known for their involvement in several notable yet contentious haunting cases. The narrative primarily centers on their efforts to help individuals believed to be possessed by demonic entities, as well as the origins of these malevolent spirits encountered by the Warrens.

The franchise features two main film series: The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016), both directed by James Wan and co-produced by Peter Safran. The initial two films explore two of the many well-known paranormal cases associated with the Warrens. The first film portrays the experiences of the Perron family, who face unsettling occurrences in their newly purchased home in Rhode Island. The sequel follows the Warrens as they travel to the United Kingdom to aid the Hodgson family, who are dealing with poltergeist phenomena in their Enfield council house in 1977, an event that later became known as the Enfield poltergeist.

The franchise encompasses Annabelle (2014), a prequel helmed by John R. Leonetti and produced by Safran and Wan, which explores the backstory of the titular doll prior to the Warrens' encounter with it at the beginning of the first film. Another prequel, Annabelle: Creation (2017), directed by David F. Sandberg, delves into the origins of the doll's demonic presence. The third installment, Annabelle Comes Home (2019), directed by Gary Dauberman, features Annabelle as she triggers the haunted artifacts within the Warrens' collection.

The Nun, a prequel to The Conjuring 2, was released in 2018 and explores the origins of the demonic nun Valak prior to her encounter with the Warrens. Additionally, the standalone film The Curse of La Llorona premiered in April 2019, linking a minor incident to the Annabelle storyline.

The entire franchise is chilling, haunting, and intensely gripping. Director James Wan masterfully crafts a tense and unsettling atmosphere, ensuring that if evil thrives on fear, the film does as well. The interconnectedness of the films prompts deep contemplation. To fully appreciate the series, it is advisable to watch it in chronological order.

1952 The Nun

1955 Annabelle Creation

1967 Annabelle

1971 The Conjuring

1972 Annabelle Comes Home

1973 The Curse of La Llorona

1977 The Conjuring 2

1981 Conjuring: Devil made me do that

In addition to these, there are three films currently in development: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which will serve as the third installment in The Conjuring series and is set to be released in 2021, along with two others, The Nun 2 and The Crooked Man, which are also in the development stage.

                                                                                                                                                - Satvik Saxena