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The haunting tale of 'The Nun' traces its roots back to real-life paranormal investigations that began decades before the film's release. It all started with a mysterious farmhouse in Rhode Island, where famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren were first called to help a family tormented by unexplained forces.
Their encounters with the supernatural in that home inspired 'The Conjuring'—and later, the entire 'Conjuring' universe that spawned 'Annabelle,' 'The Nun,' and multiple sequels.
Released in 2018, 'The Nun' served as a prequel to 'The Conjuring 2.' The film stars Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene and Demián Bichir as Father Burke, who travel to a remote Romanian convent in 1952 to investigate the mysterious deaths of two nuns. What they uncover is a demonic entity known as Valak, a malevolent force that would later haunt the Warrens in 'The Conjuring 2.'
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
While 'The Nun' is fictionalised for cinematic effect, parts of the story were inspired by documented investigations from Ed and Lorraine Warren's real-life case files.
Is 'The Nun' Based on a True Story?
Though 'The Nun' takes significant creative liberties, elements of the movie connect to real events from the Warrens' investigations. The demon Valak first appears in 'The Conjuring 2,' during the Warrens' exploration of the Enfield poltergeist case in England in 1977. While there is no real evidence that Valak was part of the actual case, the couple's experiences in other hauntings may have inspired parts of the film.
In the 1970s, the Warrens investigated the Borley Rectory in England, often called the most haunted house in Britain. Lorraine reportedly sensed the presence of a nun within the property, and Ed captured what he believed was photographic evidence of a ghostly figure praying.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
Local legend claimed that a nun had been entombed alive centuries earlier after having an affair with a priest. The Warrens’ son-in-law, Tony Spera, later speculated that the film might have drawn inspiration from this case, noting that Hollywood often merges real paranormal stories to create compelling narratives.
Another element drawn from reality is the character of Maurice "Frenchie" Theriault. In 'The Nun,' the character helps the protagonists before becoming possessed by Valak. In real life, Theriault was a Massachusetts farmer allegedly afflicted by demonic possession in the 1980s. Ed Warren later described violent supernatural activity surrounding Theriault's exorcism, though sceptics attributed his behaviour to mental illness.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
The Real Origins of Valak
The name Valak isn't a Hollywood invention—it appears in The Lesser Key of Solomon, a medieval grimoire describing various demonic entities. In historical texts, Valak is portrayed as a winged child riding a two-headed dragon, not a nun.
The transformation of Valak into a demonic nun was a creative decision by 'The Conjuring 2' and 'The Nun' producer James Wan, who wanted a villain that was both unsettling and symbolic of corrupted faith. The nun's image was chosen to make the evil feel more personal and grounded within the religious themes of the series.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
How 'The Nun' Connects to 'The Conjuring' Universe
At the end of the film, the demon Valak survives by possessing Frenchie, linking the prequel directly to the Warrens’ later encounters in 'The Conjuring 2.' The sequel, 'The Nun II,' expands on this connection, revealing that Sister Irene—played by Taissa Farmiga—and Lorraine Warren—played by her real-life sister Vera Farmiga—share a spiritual lineage. Both characters are said to be descendants of St. Lucy, patron saint of the blind, explaining their inherited gift of second sight.
This layered storytelling bridges 'The Nun' and 'The Conjuring' films into one intertwined universe that continues to captivate horror fans. While much of the narrative is fictionalised, its foundation in the Warrens' real-life investigations gives it a chilling authenticity that keeps audiences questioning where fact ends and legend begins.
