paranormal investigations conducted by Ed and Lorraine Warren, this well of exciting, film-worthy cases is quickly running dry. Before too long, the Conjuring franchise will be left without usable historical cases to draw their plots from. This could ultimately result in the next film tackling an original case that isn't based on a real-life case file.
One of the biggest allures of the Conjuring films has been their link to actual hauntings investigated by the Warrens. While the specific events of each film have obviously been fictionalized and made more dramatic, there’s an undeniably creepy vibe that comes from knowing that the terrifying events seen in these movies may have actually happened. However, this strength could eventually become a handicap; with each new Conjuring film, the number of stories that can be adapted decreases. What's more, not all hauntings in those stories are necessarily interesting or frightening enough to carry an entire film.
The Conjuring films have already adapted three of the Warrens' biggest cases. If the series wants to keep getting bigger and raising the stakes, using less-exciting stories inspired by real-life events isn't a viable option. To avoid creating mediocre sequels, the Conjurverse should begin telling original stories as early as The Conjuring 4. In many ways, the franchise is already primed for such an approach, for as much as the Conjurverse sequels and spin-offs claim to be based on true events; it's important to that this inspiration is loose at best. Both the main series and its spin-offs have invented plenty of fictional aspects for each film, adding new elements to each case while subtracting others. Making the jump from loose inspiration to an all-new story wouldn't be too big of a leap for the franchise, and if the series is to continue into the foreseeable future, taking a chance and crafting an all-new haunting for the Warrens to investigate will help keep these movies fresh and entertaining.
If the next entry in the ongoing cinematic tale of Ed and Lorraine Warren is to feature the duo taking on an original case, what kind of haunting could it be? In order to prove to an eager audience that entirely fictional cases will work for the franchise, The Conjuring 4's case would need to be memorable, unique, and frightening in a way that sets it apart from the previous films while also feeling like it fits nicely into the series. Perhaps this film could take cues from The Conjuring 2 and send the Warrens to a foreign country to help a family in need.
Having already visited England, Ed and Lorraine could take on a haunting in another country with strong paranormal history, like or China. A trip to Japan could see the Warrens battling against the country’s many unique folkloric apparitions, including entities that—unlike other Conjuring demons and monsters—can shapeshift and possess both people and objects. Having The Conjuring 4 plunge the duo into such a new and unexpected situation would provide the freshness the series needs to avoid growing stale.
An original case could also see the Warrens sticking closer to home; North America has plenty of spooky places and potential creatures that the duo could investigate. A film centering on the creepy happenings of Salem, Massachusetts, would be a compelling new angle for the franchise, as could a trip to haunted locals in states like Maryland or Louisiana. An original story could also be crafted around general locations with spooky potential, like a haunted cemetery, theme park, or school. The possibilities are vast, and if handled with the same care that made the first three Conjuring movies so beloved, creating The Conjuring 4 as a film centered on an original haunting could help keep the franchise running for many more years to come.
