Fact vs Fiction: The Real and the Hollywood Ed and Lorraine Warren

This is a Guest Contribution from Michelle Maxwell.

From the many Amityville Horror films to Annabelle and Conjuring installments, perhaps no paranormal investigating duo has earned the fame (and notoriety) of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Renowned for their world-spanning psychic work concerning all manner of hauntings and demonic activity, the real-life Warrens made numerous television and lecture hall appearances, publishing an equal number of bestsellers recounting their otherworldly experiences.

Ed Warren was a navy veteran and former police officer turned self-taught demonologist, while Lorraine revealed a gift for clairvoyance at a young age, which compelled her to apply her skills as a medium alongside her husband. The Warrens founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952, and would go on to report over 10,000 investigations under the NESPR.

Hollywood may have altered some of the finer details of the Warrens’ greater backstory, but they nonetheless remain a fascinating presence in the psychic world.

1. The Hoax Dilemma

From the very beginning, the Warrens were no strangers to controversy. While Hollywood (with the help of actors Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) has primarily depicted the Warrens as a highly devout and scrupulous couple, their real-life counterparts were not shy when it came to courting the spotlight, and were frequently accused of dressing up their stories for entertainment value.

The Amityville haunting in particular drew a number of critics on the opposing side of belief; according to paranormal writer Benjamin Radford, the story was “refuted by eyewitnesses, investigations and forensic evidence.” While the Warrens argued throughout their career that the Amityville haunting was no hoax, some of the house’s occupants and their closest friends eventually hinted otherwise.

The presence of the Warrens at the infamous Enfield house, the subject of The Conjuring 2, was in reality extremely brief, as they were prohibited from entering the property or engaging with the inhabitants. While many dismissed the Enfield case as the work of attention-seeking juveniles, the couple remained firm in their stance of demonic possession, and wrote extensively about the incident.

Other cases would draw pessimism from scholars, fellow paranormal investigators, and the public at large. The Snedeker house in Connecticut, a former funeral home in which violent demonic activity was reported, would later receive almost as much infamy as its Amityville predecessor.

Every psychic is familiar with the backlash that often accompanies their work, and the Warrens were no exception. Interviewers often commented on the unfailing politeness and ease with which the Warrens engaged with their fans and critics alike; it’s not hard to imagine the trust and courage the couple must have inspired in their clients during their time of spiritual distress. Still, throughout their careers, and even to this day, their paranormal accounts have been met with as much skepticism as awe.

2. The Museum

The Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut has made several appearances on film, as well as in countless TV specials. Displaying evidence and artifacts from the Warrens’ many cases, the museum warns guests against tampering with or even touching anything, despite the powerful blessings and charms placed on each relic by the Warrens themselves.

The museum is open to the public today, and the visitor log is unsurprisingly varied; some make serious pilgrimages from all over the world, while others are simply looking for a good scare. Critics on both sides of the fence have written at length about the items contained within the house, and all have agreed that there is an unmistakable air of ominousness–however real or imagined–that lingers throughout.

3. Dolls & Demons

The films Annabelle and Annabelle: Creation depict the demonically possessed doll as a grotesque distortion of the classic childhood toy. In real life, however, the infamous Annabelle doll was slightly more innocuous in appearance–in fact, it was a Raggedy Ann doll, rechristened “Annabelle” by the 28 year-old nursing student who had been gifted the doll by her mother.

This didn’t put a damper on the doll’s sinister behavior, however, and eventually the Warrens were called in, eventually becoming Annabelle’s new–and permanent–owners. The doll can still be seen at the Warrens’ Occult Museum, though guests are prohibited from even tapping on the glass case containing it. Stories abound concerning guests who foolishly mocked the doll or thumped on the display case, only to experience horrible events–from car crashes to illnesses–a short time later.

4. Frauds Or Paranormal Pros?

There is a longstanding debate between skeptics and believers concerning the validity of psychics and paranormal investigators, with the Warrens frequently used as an example by both parties. Many are in agreement that the bulk of the talent lay with Lorraine, while Ed tended to act as the couple’s manager and spokesperson.

The tools and technology employed by the Warren couple to detect and document paranormal activity have also elicited apprehension, with critics accusing the couple of treating inefficient

photographic, audio, and video examples–a flash effect, double exposure, or static sound–as irrefutable proof of paranormal activity.

The Warrens frequently accused their naysayers of speaking from a viewpoint that was solely rooted in the scientific, rather than spiritual, and that their work involved both. The Warrens were vocal about their Christianity, and emphatically discouraged occult practices, séances, and the use of Ouija boards, claiming these to be the cause of more than half of their cases.

This doesn’t eliminate the personal factors that played into each investigation, namely the families involved. For instance, the demonic haunting of the Snedeker house, the inspiration for 2009’s The Haunting in Connecticut, was eventually deemed problematic due to the family’s struggles with illness and substance abuse at the time.

Horror chronicler Ray Garton, who penned an account of the haunting, would later express doubts, citing the family’s inability to keep their stories and timelines straight as grounds for disproof.

Conclusion

Ed Warren passed away in 2006, but his wife Lorraine continues to perform paranormal work and lend her insights and appearance to various documentaries, books, and television specials. While the Warren legacy remains every bit as controversial as when they first began their publicized investigations, there’s no denying the fascination and intrigue attached to their name.