The final chapter in the mainline Conjuring series, The Conjuring: Last Rites, brings the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren to a close. For fans wondering where the supernatural action was captured, the production primarily used locations in England, not the United States. The film was shot between September 17 and November 22, 2024.
Primary Filming in Hertfordshire
A significant portion of the movie was filmed in Hertfordshire, a county north of London. The area is known for its historic estates and has been a popular filming location for many major movies.
A key location was Knebworth Park, a historic estate with gothic architecture and expansive grounds. The production used the park for exterior scenes involving a haunted mirror, leveraging its atmospheric look to match the film’s dark tone.
The Warren family home, a recurring location throughout the franchise, was also recreated in Hertfordshire. Production teams built interior sets designed to represent different time periods, as the film’s story jumps between the 1960s and 1980s.
London Soundstages and Neighborhoods
The production also utilized London for both interior and exterior shots. Soundstages in the city were used to build elaborate sets for the film’s most intense scenes, including a church confrontation and the interior of the Smurl family’s haunted house.
Furthermore, older neighborhoods in the UK were transformed to stand in for the streets of Pennsylvania, where the real-life Smurl haunting occurred. This allowed the filmmakers to maintain a controlled production environment while recreating the American setting.
A Compact Production Schedule
Director Michael Chaves returned to helm this finale after directing the previous main installment, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. The entire film was completed on a tight schedule, with principal photography lasting just over two months.
The production is a collaboration between New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster, with James Wan and Peter Safran serving as producers.
The Real-Life Inspiration
The film is based on the alleged haunting experienced by the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, during the 1980s. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were involved in the case.
While the movie is set in Pennsylvania, the production did not film at the actual Smurl house. The recent trailer release has renewed public interest in the West Pittston location, with current residents noting the renewed attention from fans of the franchise.
The movie was released in the United States on September 5, 2025.
Also Read: The Conjuring: Last Rites Includes a Special Post-Credits Tribute to the Real Ed and Lorraine Warren
