'The Conjuring: Last Rites' is inspired by Smurl family haunting which made headlines in the US in the 1980s. The Smurls, who moved into a new home, began encountering multiple paranormal occurrences, prompting them to reach out to Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens concluded that they were haunted by four entities. But, despite Warrens' findings, the public wasn't convinced.