[Editorial] Lorraine Warren’s Clairvoyant Gift

When James Wan’s The Conjuring (2013) was first released, it set the tone for 2010s horror and was regarded by some horror fans as the beginning of a renaissance for the genre. Well-paced, emotional and smart, The Conjuring thrilled horror enthusiasts and brought many new fans to the genre.

As the film spawned sequels and even spin-off movies, fans of the franchise found themselves attached to the fictional versions of the real-life (and extremely controversial) husband and wife team of supernatural investigators, exorcist and demonologist Ed Warren and clairvoyant Lorraine Warren. Portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the franchise, respectively, the pair’s chemistry as the couple is undeniable. They’re both knowledgeable on the supernatural and demonic, but it’s Lorraine’s gift of clairvoyance which makes their work possible, giving them otherwise inaccessible insight into the hundreds of cases which span their decades-long career.

When Lorraine is introduced in the first Conjuring film, she’s in a spiritually and emotionally vulnerable state, recovering from a particularly difficult possession case where Ed says he almost “lost” her. Whether this loss is literal as in death, or a spiritual loss into the supernatural world of demons, spirits and poltergeist, it deeply affected her to the point where Ed is reluctant to bring her along to the Perron family case which serves as the plot for the film. Clairvoyants claim to possess the ability to see or sense energies, objects or spirits beyond the physical or natural world. Lorraine considers her clairvoyance a gift from God which allows her to help people who are being tormented by malevolent spiritual forces. 

In each of the main Conjuring films, Lorraine’s gift of clairvoyance is vital to casting out the demonic entities that are tormenting the families in need and successfully closing the cases. She can communicate with them and other spirits, gathering information and getting a better sense of the backgrounds and nature of each of the entities present. Even with the Warrens’ state of the art equipment, it’s all virtually useless without Lorraine. She is strong spiritually and values the bond her family has, though this has been exploited by the demons that she’s confronted. As a mother, Lorraine feels guilty for how often she and Ed are away from Judy while they’re investigating cases. Lorraine’s motherhood is ultimately a strength, though, as she uses thoughts of Judy to ground herself and relate to the struggling mothers who often feel helpless in the face of demons which terrorize their families. In the second Conjuring (2016) film, the demon Valak, which is the focus of the spin-off film, The Nun (2018), taunts Lorraine through terrifying visions and targets Judy, presumably in an attempt to exploit Lorraine’s guilt and get revenge for the demons that Lorraine and Ed have cast back to hell. 

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Lorraine’s clairvoyance becomes even more important in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It(2021). Though not as well received as its predecessors, it’s the first Conjuring film that’s not set in a haunted house, instead focused on Satanic rituals and the general New England area. Isla (Eugenie Bondurant), the occultist seeking to gain demonic powers through rituals and murder, is able to project herself to various locations and torment others through shadows. Lorraine is the only person who can perceive her true form in this state, initially shocking Isla.

The two seem to be evenly matched in their abilities, though Lorraine is triumphant in her selflessness toward those around her and her love for Ed, who Isla targets at the end of the struggle. With Isla acting as a foil to Lorraine, the viewer catches a glimpse of what Lorraine could have been if she chose to go down a dark path. 

Above all else, Lorraine is good. She’s stubborn and willing to put herself in harm’s way for near strangers, but she’s devoted to her family and possesses a strong sense of self-sacrifice and duty toward those in need. She connects quickly with others, not only because of her clairvoyant abilities, but because she’s kind and understanding. While she and Ed thoroughly gather evidence for each of their cases to confirm whether or not there’s a supernatural presence, she provides encouragement and comfort by simply believing people who are going through these troubles, giving them hope that there is a way out of the grip of whatever malevolent entity has disrupted their lives. Through her own actions and Ed’s anecdotes about her through the franchise, viewers gain a closer look at the woman who can “see all.”

The Warrens, devout Catholics, work closely with the Catholic Church in a manner unusual for lay people due to Ed’s knowledge of demonology and Lorraine’s abilities. The pair’s relationship dynamic is also unusual for that of an observant Christian couple, rejecting the notion of the man being the “leader” or head of the household, instead portraying a clear partnership based on Ed and Lorraine’s genuine love and devotion to one another as well as respect for each other’s knowledge and abilities in their field. Ed and Lorraine’s relationship through The Conjuring franchise blends horror with romance beautifully. This has led to them being considered “couple goals” by horror fans and general film fans alike, featured in posts and video edits on social media like Twitter and TikTok that pay tribute to the couple.

Lorraine also defies gender norms within the Catholic Church’s hierarchy, as her unique abilities provide her access to classified information and permission to conduct rites that aren’t typically granted to women, even those who are ordained as nuns. Her clairvoyance sets her at a place that grants her undeniable power in a historically patriarchal institution, as if she has a more direct connection to God, who seems to have chosen her specifically to cross the threshold between life and death, good and evil, holy and demonic—as opposed to an ordained member of the clergy.

Vera Farmiga’s talent as an actress truly highlights Lorraine Warren’s, at least the fictionalized version of her, incredible strength and personality, one half of a duo which draws viewers into a newer horror franchise compared to older, more established franchises, but one that’s quickly become considered a classic with a devoted fanbase. 

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