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Among the films in The Conjuring franchise, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) stands out for its complexity. While the series has struggled to maintain a consistent global audience over the years, this third installment offers a bold blend of reality and fiction, albeit in a way that occasionally borders on chaos. Instead of dwelling on its imperfections, let’s delve into the supernatural mystery confronting the Warrens this time.

The story kicks off with the terrifying possession of David Glatzel, a young boy from an otherwise ordinary family. As the situation spirals out of control, Ed and Lorraine Warren are called in to investigate. However, the case takes an even darker turn when Arne Cheyenne Johnson becomes the demon’s next target. Can the Warrens trace the origins of this malevolent force and bring it to an end? Let’s unpack the plot and its gripping conclusion.

Despite the portrayal in The Conjuring 3, Ed Warren did not actually have a heart attack during the exorcism of David Glatzel. The movie takes creative liberties with the real Warren cases, including the involvement of a fraudulent satanist in the plot. Ed Warren did later suffer from heart issues, leading to his eventual death in 2006 at the age of 79.

Patrick Wilson's character is almost killed by a demon in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and many wonder if the real Ed Warren had a heart attack when working on a case. Directed by Michael Chaves, the third movie in the main saga of the Conjuring universe is based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson (Ruairi O'Connor), who in 1981 pleaded not guilty to murdering his landlord on the basis that he was possessed by a demon at the time and not in control of his actions.

The Conjuring 3 mixed fact with fiction to create a scarier story of possession and murder. The trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson was the first to use demonic possession as a defense in the US. The Glatzel family's opinions on the Warrens and the exorcism differ, leading to controversy.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is based on the true story of the Glatzel family's alleged experiences with demonic possession and Arne Cheyenne Johnson's murder trial. The third entry in the fictional Conjuring Universe, the movie brought back franchise stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren. The characters are based on the late controversial paranormal investigators who were self-proclaimed experts in hauntings and demonic activity.

The sequel, directed by Michael Chaves and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, courted some controversy since this installment took on a true story centered around a brutal murder. Like the...

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is based on the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. Johnson murdered his landlord, and his plea was Not Guilty by Virtue of Possession. Johnson was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison, but got time off for good behavior.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It's character Arne Cheyenne Johnson is based on a real-life person whose story continues long after the end of the movie. The 2021 movie, which was the third installment in the flagship Conjuring franchise and the seventh in the overall universe, is the closest the franchise has come to a true crime adaptation, as it concerned a real-life murder where the perpetrator claimed innocence due to a case of demonic possession.

In general, the Conjuring Universe movies are either based on or inspired by the case files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The married couple,...

The Devil on Trial Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: David Glatzel, Debbie Glatzel, Carlo Adamo, Hannah Mae Beatty

Director: Christopher Holt

Original Language: English

Genre: Crime, Documentary, Horror

The Devil on Trial Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: The documentary illuminates the nuances of the “Devil Made Me Do It” case by offering a comprehensive exploration, featuring diverse viewpoints from pivotal figures such as Johnson, his family, and legal representatives. Through a meticulous depiction of events, the film provides valuable insights into the intricacies of the trial.

What’s Bad: While the documentary attempts to present a credible account, it falls short of maintaining journalistic integrity. The authenticity of the evidence, particularly the processed photographs and enhanced audio recordings, is questionable. The film leans heavily on horror tropes and sensationalism, prioritizing shock value over intellectual engagement and nuanced exploration of the case.

Loo Break: Given the film...

Netflix originals have always been the biggest draw for the streaming juggernaut, and their true crime documentary offerings have been so popular that they've been spoofed by both "Black Mirror," and the brilliant satirical mockumentary series "American Vandal." Released just in time for the Halloween season, the latest documentary, "The Devil on Trial," has been dominating the top 10 charts across the globe. The film is the latest from Peabody Award-winning and three-time BAFTA-nominated British writer, director, and producer, Chris Holt, and tackles the first and only time demonic possession was used as a defense in an American murder trial. Taking place in 1981, the trial made headlines as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case, as 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson claimed that he was not guilty in the murder of his landlord, Alan Bono, because he was possessed at the time of the killing.

If this plot sounds eerily familiar, it's...

"The Devil on Trial" is a Netflix documentary that explores the infamous "Devil Made Me Do It" case, where demonic possession was used as a defense in a murder trial. The documentary focuses on the true-crime aspect of the story and features interviews with David Glatzel, who speaks out about his own possession and its connection to the murder. The trial ultimately resulted in Arne Cheyenne Johnson being convicted of first-degree manslaughter and serving a shortened sentence due to good behavior. The Glatzel siblings have since been estranged.

The Devil on Trial, Netflix's 2023 horror-meets-true crime documentary, delves into the so-called “Devil Made Me Do It” case. Popularized by The Conjuring 3's fictional retelling of Arne Johnson's story, the 1981 murder trial at the center of the documentary marks the first time demonic possession was used as a defense in the United States. Famously, world-renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren...

This article contains spoilers for The Devil on Trial.

For most of its 80-minute runtime, Netflix‘s newest true crime doc, The Devil on Trial, is as sensational as the subject matter it’s covering, down to a “shock twist” at the end that might finally break this case of demonic possession wide open. Or at least it’s one of the many possible explanations this film flirts with while presenting its largely paint-by-the-numbers retelling of a story you’re likely already familiar with if you’ve watched The Conjuring movies about famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

But here’s a quick summary: in 1980, the Warrens traveled to Brookfield, Connecticut to investigate a possible case of demonic possession at the home of the Glatzel family. When they decided David, the youngest of the Glatzel siblings, had indeed been possessed by the Devil, they turned to the Catholic Church for an exorcism.

In the Netflix documentary, The Devil on Trial, a drug called Sominex is mentioned as a possible explanation for the supposed paranormal encounters experienced by the Glatzel family during a murder trial involving demonic possession. Carl Glatzel, the older brother, discovered that their mother had been putting Sominex, a sleeping aid drug, in the family's food, leading him to question whether his brother's supposed possession was actually caused by the drug's side effects. While Sominex is not typically known to cause hallucinations or possession-like symptoms, its active ingredient, Diphenhydramine, can potentially lead to such effects in large amounts. The drug is not meant for long-term use and can have adverse neurological and psychological effects.

Netflix documentary The Devil On Trial has a brief segment that mentions how a drug called Sominex might have been a key ingredient in explaining the mysterious events of the central trial, making it hard not...

The Devil on Trial simplifies David Glatzel's initial demonic experiences, omitting details about physical encounters with a malevolent entity. The documentary skips over David's early demonic behaviors, such as inexplicable injuries and reciting passages in strange voices. The Warrens believed David was possessed by 42 demons, not just "the devil," which the documentary overlooks.

The Glatzel family shares their experiences with demonic possession in Netflix’s The Devil on Trial, but the documentary omits some details from the true story. The Devil on Trial tells the tale of David Glatzel, who was allegedly possessed by a demon when he was 11 years old. The situation only became more tragic for the Glatzel family when the demon that possessed David took an interest in David's brother-in-law, Arne Johnson, which Johnson claims led him to commit murder. David’s possession became famous both for the involvement of Ed and Lorraine Warren, as well...

The documentary "The Devil on Trial" recounts a true-crime tale, but a 2021 box office hit, "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," tells the story better using the same source information. The Conjuring movie fictionalizes the manslaughter of Alan Bono and Arne Johnson's trial, allowing for a more compelling narrative that explores supernatural elements without seeming outlandish or cruel. Critics argue that the fictional approach of The Conjuring 3 is superior to Netflix's documentary, as it avoids the need for factual scrutiny and doesn't raise questions about the trustworthiness of the characters.

While Netflix's The Devil on Trial documentary recounts an interesting true-crime tale, a 2021 box office hit used the same source information but told the story better. This film revisits a 1981 homicide where a man named Arne Cheyenne Johnson killed his property manager Alan Bono, using a legal argument that's now known as the "devil made me do it" defense.

The Nun II marks director Michael Chaves' third outing in the spooky Conjuring Universe. Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It got under audiences' skins, but The Nun II could prove to be his scariest endeavor to date. The Nun found the demonic Valak banished by Sister Irene and Maurice. Despite their best efforts, it seemed that Maurice became possessed in the end. The sequel takes place four years later. Irene has moved on and is residing in a convent in Italy. But when a priest is violently slaughtered in France, a reluctant Irene must summon the strength to once again confront Valak in order to save the young girls at a French boarding school, as well as Maurice's very soul.

Cbr spoke with Chaves about the sequel, his inspirations, and the scariest moments in the new movie, which is in theaters now.

The Nun 2 pays homage to The Exorcist and The Blair Witch Project, drawing inspiration from their iconic shots and using similar techniques to create suspense and horror. Sister Irene's introduction and Valak's painting jumpscare mirror previous scenes from Annabelle: Creation and The Conjuring 2. Lorraine Warren appears in Sister Irene's visions, which suggests a connection between the two and hints at a shared ability to oppose evil entities like Valak.

The Nun 2 hides a few sneaky easter eggs and references to The Conjuring franchise and other horror movies throughout Sister Irene's second encounter with Valak. Having defeated the demon once before, Sister Irene has a bigger chance to stop Valak than anybody else. Yet, Valak is a particularly strong demonic entity, as neither the Blood of Christ nor the eyes of St. Lucy are enough to put a definitive end to its reign of terror, at least for several years.

Shock Docs: The Devil Made Me Do It looks at the true story behind The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. James Wan has had good fortune when it comes to creating horror movie franchises. While he passed on the director's seat following the first movie, Saw became a genre mainstay and received many, many sequels. His low-budget haunted house movie Insidious also spawned another successful series, as did 2013's The Conjuring. In fact, The Conjuring is the most financially successful horror series of all time.

Real-life “demonologists” Ed and Lorraine Warren front the main Conjuring movies, with the stories taking inspiration from cases they investigated such as the Enfield poltergeist but dials the scares and shock jumps right up. While Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have earned praise for their work as Ed and Lorraine, the franchise's tendency to gloss over the many controversies surrounding the real...