Here’s an informative write-up on The Conjuring (2013):

A major risk of was its protagonists. Ed and Lorraine Warren (played with earnest warmth by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) were controversial figures in real life, accused of exploiting trauma. However, within the closed ecosystem of the film, Wan presents them as reluctant saints.

The film relies on shadows, creaking doors, and physical acting rather than heavy CGI.

While critics and skeptics have debunked many of the Warrens’ claims over the years, the emotional truth of the family’s terror is undeniable. The real Andrea Perron has stated that while the film took creative liberties (the timeline was compressed; the "clapping demon" was a cinematic invention), the feeling of helplessness was accurate. By grounding the fantasy in a specific time (the early 70s) and a specific location, Wan made the supernatural feel immediate.

It birthed Annabelle , The Nun , and The Curse of La Llorona .