THE CONJURING: LAST RITES Interviews with Michael Chaves and James Wan

The Conjuring: Last Rites is now in theaters and I had an opportunity to take part in a press day with a handful of other journalists, catching up with the cast and creator of the film. First up, here's our conversation with Michael Chaves and James Wan, where we learn about balancing truth and fiction, a real paranormal encounter, and the future of the franchise:

Taking a fictionalized approach to the well-documented Smurl case:

Michael Chaves: We actually worked with the Smurl sisters. They came on early as we were developing the script into pre-production through production. There's a movie [about the case] called The Haunted, and it's funny because that [film] was actually James's introduction to the Warrens. But that was actually a movie that [the Smurl family] really didn't like. I asked, "What can I do in telling your story?" And they said, "Don't make that movie again."

It wasn't as much of comment on the filmmaking. They just didn't feel like it was true to their story. We really tried to ground [this movie] in their experience and based on things that they had gone through. Obviously, we're also telling the Warren story. There's the mirror that is real, but it was not in the Smurl house. That is another case of theirs. Obviously we had to weave that in and then weave in the Warren story, so it was a juggling act of all those things.

Did he feel pressure knowing that he was helming the last film:

Michael Chaves: Yeah, there's a lot of pressure. This is a series I love so much and the fans love so much. We're saying goodbye to Ed and Lorraine, to Patrick and Vera. We're saying goodbye to this incredible series that we've been a part of for 12 years. And I was there with all of you guys when I saw that first one and just fell in love with this series and fell in love with those characters and the world, so it is hard to say goodbye.

I'm so glad I'm not the one who made the decision that this would be the last one, because if it was up to me, I would just keep on making Conjuring movies until the day I died. This was something that James, Peter, the studio really had the incredible confidence to say: "We're gonna tell a final chapter and bring this to a close on our own terms."

Has he experienced any paranormal activity while making the films?

Michael Chaves: On La Llorona, I might've lied one time and said: "There were some weird noises on the set." I had no idea what I was doing. It's my first movie. I'm trying to shamelessly promote it, but nothing had ever happened until this film. I swear to God, I was a skeptic up until this film. Nothing happened on the set, but I actually shot in London. I'm staying in this old, beautiful house called the Old Vicarage. This place is 200 plus years old, and my daughter says she's seen things in the house. She actually shows me a picture she took on her iPad and it's the hallway and there's a mirror at the end, obviously a weird parallel, since we have mirrors in our movie. And it's shadowy there and it's a grainy iPad picture, but she's like, "Look right there, you see that guy? He's dressed in black. He's right in the corner." I'm like, "Sweetie, I don't see him. I think you imagination is getting away from you." I totally disregard it. She's absolutely convinced that there's something in that picture, but I don't think anything of it.

One night, the family is away. They're in London, and they're going to see a show. And I'm exhausted, playing video games at home and it's night. And I start to hear voices and I hit mute. It sounds like there's voices outside talking. So I turn off the TV and turn off the lights and I'm looking out the windows. I'm like, "Is someone out there?" And I listen and it sounds like it's coming from in the house. I move through the house and I don't know if somebody came in or what's going on. It's two guys talking and I go through every room in the house and I cannot find [them]. By the end of it, I am convinced the house is haunted and that my daughter saw something. It's so funny because, by the end of it, I was relieved because I was like, "At least it's not a home invasion." I can live with ghosts... I'm totally a believer after making this movie.

Was this film a passing of the torch to Judy Warren as the focus for future installments?

James Wan: That's a very good question. I have been asked a little bit in terms of the torch passing. I guess never say never. The setup and the structure is inherently there, but for me right now, I'm just really focusing on putting this last one out there. There's been talk of the possibility of a phase two, but I'm a little bit superstitious and I don't want to jump the gun.

Experience taking on a different type of creative role as a mentor to Michael Chaves:

James Wan: I produced Michael's very first movie with La Llorona, and [Atomic Monster] we've made four films with him. He's actually made more Conjuring movies than I have, so he knows the world very well, but the best thing about working with Michael is just literally watching him grow. He's truly improved for each film that he's made and we are all super proud of Michael and he's done a terrific job. He's obviously come to learn that what makes The Conjuring films so special is basically Ed and Lorraine, Patrick and Vera, right? And so he's really focused his energy on those [two]. The scares and the horror obviously are still very important for us and for the fans, but he's focusing on the right thing uh and we all feel very good about this film.

[Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]