Hey, it's Rachel Martin. I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years as a radio host,

silence sort of made me nervous. That pause before an answer, because you don't know what's going

on on the other side of the mic. But these days, I love it. Hmm. Ah. Gosh. Give me a minute.

Yeah, yeah. Think. Listen to the Wildcard podcast only from NPR.

Are you that, friend?

The one who's constantly recommending podcast episodes to anyone who will listen?

Subscribe to NPR's Pod Club newsletter and nerd out with us.

You'll get fresh podcast recommendations every week

handpicked by the people who live for this stuff. Subscribe at npr.org slash podclub.

You can find the link in the description for this episode.

The horror franchise The Conjuring has generated billions of dollars across many films and

spin-offs full of hauntings, demonic possession, and creepy dolls. Now The Conjuring last

writes purports to wind down the story of the demon-hunting couple whose exploits inspired

the series, but does it have a new story to tell? I'm Stephen Thompson, and joining me today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is the host of Weekend Edition Sunday, Aisha Roscoe. Hey, Aisha. Hey, hey, may God be with you. And also with you. Also with us is NPR's Culture Desk correspondent, Netta Ulibe. Hey, Neda.

Hey, Hale Satan.

I'm sure we'll leave that.

So the Conjuring movies are based very loosely on the lives of Lorraine and Ed Warren. They were a real-life

couple who claimed to investigate paranormal activity, demonic possession, haunted houses, that

sort of thing. They're played in the Conjuring movies by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson,

and are portrayed as a deeply loving couple with an unshakable bond. The Conjuring Last Rites brings

their story to a close as they battle one last demonic threat, a house in Pennsylvania that

contains a haunted mirror and a terrified family. The Warrens are near the end of their careers,

...