The Conjuring (2013) followed Ed and Lorraine Warren into the Perron family’s haunted home in Harrisville, Rhode Island, introducing us to a horror cinematic universe filled with some of the most frightening hauntings ever to hit the big screen. Along with it came a host of demons that stalk the timeline of The Conjuring movies, leaving a trail of terror in their wake.
The American horror movie franchise follows paranormal investigators Ed Warren (played by Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (played by Vera Farmiga), as they help victims tormented by supernatural terror, all the while facing trials that test their faith and resolve to the very limits.
The Conjuring Universe consists of main series titles, The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2 (2016) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), along with the Nun and Annabelle spin-offs, sequels and prequels.
While audiences love the perfect blend of horror and real-life mystery that the movie offers, for the most devoted of fans, the appeal of the franchise lies in its portrayal of occult culture. The Conjuring Universe is replete with nods to classics like The Changeling (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), enriching its portrayals of demons, ghosts and otherworldly terrors.
As a new film in the franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites (releasing 5 September 2025), shows the Warrens take on one last case, we revisit all the spooky entities and demons from the shared universe.
Note: Although many consider the ghost of La Llorona from The Curse of La Llorona (2019) a demon from The Conjuring Universe due to Annabelle’s cameo, director Michael Chaves clarified during an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the movie is not officially connected to the franchise. Hence, she is not present in this list.
From the witch Bathsheba to the ghost Bill Wilkins, all the demons of the Conjuring movies
1 /9
Appears in: The Conjuring 2 (2016), The Nun (2018), The Nun II (2023)
Portrayed by: Bonnie Aarons
About the character: One of the most powerful demons in The Conjuring Universe, Valak is a shape-shifter that appears as a nun to mock the Catholic faith. Once an angel who served God, Valak was cast out of Heaven after joining Lucifer’s rebellion.
Centuries later, a Duke’s demon-summoning ritual opened a rift to Hell in the Abbey of St. Carta, allowing Valak to emerge. While Catholic knights sealed the rift with the sacred Blood of Christ, trapping Valak, World War II bombings broke the seal.
Following this, the Vatican sent Father Burke (played by Demián Bichir) and Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga), who re-sealed the rift with the Blood of Christ. However, during the struggle, Valak covertly transferred its essence into a human host, ensuring its continued presence.
In The Conjuring 2, Valak targeted the Warrens, luring Ed into danger. But Lorraine soon recalled hearing the name Valak in one of her visions and used it to condemn the demon back to Hell.
(Image: Courtesy The Conjuring Universe/X)
Also read: Scariest movies according to science to send your pulses racing
2 /9
Appears in: The Conjuring (2013)
Played by: Joseph Bishara
About the character: Bathsheba was a powerful witch who murdered her infant in a satanic ritual and cursed the land before taking her own life.
However, Bathsheba’s evil spirit continued to reside in the land and haunted the families that moved into her house.
Her spirit eventually possessed Carolyn Perron (played by Lili Taylor), in an attempt to kill her children before forcing her to commit suicide. But the Warrens subdued her. Later, to get revenge on the Warrens, she tried to kill their daughter, Judy. In the end, Ed successfully performed an exorcism that banished Bathsheba from the house and condemned her back to Hell.
Also read: These Australian horror films are guaranteed to give you sleepless nights
(Image: Courtesy The Conjuring Universe/X)
3 /9
Appears in: Annabelle (2014), Annabelle: Creation (2017), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Voiced by: Fred Tatasciore
Played by: Joseph Bishara
About the character: Malthus is a ram-horned demon who uses toymaker Samuel Mullins’s porcelain doll, Annabelle, as a conduit to claim human souls. He mostly targets children.
One of the notable antagonists in the franchise, he has sharp yellow claws and a body that resembles a humanoid. Malthus is a shapeshifter and takes on multiple forms, such as Annabelle Bee Mullins (played by Samara Lee) and Annabelle Janice Higgins (played by various). His other notable powers include soul absorption, telekinesis and teleportation.
Additionally, when possessing the Annabelle doll, the demon takes on a disfigured and menacing form. The doll has blue eyes, red lips, rosy cheeks, and is dressed in a white silk gown with a red sash. It has straw-coloured hair, which is styled into pigtails, each tied with a red ribbon.
Annabelle was last seen in her case in the Warrens’ occult museum towards the end of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. However, every time Annabelle seems quiet, you can be sure she is silently asking, “Miss me?”
(Image: Courtesy The Conjuring Universe/X)
4 /9
Bill. #TheConjuring2 pic.twitter.com/00UeDoWNKK
— The Conjuring Universe (@ConjuringFilms) July 26, 2016
Appears in: The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Played by: Bob Adrian
About the character: Also known as the Enfield Poltergeist, he is the spirit of an elderly man. As a human, Bill was extremely protective of his family and house. He later went blind and died in his chair due to a haemorrhage.
In his spirit form, Bill is initially shown to have a strong hatred towards the Hodgsons’ family for residing in his home. However, towards the end of the movie, it is revealed that he was a pawn controlled by Valak to mislead the Warrens. Bill eventually helps Lorraine and gives her information about Valak.
5 /9
Beware of the Crooked Man..! #TheConjuring2 pic.twitter.com/VfH8jxdsVX
— The Conjuring Universe (@ConjuringFilms) October 5, 2016
Appears in: The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Played by: Javier Botet
About the character: An alternate manifestation of Valak, the Crooked Man is a distorted, nightmarish figure that emerges from a children’s rhyme. He is clad in a purple suit and grey shoes with a skull on them. He also wears a bowler hat that covers half his face, with small holes revealing his eyes, over which a pair of round glasses sit perfectly.
In the movie, the demon uses its grotesque form and erratic movements to terrorise the Hodgson family.
6 /9
The Ferryman. #AnnabelleComesHome pic.twitter.com/VJEPbnDPVg
— The Conjuring Universe (@ConjuringFilms) May 29, 2019
Appears in: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Played by: Alexander Ward
About the character: A corpse-like, hooded figure inspired by the myth of Charon. In the movie, it appears when Malthus attracts and amasses a group of demonic spirits sealed away by the Warrens.
The Ferryman later becomes one of the major entities pursuing Judy Warren (played by Mckenna Grace) and Mary Ellen (played by Madison Iseman).
7 /9
Appears in: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Played by: Natalia Safran
About the character: She is a murderous spirit bound to a wedding dress. Any bride who wears the dress becomes possessed and is compelled to kill the groom with a knife.
In the movie, she follows Malthus’ orders and attacks Daniela (played by Katie Sarife) and Judy. After the Warrens intervened, they blessed the dress and kept it locked in their occult museum.
8 /9
Scarecrow. #AnnabelleCreation pic.twitter.com/jNtflmTdmj
— The Conjuring Universe (@ConjuringFilms) November 26, 2017
Appears in: Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Played by: Joseph Bishara
About the character: It is a demon bound to a scarecrow, who frightens and tortures trespassers. It is also summoned by Malthus.
The Scarecrow is violent and sometimes carries an axe. It uses the straw-stuffed body to stalk prey at night. Towards the end of the movie, it haunts Carol (played by Grace Fulton), one of the young orphan girls staying at the Mullins’ home.
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9 /9
Appears in: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Played by: Douglas Tait
About the character: Also known as The Hellhound, it is a spectral, werewolf-like creature, surrounded by a dense fog. It often stalks its victims with glowing eyes. In the movie, he attacks Judy, Mary Ellen, Daniela and Bob (played by Michael Cimino).