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The Conjuring 3: Is Isla the Occultist Real?

Isla is a fictional character. The Conjuring 3 draws on the real Arne Cheyenne Johnson case, but its occultist plot is a movie invention, not part of the documented trial.
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No. Isla, the occultist in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (also known as The Conjuring 3), is fictional. The film draws on a real Connecticut murder case, but its occultist-centered explanation is a fictional addition, not part of the documented court record.

Who was Isla in The Conjuring 3?

Isla is the film’s occultist, whose actions are presented as the cause of the possession-related events. Film coverage describes that character and plot explanation as fictional; the available accounts do not establish Isla as a real woman, practitioner, or participant in the historical case. Nor do they identify a specific real person as her model. Den of Geek’s film explainer and SlashFilm’s ending explainer distinguish the movie’s invention from the real case.

What real case inspired the film?

The film draws on the 1981 Connecticut case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who killed his landlord, Alan Bono. Johnson’s defense sought to invoke demonic possession, but the judge did not allow possession evidence at trial. That historical record supports the existence of the killing and the attempted defense; it does not establish the film’s supernatural explanation as fact. TIME’s 2023 account of the case summarizes the trial and its limits.

How does the movie differ from the documented case?

The real case centered on a criminal trial and an attempted possession defense. The film adds an occultist-led investigation and links Isla to the possession-related events. Those plot elements are dramatization, not evidence that an occultist took part in the case or that supernatural forces caused the crime.

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The film’s development interviews offer context for that adaptation. Director Michael Chaves discussed building the story around the Johnson case, while screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick described research that included interviews with Arne and Debbie Johnson. Such interviews explain the filmmakers’ process; they are not independent verification of paranormal claims. The director interview and the screenwriter interview provide production context.

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What does The Devil in Connecticut tell you about Isla?

Gerald Brittle’s 1983 book The Devil in Connecticut inspired the film, but it should be treated as background reading about the case narrative—not as a real-life account of Isla. TIME identifies the book as an inspiration for the 2021 movie; that connection does not make the film’s occultist a historical figure.

Quick Recap

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Conjuring, The: The Devil Made Me Do It (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It [Blu ray]; Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE; Brand: Warner Home Video
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Bestseller No. 3
Conjuring, The: The Devil Made Me Do It/Conjuring, The/Conjuring 2, The (3 Film Bundle/BD)
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Conjuring, The: The Devil Made Me Do It/Conjuring, The/Conjuring 2, The (3 Film Bundle/BD)
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
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Sale
Conjuring, The: The Devil Made Me Do It (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)
  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It [Blu ray]
  • Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
  • Brand: Warner Home Video

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