The movie primarily focuses on the Perron family haunting, which occurred in Harrisville, Rhode Island, in the early 1970s.

The Perron family, consisting of Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters, moved into a farmhouse in Harrisville in 1971. Shortly after moving in, they began experiencing strange and terrifying phenomena, including unexplained noises, strange smells, objects moving on their own, and apparitions.

The haunting escalated to the point where the family felt threatened and sought help. They reached out to Ed and Lorraine Warren, renowned paranormal investigators who had dealt with numerous cases of alleged hauntings and demonic possession.

The Warrens investigated the Perron family home and concluded that it was haunted by multiple spirits, including a malevolent presence. They performed several seances and blessings in an attempt to rid the house of the entities.

One of the main entities believed to haunt the Perron family home was Bathsheba Sherman, a woman who lived on the property in the 19th century and was rumored to have practiced witchcraft. According to legend, Bathsheba cursed the land and anyone who lived on it.

The Warrens' involvement in the Perron family case was one of the earliest investigations that gained widespread attention and helped cement their reputation as paranormal investigators.

"The Conjuring" portrays the Perron family's experiences in the farmhouse, as well as the Warrens' investigation and their battle against the malevolent spirits. While the film takes some creative liberties for dramatic effect, it largely follows the events as reported by the Perron family and the Warrens.