A preview screening of The Conjuring: Last Rites in Texas turned into something straight out of the movie itself when a man reportedly convulsed during the showing, leaving audiences stunned and sparking an online debate.
To make things even more surreal, a bishop was on hand and responded by blessing the theater with holy water and handing out prayer cards. Some moviegoers saw it as spiritual protection, while others thought it felt more like a big marketing stunt.
The one-night-only event took place in the Rio Grande Valley and quickly exploded across TikTok and social media. Reactions were split, with some viewers believing they had witnessed a genuine emergency while others suspected the entire episode was orchestrated to promote the film.
Bishop Bryan Ouellette, known for his appearances on Ghost Adventures and Dateline, was present at the screening and was already offering blessings before the incident occurred.
According to MySA, he sprinkled water over attendees and handed out cards depicting St. Michael the Archangel, a figure known for defending against evil.
Footage posted online showed Ouellette praying in the entryway before the movie started, setting a ritualistic tone that some fans appreciated and others questioned. While some attendees welcomed the gesture as comforting, others found it strange for a commercial event hosted by Warner Bros.
This isn’t the first time religion has intersected with the franchise. Previous Conjuring films had their sets blessed, a tradition born from producers’ fears of “negative energy” lingering during production. Industry commentators noted that choosing South Texas, a region where Catholic symbolism runs deep, made the presence of clergy at this event especially resonant.
The moment that drew the most speculation came mid-screening when an audience member began convulsing. Witnesses said the man shook violently and was quickly attended to, but no clear explanation has surfaced. You can watch it in a video below.
Was it a medical emergency, sheer terror, or something staged for effect? Nobody knows for sure, and Warner Bros. has remained silent.
Fans immediately drew comparisons to infamous horror publicity stunts. The Exorcist distributed sick bags in theaters, while Paranormal Activity leaned heavily on night-vision footage of terrified audiences to hype its scares.
With Last Rites already steeped in religious imagery, adding a bishop to the mix only blurred the line between movie and reality even further.
Online reactions summed up the divide. One TikTok user praised the blessing, saying it matched the sinister tone of the film and reassured nervous viewers. Another joked, “If you gotta do all that, I ain’t going.”
Whether this was a genuine act of faith or a cleverly staged marketing tactic, the spectacle certainly worked, it got everyone talking about The Conjuring: Last Rites. Now the only question is whether the scares on screen will be as intense as the ones that unfolded in the aisles.
