The Conjuring universe is one of the more recent franchises with the first movie in the series having been released as early as 2013. While it may be newer than most of the other horror classics the game has previously crossed over with, The Conjuring universe does have one key advantage: a number of terrifying Killers that would fit right in with Dead by Daylight's spooky and supernatural aesthetic.
According to the recent Dead by Daylight leaks, Chapter 23 will be based on The Conjuring film franchise—one of the few horror franchises that can genuinely claim to be based on a true story. The Conjuring universe follows the fictionalized adventures of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two infamous real-life supernatural investigators and authors who were associated with a series of prominent hauntings. While both of the Warrens have passed, their work remains alive, as does the controversy over whether or not their research contained any truth. However, within the boundaries of The Conjuring films, the ghosts they laid to rest and the demons they fought are very real.
A Most Demonic Doll
One of the most famous villains of The Conjuring films is Annabelle, the demonic doll who was catapulted to stardom in the first movie. In real life, Annabelle was a Raggedy Ann doll that supposedly moved around and attacked its owner, but the films took it a step further. Not only was Annabelle given a chilling new makeover reminiscent of Chucky, but she also gained the ability to possess the bodies of others and use them to commit murder. Although she originally had a small role, she proved so popular she got a spinoff series dedicated to her. Killer dolls have been a classic part of horror for a long time, and between her grimy aesthetic and her brutal capabilities, Annabelle would be right at home in Dead by Daylight.
Annabelle is a powerful demon possessing a creepy doll that can latch onto victims, after which they can't get rid of her. Another of her abilities appears to be teleportation. It would be interesting to see Annabelle as a stationary killer who moves by blinking toward Dead by Daylight's Survivors or makes up for a slow walking speed by being almost impossible to shake off once she has a player's trail. Alternately, players could take on the role of the demon possessing the doll and use the doll to locate, track, and hinder the movements of unlucky Survivors.
A Demon That Cannot Be Killed
Most of the Killers in Dead by Daylight were once mortal, or at least take on a mortal form. The same cannot be said for Valak, better known as the Nun, who may be The Conjuring franchise's most terrifying villain. Valak first made its appearance in The Conjuring 2 and, like Annabelle, was so terrifying that it received its own spinoff series. Unlike Annabelle, however, Valak isn't limited by a physical body. This demon takes on the form of a nun with chalk-white skin and pitch-black eyes specifically to make those who oppose it, such as the Roman Catholic Warrens, deeply uncomfortable, but its true form is never seen on camera.
While The Conjuring turned the Warrens' exploits into legend, Valak significantly predates both the Warrens and the films. Its ability to control spirits could lend itself to a playstyle that sees Valak grow more dangerous with each kill or slowly power up over time. Regardless, the sight of this unstoppable black-eyed figure gliding out of the shadows towards players would be truly horrifying. Between its shapeshifting abilities, power to control the minds and afterlives of others, and being flat-out immortal, Valak could bring a new kind of fear to Dead by Daylight.
Dead by Daylight is out now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
