The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Cast and Crew Reflect on the Warrens’ Final Adventure

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The chilling horror film “The Conjuring,” directed by James Wan in 2013, didn’t invent the genre based on true events, but its impact undeniably established the popular culture presence of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. As of now, the series has produced eight movies and grossed over $2 billion worldwide, demonstrating the contemporary influence “The Conjuring” has had on supernatural terror in cinema. Upcoming movie “The Conjuring: Last Rites” marks the supposed end of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s portrayal of Ed and Lorraine, but given the vast scope of their investigations, more might be in store for this franchise. With “Last Rites” set to premiere on September 5th, the team behind the series reflects on its impact and what may lie ahead.

When asked by ComicBook about her thoughts on the legacy of “The Conjuring,” Farmiga stated, “I believe it’s my character, Lorraine, and Vera’s Ed that make up its essence. They embody major relationship goals, and their love conquering fear is the core message. It’s a straightforward spiritual concept that resonates deeply with audiences. What they adore is the idea that true love can stand strong against even the darkest forces. It’s been captivating to portray the tender and powerful aspects of this relationship.

In the series, Wan initially took up directing for the first two parts. Later, he passed on the director’s role to Michael Chaves for “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” and “Last Rites.” Although Wan stepped down as a director, he continued his involvement by producing. Reflecting upon the initial film, the director acknowledged the potent performances of Wilson and Farmiga.

If someone asked him what advice he’d give his past self while filming the original Conjuring, the director responded: “Keep doing what you’re good at and don’t mess it up. I believe that everyone involved – me, the producers, writers, crew, studio, and definitely the actors – found the core essence with the first movie. We made smart decisions by focusing on the right elements that resonated with us. In the case of the original film, both the terrifying scenes and the horror aspect were significant to me, but what truly gave the franchise its soul was the emotional connection between Ed and Lorraine Warren, beautifully portrayed by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson.

He went on to say, “If I could go back, I’d tell James to stay focused on his team, as they are what attracts fans again and again. By the way, if I were speaking to Michael Chaves, the director, my advice would be: when unsure, trust in Patrick and Vera.

In the upcoming sequel of the franchise, titled “The Conjuring: Last Rites“, we are presented with another heart-pounding installment of the well-known Conjuring cinematic universe, which is grounded in actual events. The talented duo, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, join forces once more as the legendary, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, in a terrifying and goosebump-inducing continuation of the record-breaking franchise at the global box office.

Having worked on several films in the “The Conjuring” series, Chaves found himself challenged to devise fresh methods of startling viewers. Despite the fact that “Last Rites” offers intense scares, he ensured that the film remained faithful to genuine experiences.

The film’s approach is remarkably authentic, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick crafting an exceptional script initially. As he wrote it, and later when I joined to develop it, our focus was deeply on the Smurl sisters. Each of them graciously offered their time and shared their unique experiences. Whenever feasible, we aimed to base the frightening moments on actual events or aspects of the true story, as I believe there’s immense value in that authenticity. Grounding the movie in reality adds a distinct touch, as typically, their experience differs significantly from others. Moreover, fans appreciate this connection to truth, so we always tried to construct the scares around it.

He went on to say, “The idea of using the phone as a prop for a scary moment was something I had long wanted to incorporate. Growing up with those old telephones with the extra-long cords, I found them fascinating, especially when they’d get tangled in things. I just couldn’t resist adding that touch. Having grown up in the ’80s, I thought it would be fitting to include a phone scene somehow. So, I managed to find a way to make it work. I said to myself, ‘I don’t fully understand how this will fit, but we need a telephone scene.’

Despite being grounded in real-life events, the film must maintain a cinematic quality, as Chaves highlighted his strategy for crafting an exceptional movie while simultaneously honoring authenticity.

The director remembered discussing the film’s production with the Smurls family quite early on. He asked them what the most crucial aspect was in creating this movie, as they were both friendly and intelligent individuals. They shared that there were a few key points, some of which were personal. One particularly interesting point was that they were displeased with a previous film, “The Haunted,” which was based on their experiences and felt it didn’t accurately represent them or their house details. The director noted that addressing these concerns carefully was essential to maintaining the film’s authenticity and respecting the family’s experiences.

The individual stated, ” frankly, I find it astounding. We’ve mirrored the house perfectly. If you browse online and see the film, that is precisely the house they were astonished by. We pondered whether to include the tree out front since it had been removed. The situation went on for nearly a decade, with the tree present one moment and absent the next. We debated about it. I approached the Smurls and asked, ‘Should we put the tree there or not?’ They replied, ‘You must place the tree there. It was such a defining feature. That tree made the house iconic.’ In truth, I always leaned on them for guidance. I believe it was crucial to respect their story, given their struggles… this haunted their childhood. They’ve lived with this throughout their lives, so I think it was essential to do justice, get it right, and tell their story accurately.

Although the story concludes with Ed and Lorraine’s chapter, the film also highlights their daughter Judy (played by Mia Tomlinson) and her boyfriend Tony (portrayed by Ben Hardy). This focus on Judy and Tony may hint at possible directions for the series in the future.

Tomlinson shared about his conversation with Judy: “I had the delight of meeting her initially over FaceTime and we chatted for approximately an hour. During our discussion, she graciously and freely talked about her life and childhood as the daughter of the Warrens. She revealed numerous interesting tidbits to me – the humor of her father, which is reminiscent in Patrick’s character. They hosted extravagant Halloween parties, given their profession as demonologists, which would have been quite intriguing for their townsfolk, especially considering they were known for having ghosts and ghouls at their house. It’s amusing to think about them playfully embracing that.

During the interview, the actor explained, “She shared a phrase with me that became my guide both during the shooting and while portraying my character, which was ‘avoid it, don’t acknowledge its existence.’ This was a technique she employed for handling the Annabelle artifacts, and I applied it to my character because Mia is vibrant, outgoing, and full of energy. To play someone who could contain all that energy while maintaining tension, I used this mantra as a focus point to stay grounded and pay tribute to Judy Warren in the movie.

In terms of how this experience influenced Hardy’s personal perspective and opinions on the supernatural, he expressed that it had piqued his curiosity. He mentioned that despite watching The Conjuring films prior to the experience, he wasn’t aware of the behind-the-scenes stories or incidents. He added that hearing firsthand accounts from reputable people like Patrick and Vera about peculiar occurrences, such as Joey King’s bruises in the shape of a cross on set, made him more open to believing in the supernatural. Although he is generally skeptical, Hardy admitted that he needs concrete evidence or personal experience to fully believe, but his inclination towards the supernatural has become stronger following the film.

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema haven’t specified their plans for the future of the franchise just yet, however, Chaves hasn’t dismissed the possibility of reappearing.

As a fan, I can’t contain my excitement as I prepare to dive into another project! While there’s a special place in my heart for this current series, if The Conjuring were to call, I’d jump at the opportunity. This movie seems to be closing the chapter on our story, but considering its success with spinoffs and exploring new characters, there could potentially be more to come. Regardless, being a part of this series has been an incredible journey, and I would welcome future incarnations with open arms.

The Conjuring: Last Rites lands in theaters on September 5th.

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2025-08-25 22:17