The Conjuring: Last Rites Review: A Fond (If Not Scary) Farewell

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In 2013, James Wan unveiled The Conjuring. This film brought back the haunted house sub-genre in horror movies and initiated a series of films that grew and diversified into a whole cinematic universe. However, as more sequels and spinoffs were released, they began to rely heavily on classic horror movie elements, not to mention becoming entangled with the lore and interconnections within the universe. Given this background, it’s no wonder that The Conjuring: Last Rites is a film that must tie up many loose ends in a concluding chapter for the franchise. Similarly, it’s also no surprise that the final product is quite varied in quality.

In the narrative of “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” we find Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) in their mature years, with their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) having grown up and planning to marry Tony (Ben Hardy). The Warrens have retired from their work involving paranormal investigations and exorcisms, preferring to focus on family life. However, they find it difficult to disregard the constant whispers of malevolent spirits lurking nearby.

A seemingly small case in a town in Pennsylvania gradually escalates, making it impossible for the church to remain indifferent. As it becomes apparent that the evil force has unfinished business with the Warren family, their peaceful retirement is abruptly halted.

Last Rites is led by director Michael Chaves, who has been associated with the Conjuring series for quite some time, having directed films like The Curse of La Llorona, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Nun II. Some fans of the Conjuring Universe may rank these productions among the lower tier in the series, but it’s clear that Chaves has established a unique style for the Conjuring franchise. Instead of relying on the traditional haunted house jump scares, he has shifted towards psychological horror, creating a cinematic experience that blurs the boundary between reality and dreams/visions. This is a significant departure from where the franchise initially started, yet it offers the potential for delivering compelling and frightening scenes.

The narrative and screenplay of “Last Rites,” a collaboration between James Wan, Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, appears disjointed and unbalanced. The movie seems to focus excessively on the personal issues of characters like the Warrens, Judy, Tony, and their respective journeys, rather than giving equal attention to the main theme: a family battling a demonic invasion.

Unfortunately, the core purpose of “The Conjuring” series – a frightened family fighting to stay united and survive supernatural terror – often takes a backseat, appearing in brief, scattered scenes that merely hint at the horror storyline. With a runtime of 135 minutes, “Last Rites” seems unnecessarily lengthy due to its focus on mundane matters, giving off an imbalance and a bottom-heavy structure that delays the central haunted house sequence until the final third (or less).

Moreover, there’s a noticeable tendency to reference previous films and characters within the franchise, both directly and subtly through Easter eggs. This frequent homage may surprise fans who recognize these references but can feel excessive at times, almost as if it’s introducing an unnecessary spinoff character.

In essence, Wilson and Farmiga’s portrayals in “Last Rites” are flawless, given their long-standing familiarity with these characters they’ve played for more than a decade. This film seems like a treasure trove for them, as it offers an opportunity to delve deeply into the intricate nuances and subtext of their roles. Unlike previous installments where they often had to portray frightening creatures or intense fear reactions, here they can showcase their acting prowess in a more subtle and profound manner. However, this depth comes at a price for the film’s pacing.

In a separate movie titled “The Conjuring: Last Rites “, Ed and Lorraine Warren are absent, leaving other cast members to shoulder the fear-filled responsibilities. Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy deliver commendable performances in this prequel focusing on the upcoming generation of the Warren family demon hunters, who could potentially lead the franchise if necessary.

The story revolves around a large, diverse family in this chapter, with eight members spanning from youth to old age (played by Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Peter Wight, and Kate Fahy). Regrettably, the Smurl Family’s scenes are minimized significantly, as their intricate family dynamics, the multiple spirits tormenting their home, and the terrifying sequences taking place there, are some of the most captivating in the series since the original. However, the Warrens’ narrative continues to overshadow the Smurls’ storyline, almost completely eclipsing it.

Ultimately, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” serves as a fitting reward for those who have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to making the work of the Warrens accessible to mainstream audiences, thereby sparking an entire horror franchise. For fans who are equally captivated by Ed and Lorraine as they are by the terror depicted in these films, “Last Rites” will provide a satisfying conclusion; however, for other horror enthusiasts, it may be challenging to ignore that this franchise seems somewhat worn out, particularly when compared to the innovative approaches to frightening us that have emerged in the recent horror landscape.

RATING: 2.5 (out of 5) stars

The Conjuring: Last Rites is now playing in theaters.

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2025-09-06 05:11