The Conjuring: Last Rites, the ninth and supposedly final chapter of the Conjuring Universe, brings back paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for one last scare. Directed by Michael Chaves and starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, this supernatural horror movie tries to wrap up the Warrens’ story with a mix of old school scares and family drama. While it has its moments of tension and heart, it can’t quite reach the heights of the earlier films, so we’re left with a bittersweet goodbye that’s more warm and fuzzy than frightening.
Set in 1986, the movie follows the Warrens, who are semi-retired since Ed’s heart condition, as they get pulled into the Smurl family haunting in Pennsylvania. The case is based on real events and involves a demon-infested household with ghostly apparitions, possessed objects and an antique mirror with ties to the Warrens’ past. The story also throws in their daughter Judy and her fiancé Tony for good measure, so we have a personal stake in the investigation. The narrative jumps back and forth between the Smurls’ growing terror and the Warrens’ domestic life, focusing on their family bond and their faith-based mission to confront evil.
Farmiga and Wilson are the heart of the franchise and their chemistry as Ed and Lorraine is as strong as ever. They make the Warrens seem like devoted, loving partners and even the most outlandish supernatural moments feel human. Mia Tomlinson as Judy and Ben Hardy as Tony bring some fresh energy, but their characters feel secondary to the Warrens' legacy. The Smurl family, despite being central to the haunting, fade into the background and their plight is overshadowed by the Warrens' emotional arc.
Chaves, who also directed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, shows improvement in his horror set pieces. Early scenes like the basement sequence in the Smurl family’s house use shadows and sound to build tension effectively. A standout scene with a wedding dress and an infinity mirror is one of the franchise’s more creative scares. But the film’s pacing is slow, the first half drags and the Warrens don’t arrive at the haunted house until much later. By the time the action kicks in, the scares are occasional and predictable, relying on jump scares and familiar tropes like creepy dolls and demonic faces. The much hyped Annabelle cameo is a staple of the series and lands with more of a chuckle than a scream. Franchise fatigue is setting in.
What makes Last Rites stand out is the sentimentality. The film goes all in on the Warrens’ love for each other and their daughter and frames their battle against demons as a test of family and faith. A flashback to 1964 tying Judy’s birth to an early case adds emotional weight, but it’s telegraphed from the get go. The climax blends horror and heart and goes for inspiration, but feels too tidy, prioritizing closure over raw terror. This is a wholesome approach and I admire it, but it makes the horror feel safer than the R rated “bloody/violent content and terror” would suggest.
Visually, the film is polished with moody cinematography that captures the creepy atmosphere of the Smurl home. The production design from creaky floorboards to dimly lit attics, is classic haunted house. Some of the CGI effects like the glossy pools of blood, look out of place. The soundtrack with 80s touches like Howard Jones is nostalgic but lacks the menace of the earlier films. At over 2 hours it feels long and the sentimental detours (like the birthday barbecue with cameos from past films) slow down the pace.
Not great, but has some scares and emotional moments for the fans. The first two were directed by James Wan and set the bar high with great tension and original scares. Last Rites is more about being good customer service than being bold. Not thrilling but a fitting end for Ed and Lorraine and a nod to potential torchbearers for the Conjuring Universe. A nice, sometimes scary send off for those invested in the Warrens journey. A reminder to horror purists that even the most beloved franchises can get old.