The Conjuring: Last Rites: A Subpar Sendoff to a Scary Series

A New Case File

Light the candles and take deep breaths, as one of the biggest franchises in the horror genre has returned for one last scare! The Conjuring: Last Rites serves as the ninth installment of the Conjuring universe, which has been frightening audiences for 12 years now. Whether it be through the mainline series–based on the true case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren–or supernatural spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun, the franchise has maintained a steady stream of success, building a big audience since its conception. 

With their latest outing, the franchise faces its final curtain as it wraps up the overarching story of the Warrens. As such, it would make sense for this conclusion to leave a lasting impact and bring an unforgettable end to the beloved series. However, despite decent audience reception and a franchise-best $83 million opening weekend, the film has received mixed reviews from critics, providing a conflicting view on if the series could end on a high note. But I had hope for this finale and what it could deliver to its universe.

When I was younger, commercials for the original Conjuring film would be the only advertisements to send me running out of the living room. But once I mustered enough bravery to watch the series years later, I found myself loving the original movie and its sequel, particularly in how they masterfully built tension while thoroughly developing their characters. Admittedly though, the series did lose some of its tension by the third film, The Devil Made Me Do It, which left me more underwhelmed than frightened. 

That said, I still had hope for Last Rites because of its core concept: a case which was so horrifying, it would end up being the last one of Ed and Lorraine’s entire careers. This idea immediately grabbed my attention, leaving me curious and even a bit eager of what to expect despite my disappointment with the previous installment. Plus, 2025 has been a great year for horror movies–between hits like Sinners, Weapons, The Monkey, and 28 Years Later–so the cards were laid out for this new outing to join that club of quality.

Optimistically, I headed to the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield on Friday, Sept. 5, and booked myself a ticket to the freaky finale. As the credits rolled, I was left with only one question: was this a satisfying swan song for the Warrens’s cinematic counterparts, or was it as enjoyable as a failed exorcism?

Scaring Up a Storm

Set in 1986, Last Rites recounts the true story of the Smurl family, who find themselves haunted by malevolent spirits in their home after purchasing a fascinating mirror. As the activity becomes increasingly deadly, their case catches the attention of the Warrens, who aim to retire sooner rather than later. With the threat growing stronger and time running out, Ed and Lorraine take the case–in what would be the final one of their careers–to cleanse the home and save the family.

Directed by series veteran Michael Chaves–who also helmed The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II–the film features a star-studded cast including Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, and Steve Coulter among others.

Despite the film’s many faults, I found myself generally satisfied by the end result, certainly more than The Devil Made Me Do It. This is largely because it stayed true to the series’s bread and butter: acknowledging the stakes while still finding room for character development. The writing surprisingly beholds strong growth among its protagonists, particularly Ed and Lorraine as they take on one last threat before retirement. Their talents primarily shine in the third act of the feature, which also served as the overall highlight for me.

This conclusive act is when the paranormal activities reach their peak while the threat becomes more personal, leading to an intense climax with a surprising amount of heart to it. Without spoiling what happens, I will say it involves the Warrens’s daughter Judy and alludes to a sequence early in the film. The execution under Chaves’s direction results in the most edge-of-your-seat scene in the entire film, as it tugs at the audience’s heartstrings while still providing a strong threat. 

Admittedly, getting to this point of the movie does take a while, as the pacing does feel slow in the opening two acts. While not without moments of terror and great character development, the plot does take its time–maybe a little too much–in getting to its ultimate crescendo. 

To satisfy the runtime, the script balances Ed and Lorraine’s main plot with side stories involving the Smurl family and the relationship between Judy and her boyfriend Tony Spera. These subplots, primarily the latter, do not get as much focus and ultimately come off as unremarkable in the grand scheme of the runtime. As such, though it does make the third act more rewarding by comparison, this structure did lead to an occasional feeling of sluggishness in buildup as the film tries to balance everything amid all the tension.

The Holy Legion

Bringing the haunted and the blessed to the big screen is a highly talented cast who do a great job embodying their roles. Even characters impacted by the slower structure still get time to shine via impressive performances. 

The standouts of the film were Wilson and Farmiga, who have been with The Conjuring since its very beginning, as Ed and Lorraine respectively. The two have fantastic natural chemistry with each other, as they express feelings of tenderness and care amid all the suspicion and uncertainty. They even get to let their emotional chops shine in the film’s climax–especially Farmiga–through captivating line deliveries and convincing dialogue to further keep viewers on edge.

I was also impressed by the performances of Tomlinson and Hardy as Judy and Spera, respectively, as they maintained quite a believable bond. Similar to her in-movie parents, Tomlinson gives a great emphasis of fright, particularly as she begins experiencing visions and suspecting something afoot, while still having plenty of great tender moments with her loved ones. Meanwhile, Hardy makes the most of his limited screen time, providing a charismatic and charming approach to Spera while showcasing great determination when the conflict reaches its peak.

As for the performers who play the haunted Smurl family–primarily Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, and Kíla Lord Cassidy–they all do an astounding job of selling some of the movie’s more horrifying scenes. Amid the slow buildup, the family has a strong, natural dynamic which shines throughout the runtime. But whenever there’s a haunting or scare, their entire cast greatly encapsulates feelings of panic as they are chased, tormented, and threatened. 

Despite my issues with the film’s overall pacing, it’s impossible to deny the talent of its ensemble in how they expertly portray their characters, maintaining one of the greatest strengths of The Conjuring as a whole.

Frightening Faults

Even with all these benefits, I cannot ignore the flaws which prevent this movie from living up to the first two Conjuring movies. Namely, this movie commits a cardinal sin in the horror genre: it fails at building consistent tension. There are still sequences of panic throughout the film, but the overall setup in many of its scares prevent them from truly sticking out. This primarily comes from its fright factor, or lack thereof, as it relies way too much on jumpscares to really develop any psychological dread. 

Rather than focus on unnerving imagery or suspicious setups like the first two movies, Last Rites’s scares follow basically the same format: long periods of silence broken up by a loud noise or sudden demon visit. I wouldn’t have a problem with this structure if these jumpscares were used in moderation, but the movie practically implements them back-to-back on multiple occasions, all following the exact same setup and payoff. As such, the scares feel more repetitive and predictable, harming the film’s tension as the build-ups become more stale.

This is not to say there are zero good moments of terror in the time leading up to the climax, as there are a fair share of standout sequences. Without spoiling, two highlight scenes for me include one where the Smurls eat breakfast together and another where Judy is secluded in a room full of mirrors. These parts utilized more than just jumpscares, with both including uncomfortable imagery and the latter implementing a standout claustrophobic tone. I wish the entire film had tackled its scare factor in a similar way to these scenes, as it would’ve helped the tension feel more impactful and less one-note. 

Retiring the Crucifix

Overall, despite the merits of its cast, thoroughly written characters, and intense third act, The Conjuring: Last Rites suffers from a slow buildup, repetitive scares, and lack of tension which ultimately prevents it from being great. Though better than other installments in this universe, it still could have left much more of an impact, especially for the conclusion of one of the biggest franchises in modern horror. 

If you’re expecting a finale with grand scale and heart-racing stakes, this film is admittedly a far cry from the first two installments. But if you’re a fan of the previous Conjuring films and spin-offs or enjoy spooky tales of the supernatural, this is a serviceable watch ahead of Halloween. Anyone interested in this movie can check it out at theaters nationwide–including the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas on Route 57. If you’re interested in catching Ed and Lorraine’s last case on the big screen, this is a satisfactory way to fulfill your desires. 

This finale may lack some of what made the original movies special, but it serves as a solid sendoff to Ed and Lorraine’s story as they close the file on their concluding case.

My Rating