The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
The Conjuring: Last Rites is the latest, and supposedly last (at least chronologically), film in the Conjuring series, a sprawling franchise based on the careers of controversial paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Like its predecessors, it is loosely based on a true story.
The film begins in 1964. Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) collapses while investigating a possessed mirror, goes into labor, and is rushed to the hospital. The baby initially appears stillborn, but miraculously recovers after the Warrens pray fervently for their child’s recovery. This incident helps explain the Warrens’ devout and enduring religious beliefs.
The story then flashes forward to 1986. The aging Warrens are semi-retired and teaching at a university. Media coverage of their exploits have given them celebrity status, but they are content to live a quiet life, especially because Ed (Patrick Wilson) is having heart problems. Their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson), is now a young woman who’s in a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Tony Spera (Ben Hardy).
A priest approaches the Warrens about the Smurls, a family in Pennsylvania who are being terrorized by a demon in their home. The Warrens decline to get involved, but later change their mind when they discover that they have a personal connection to the case – the possessed mirror from 1964 is in the Smurl’s house.
Last Rites is, for the most part, a standard entry in the Conjuring universe. It has the same strengths and weaknesses as its predecessors. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga still have sparkling chemistry together. But the family drama is predictable and the story is too routine for anything truly shocking to happen.
The addition of an adult Judy, who, much to her parents’ chagrin, becomes involved in the investigation, adds a bit of a novel element. That said, Judy’s character arc is pretty routine. She has the typical parental and relationship issues. Mia Tomlinson has good chemistry with Farmiga and Wilson.
It features the same types of paranormal hijinks as the other films in the series. If those scared you, this might too. I found the jump scares predictable. There have been too many of these movies for Last Rites to be truly frightening.
Despite this, the film held my interest throughout, even though it’s well over two hours long. The strong production values and appealing cinematography help. When you watch as many low budget Tubi horror movies as I do, you learn to appreciate it when a movie looks and sounds nice.
Last Rites concludes with an interesting epilogue featuring footage of the real Warren family. It puts a bow on the film and the series as a whole.
Rating
The Conjuring: Last Rites is a predictable but entertaining addition to the franchise. It’s worth watching for people who are invested in the series.
Rating from 1 (avoid at all costs) to 10 (masterpiece): 7
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