There are nine films in the Conjuring Universe. Out of those nine movies, we see Ed and Lorraine Warren in six of them. This series has been one of the best horror series that have come out recently, even though not all the movies in the series are as strong as the ones centered on the Warrens. The Conjuring: Last Rites is the final movie in the Conjuring Universe, and while it is a good conclusion to the series, it doesn’t have the scares of the original Conjuring.
The movie begins in 1964, where we see a young Ed (Orion Smith) and Lorraine (Madison Lawlor) investigating an antique shop where the owner mysteriously hung himself. We see that Lorraine is pregnant and, after touching a possessed mirror, goes into labor. There is a frantic drive to get to the hospital on time, raising the tension of the opening moments. Even in a moment of joy, the Warrens have to protect themselves from surrounding evils. The movie goes into a montage of the Warrens and their daughter through the years. The Conjuring series has shown us the bond between Ed and Lorraine, while this one focuses on the bond between them and their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson).
The film jumps to 1986, where we are introduced to the Smurl family, who will become the next victims of an artifact revealed in the film’s opening moments. We also catch up with Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson), who are giving lectures about their cases at a community college. The duo has retired from taking on cases and spends their days on the road doing these lectures while working on a book about their lives.
The Conjuring: Last Rites somewhat lacks in scares. Most of the scary parts have been revealed in the trailer, which cheapens the scare when revealed. In my opinion, the less we are shown in the trailers for horror movies, the better the audience will be surprised when they see the movie. The film plays like a family drama due to the dynamics within the Smurl family and the Warrens. While the Smurls are dealing with an evil entity in their house, the Warrens deal with the next stage of their daughter’s life and keep her away from the family business.
Regarding the scares, we have seen a lot of these tropes before. The haunted baby doll. The creepy old woman. Saying that there is something evil in the attic or in the basement. Last Rites feels like a greatest hits of horror movies due to all of these tropes popping up. While it is always creepy seeing a baby doll crawling around, Last Rites does a good job of trying to make it feel fresh. Some scary moments take advantage of the technology of the day, in the way videotape cameras and VHS tapes are used to help with the investigation. Seeing the image reflected on the screen builds the anticipation of what is going to happen next.
The film rushes through the story of the Smurl family, which is based on a real-life event in Pennsylvania, to show their need for help from the Warrens. The moments we see the Smurls together feel chaotic. The family consists of the parents, 4 daughters, and the grandparents. The audience witnesses how the entity visits some family members and the effect it has on the family dynamics. Another trope we are shown is how the adults do not believe the kids until something happens to them.
Final Thoughts: The Conjuring: Last Rites is a great conclusion to the Conjuring Universe, but lacks some of the scares we have come to enjoy. While the film’s runtime takes a while to get its footing, it is in the third act that the action really picks up. The final “battle” doesn’t feel as spectacular as what has come before it. Overall, this movie, along with the series, shows the audience that Ed and Lorraine Warren are pioneers in their field with over 1000 cases. Knowing that always makes these films creepy to watch. Keep your eyes open for easter eggs from previous films.
Violence: The Conjuring: Last Rites is violent in the way it depicts acts of violence from the entity’s possession of people and objects. From spitting out blood to using an axe on a person, some grotesque images are front and center on the screen.
Kid-Friendly: If your kid has seen the other movies in the Conjuring Universe, they will be ok with this one. The scares are not as much, but for younger kids, it could keep them up at night. If you want to let your younger kids watch this, I suggest going to a matinee or waiting until it is on a streaming service.
The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers another thrilling chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.