Opening in theaters September 5 is ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites,’ directed by Michael Chaves and starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, and Steve Coulter.
gb9DOCOXvGEq5NH7gF1ZL4Related Article: ‘The Conjuring’ Stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson Pay Tribute to Lorraine Warren
Initial Thoughts
It’s kind of amazing to realize that the ‘Conjuring’ universe is the only successful shared cinematic universe that doesn’t have superheroes in it. But after 12 years and $2.2 billion in box office receipts, this spooky paranormal saga revolving primarily around the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren is finally coming to a close.
After the tedious, going-through-the-motions disappointment of 2021’s ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,’ we’re glad to report that ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ finds the series on much better footing as it heads for the door. While it doesn’t quite match up to the first two installments, and there’s a certain amount of formula now permanently ingrained in the proceedings, ‘Last Rites’ is a more energetic, creepier, and emotional sendoff, anchored like all these films by the chemistry between stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Story and Direction
It’s 1986, and Ed and Lorraine Warren are all but retired from the paranormal investigation business due to Ed’s health issues and Lorraine’s fear of bringing evil forces down upon their heads and that of their now grown daughter Judy. At the same time, Ed is restless: the couple find themselves lecturing to near-empty college classrooms full of snickering students, and he’s not adapting well to a private life where he has to order the salad in a restaurant instead of lasagna.
So when they are approached about the case of Jack and Janet Smurl – whose family and house in West Pittston, Pennsylvania are seemingly under assault from a demonic entity – the Warrens find themselves pulled back in just when they thought they were out. But there’s an added wrinkle, as whatever is haunting the Smurls has its sights set on Judy as well, and is already sinking its psychic talons into her.
Director Michael Chaves – returning from ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ – seems more confident here, even though he sticks squarely to the cinematic playbook of ‘Conjuring’ franchise mastermind and original series director James Wan. That means we get Wan’s trademark sweeps of dark rooms with even darker corners, which are surprisingly still effective: you can’t help but tense up anytime the camera lingers on those negative spaces. The demonic apparitions are spooky if fairly familiar, and some of the film plays like a ‘greatest hits’ as even haunted doll Annabelle makes a return for reasons that remain unclear at best.
But it’s the additional stakes for the Warrens that make ‘Last Rites’ largely work. While the film suffers from being a bit too long and suffers from stop-and-go pacing accordingly, the script (by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and series regular David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by Johnson-McGoldrick and Wan) puts much more emphasis on the family dynamics of the Warrens as they try to leave their past behind for the sake of their health and safety. We have no idea what the Warrens were like in real life or whether they believed in what they were doing, but the fictional family portrayed here is likable, brave, and sympathetic. It’s what ultimately makes the scares land, and keeps the viewer invested even through the clumsier parts.
Cast and Performances
As noted earlier, the main ‘Conjuring’ films have benefited enormously from the work of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They have become as comfortable in the roles as your favorite Marvel or ‘Fast and the Furious’ superhero, and their empathy and warmth go a long way in making this horror franchise relatable. The pair also do a lot of the heavy lifting here, especially when the script bogs down, and they add enough to the more emotional moments to sell them successfully.
The rest of the cast is fine, if somewhat generic. Mia Tomlinson gets some moments to shine as the Warrens’ daughter Judy, while Ben Hardy is likable if a bit bland as her boyfriend Tony. The Smurls, unfortunately, are a more generic lot, and with much of the emphasis on the Warrens, the family at the center of the haunting never really rises above the level of ghostly punching bags.
Final Thoughts
As with any sustained media franchise, the universe of ‘The Conjuring’ has had its highs and lows. The third ‘Conjuring’ film, both ‘Nun’ entries, and the first ‘Annabelle’ probably rank pretty low, while the initial ‘Conjuring’ films and the underrated ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ sit at the top of the heap.
‘Last Rites’ ends up somewhere in the middle, perhaps a bit closer to the top thanks to the emotional connection of its leads and its ability to still mine some genuine scares out of this material. The end of the film gives the Warrens a satisfying goodbye, and no matter what you think about the real-life couple or their alleged experiences, James Wan and company have created a horror saga in which good-hearted characters are the protagonists, not a masked killer or supernatural being. We’ll take over all the Jasons and Art the Clowns in the world.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ receives a score of 75 out of 100.
What is the plot of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’?
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) take on one last case that may prove to be their most dangerous yet, as a demonic entity attacks not just an innocent family but the Warrens’ daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson).
Who is in the cast of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’?
- Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren
- Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren
- Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren
- Ben Hardy as Tony Spera
- Rebecca Calder as Janet Smurl
- Elliot Cowan as Jack Smurl
- Steve Coulter as Father Gordon
- Kíla Lord Cassidy as Heather Smurl
- Beau Gadsdon as Dawn Smurl
- Molly Cartwright as Shannon Smurl
Other Movies in ‘The Conjuring’ Franchise:
- ‘The Conjuring‘ (2013)
- ‘Annabelle’ (2014)
- ‘The Conjuring 2‘ (2016)
- ‘Annabelle: Creation‘ (2017)
- ‘The Nun‘ (2018)
- ‘Annabelle Comes Home‘ (2019)
- ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It‘ (2021)
- ‘The Nun II‘ (2023)
