The Conjuring: Last Rites Review: A Familiar Farewell, Not a Frightful Finale

Introduction

After years of spectral encounters and demonic confrontations, the curtain supposedly falls on the iconic paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, in The Conjuring: Last Rites. Heralded as the "biggest case yet" for the seasoned demonologists, this installment aims to bring their journey full circle, tying back to the very beginning of their chilling careers. Audiences were primed for a grand, terrifying send-off, a true culmination of the franchise's legacy. However, what arrives on screen is a film that, despite its intentions, often feels like a familiar echo rather than a fresh, terrifying scream.

The Lead Dynamic & The Action

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as the beloved Warrens, embodying their roles with the practiced ease of veterans. Yet, there's a sense that even these formidable actors are operating "on autopilot" at this point, delivering performances that, while competent, lack the initial spark and urgency that defined their earlier appearances. The film does manage to conjure a few "cool conjuring moments," utilizing "creepy imagery," clever "tricks with lights," and a smattering of well-placed jump scares to momentarily jolt the audience. However, these fleeting moments of classic horror are often overshadowed by a narrative that feels "too packed" and unfocused. One particularly baffling sequence involves a character's inexplicable, high-speed car crash just to travel a short distance, a moment of "dumb decision making" that pulls viewers right out of the tension. And when a major CGI entity makes an appearance, it "stands out in the worst way possible," undermining the film's attempts at genuine dread.

Cameos, Nostalgia & Narrative Stakes

The Conjuring: Last Rites attempts to juggle multiple plot threads, introducing the Warrens' daughter's engagement and her inherited psychic senses. This "boring family drama element" unfortunately takes center stage, diverting precious screen time from the core haunted house narrative. The film struggles to balance the established formula of a family terrorized by spirits with the new, less compelling subplot of the Warren family's personal struggles. The reviewer notes that the film would have benefited greatly from trading "some of that Warren family drama nonsense for some more time with the family being haunted." Even a seemingly innocuous rhyme taught by Lorraine to her daughter feels like a "continuity error" when juxtaposed with the gravity of battling actual demons from hell, highlighting a tonal inconsistency that plagues the narrative.

Tone, Direction & Creative Freedom

Under the direction of Michael Chaves, the film attempts to recapture the chilling atmosphere of earlier installments, particularly when it channels the "first Conjuring movie" with its use of dark corners and unseen threats. These are the moments when the film is "at its strongest." However, the overall pacing feels bloated, stretching a "pretty solid hour and a half long movie" into an unnecessary 2 hours and 15 minutes. This extended runtime only serves to highlight the film's generic qualities, making it feel like "the same conjuring formula you already know." The sense of "cinematic authority" that arrives with the Warrens is present, but it's often too little, too late, as the film has already meandered through less engaging subplots. The creative choices often feel safe and familiar, rather than pushing the boundaries for a supposed grand finale.

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Conjuring: Last Rites arrives as a "sad too little too late kind of scenario." It's not the high-note farewell fans might have hoped for, but rather a film that leaves audiences with a distinct feeling of "I've been here before. I've seen this before." Despite a few genuinely creepy moments and the comforting presence of its lead stars, the movie struggles under the weight of an overstuffed plot and a generic approach to its scares. It's a conclusion that, much like many of its haunted house predecessors, is unlikely to linger long in the memory.