The Conjuring Last Rites review shows the final adventure of Ed and Lorraine Warren, but it struggles to deliver the series’ usual thrills. While the movie starts with promise, it gradually loses momentum and never fully regains it.
Set in 1986, the film draws inspiration from the real-life Smurl family, who reported terrifying hauntings in their Pennsylvania home. The story begins when Heather (Kíla Lord Cassidy), the eldest daughter, receives an antique mirror from her grandparents. Strange events quickly unfold: ceilings collapse, family members see frightening visions, and one even coughs up blood. Attempts to remove the mirror prove difficult, keeping the tension alive in the early scenes.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Though James Wan, director of the first two Conjuring films, provides a story credit, Michael Chaves takes the helm. Chaves has guided several films in the Conjuring Universe, including The Curse of La Llorona, The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Nun II. His early efforts struggled to capture Wan’s signature mix of suspense and fun, but Last Rites demonstrates his improved skill in building tension.
The film features effective horror sequences, particularly early on. A scene with Janet Smurl (Rebecca Calder) performing routine household chores while eerie occurrences escalate is particularly memorable. Chaves uses shadows and creative visuals in the basement sequence to evoke genuine fear. Multiple supernatural presences appear, including a menacing axe-wielding spirit that delivers some of the movie’s strongest scares.
However, the Warrens’ role in the story is oddly delayed. A prologue hints at their past connection to the mirror, yet for over an hour, they remain unaware of the Smurls’ plight. Ed’s heart problems explain their temporary step back from cases, but the film misses opportunities to show them hearing about the Smurls from afar or debating whether to get involved. This long separation fragments the narrative and reduces the tension built in the early act.
The Warrens’ personal storyline focuses on their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson), who is inheriting her mother’s psychic abilities. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga remain compelling in their roles, and Tomlinson and Ben Hardy (as Judy’s boyfriend Tony) deliver strong performances. Some scenes, like Judy’s reflection-filled encounter in a fitting room, are visually striking and unsettling. Still, the film spends too much time on the family’s domestic life, including sequences that feel mundane, such as Ed playing ping pong with Tony.
The delayed convergence of the Warrens and the Smurls weakens the film’s pacing. Once the characters unite, the energy that made the early horror scenes engaging has faded. Despite some standout moments, including a noteworthy Annabelle cameo, the movie struggles to feel cohesive. Heather, initially a central figure, becomes peripheral, diminishing the impact of her early story arc.
Conjuring Last Rites review highlights both strengths and weaknesses. The film contains effective scares and atmospheric tension, showcasing Chaves’ improved direction. Yet, the split focus between the Smurls’ haunting and the Warrens’ family life makes the movie feel disjointed. Fans of the series may appreciate the familiar characters and creative visuals, but the story never quite reaches the suspenseful heights of earlier installments.
Overall, Conjuring Last Rites offers a tense horror experience but suffers from slow pacing and uneven storytelling. While there are memorable moments and strong performances, the Warrens’ final cinematic case lacks the full impact expected from the beloved horror franchise.
