By Jake Lavallee
Earlier this month, the horror film The Conjuring: Last Rites was released in theatres. This is reportedly the finale of the Conjuring film saga. The movie centers around a real-life incident explored in 1986 by Ed and Lorraine Warren, one of the many paranormal investigations they conducted in real life. As with the previous entries in the franchise, Last Rites takes heavy inspiration from real events while amplifying them for cinematic effect, leaning into supernatural spectacle and suspenseful moments designed to draw out the audience’s fear. While earlier installments balanced the horror with compelling storytelling, this film felt a little different. The case itself is not presented as strongly or as terrifyingly as in The Conjuring or The Conjuring 2; as a result, the movie leans more heavily on character drama than on its haunting sequences.
The story about the Warrens isn’t as compelling on a case level, but the movie shifts focus toward their personal lives. Last Rites emphasizes the family dynamic between Ed and Lorraine and their desire to step away from the dangerous “family business” of ghost hunting and exorcisms. This choice is a bold one—it trades jump scares for emotional resonance. Seeing the film in theatres, you might walk in expecting the same level of quality and terror as the earlier entries, but the experience is quieter, less frightening, and more intimate. The scares that are present don’t land with the same force or memorability, often relying on familiar tricks rather than inventive new imagery. Unlike the nerve-wracking tension of the first two films, the frights here fade quickly after they happen.
What makes the movie work, however, is its heart. The filmmakers clearly wanted to end the saga on a note of warmth, highlighting the Warrens not just as ghost hunters but as people with deep love for each other and their daughter. The film showcases family milestones—moments such as their daughter Judy getting engaged, dress shopping for a wedding, and quiet evenings filled with laughter and conversation. These scenes give the audience a sense of closure, reinforcing why viewers have connected to the Warrens for over a decade. By the time the credits roll, the emotional bond between the characters has become the central takeaway, not the scares.
While some longtime fans may leave disappointed by the lack of terrifying set pieces, others may find the approach refreshing. Horror franchises often burn out by repeating the same beats, but Last Rites tries to go in a different direction, one that highlights the humanity behind the legends. The movie feels like a farewell not only to the characters but also to the audience who has followed them for years. It might not be the scariest Conjuring film, but it is arguably the most personal. Ultimately, The Conjuring: Last Rites serves as a bittersweet conclusion to the franchise—less frightening than expected, but filled with love, heart, and a strong sense of finality.
