Movie Review: The Conjuring: Last Rites

The long-running Conjuring universe closes its haunted doors with The Conjuring: Last Rites, a fitting farewell that still knows how to raise goosebumps. As the final installment, it carries the weight of a decade of demonic lore, yet manages to deliver fresh shivers and a surprisingly warm curtain call for Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga).

The scares remain sharp and cunning. Director Michael Chaves stretches suspense until it almost snaps, with shots lingering just long enough for you to scour every shadowy corner, waiting for the inevitable jump. Often, the terror lurks in the periphery, teasing you before finally striking, which makes each payoff land harder.

They could have explained why evil has been after Judy Warren since she was born. The central haunting revolves around an old woman and her deranged husband, a macabre pairing whose backstory is only briefly recounted. For me it’s a missed opportunity. Flashbacks or deeper exploration of their twisted history could have added richer menace and emotional weight. Still, their ghostly appearances, complete with unnerving makeup and silent rage, are nightmarish enough to leave an impression.

Production design remains a series hallmark, and here it’s a character of its own. Every creak of wood and flicker of candlelight feels loaded. An antique mirror, never overtly used as a scare device, radiates dread simply by existing in the frame, a testament to the crew’s craft.

But this isn’t all darkness. The film concludes on a note of peace as Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) weds, offering the beleaguered family a moment of long-awaited calm. Fans will appreciate the affectionate cameos from franchise godfather James Wan to Lili Taylor, who starred in the very first Conjuring, which feel like a bow to the faithful audience.

The Conjuring: Last Rites may not break new ground, but it honors the series’ legacy with nerve-fraying suspense, unsettling imagery, and a finale that lets the Warrens and viewers finally exhale. Still showing in cinemas from Warner Bros. Pictures.