The Conjuring: Last Rites ★★★★

Released: 5 September 2025

Director: Michael Chaves

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

The horror genre tends to test its audience endurance. Some love it whilst some are repulsed by the amount of blood lost and unfathomable gore. For people like myself, who love horrors but perhaps not in their entirety, The Conjuring franchise has proven to be a refreshing thrill – one that mixes jump scares and a narrative that still has some heart within it. The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the end of the road for the paranormal investigators and real-life couple Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the ending is unexpectedly emotional.

In 1964, we see a flashback to a young version of the Warrens preparing to welcome their first child but things take a turn when Lorraine comes face-to-face with an evil-spirited mirror. As Lorraine’s labour is triggered, their daughter Judy is born stillborn – until their prayers are answered and their family unit is restored. Fast forward 22 years and Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is grown and is bringing her boyfriend Tony (Ben Hardy) into the fold.

Last Rites explores the true story of the Smurl family, who claimed their Pennsylvania home had been invaded by an horrific presence. The unexplained occurrences begin when eldest daughter Heather (Kila Lord Cassidy) is gifted a creepy large mirror by her grandparents in celebration of her confirmation. Suddenly, a heavy kitchen light crashes down and it all goes downhill from there. From disturbing sights, to Heather’s sister coughing up blood and mirror fragments – the easy option is to simply get rid of it, but nothing in life is that simple.

It seems the past has come to haunt the Warrens for their final case, and the evil spirit in the Smurl’s home is the same one that almost generated heartbreak for Ed and Lorraine. Picking up 5 years after the events of The Devil Made Me Do It, Judy is now experiencing heightened visions similar to her mother and finds herself at the Smurl’s, pleading with her parents to help get rid of whatever is on the war path to destroy both families’ lives.

In comparison to the previous films such as The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016), the case doesn’t start being investigated until just over an hour into the film. Returning director Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, 2021), instead chooses to focus its first act on the Warrens as they navigate their ‘retirement’ from investigating due to Ed’s health issues. Chaves’ pace is rather impressive going from emotion to intensity and back again within a short time span. The Smurl case is one that required the most sacrifices from the family and clearly marks the end of the road for them on this journey. So audience members may still question if this really is the end of Ed and Lorraine, but its final act is a mash-up of various call backs to the previous films, including those directed by James Wan. It’s emotive, a lot more than anticipated but that is what is so great about this franchise. It suits everyone’s needs whether you like ghost stories, love jump scares but also want to feel connected to the story in an emotive way.

Arguably, The Conjuring films would not be what they are without the performances from Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson. The real Ed and Lorraine Warren may have a reputation outside of the films, but Farmiga and Wilson’s portrayal has provided a new wave of credibility for them. It helps that both stars have undeniable chemistry that appears both heartfelt and earnest onscreen and off for the last 15 years. For fans, it’s genuinely a sad moment to say goodbye to these characters but Last Rites allows them to have some peace and quiet as they embark on their own new chapter.

As a franchise, there is no doubt it will go down as one of the most pivotal horror series’ in history. One that makes audiences care about its protagonists so much that you continuously want them to win. They mix the scary and care elements thoughtfully to a point where the films don’t overstay their welcome. We always want more. While Last Rites is probably the least scary out of the four films, it is a well deserved final piece in the puzzle for the series.