The Conjuring franchise has come to an end with its last installation titled Last Rites. Based on the case that made the real Ed and Lorraine Warren quit, the film ties loose ends related to Annabelle and the Warrens’ life’s work. Upon its release, the film has already stirred mixed reviews from critics and fans alike.
The Conjuring multiverse has been successful so far with its releases, with three Annabelle films and The Nun prequel. Much like Insidious, it is one of the longest running horror movie series that is beloved by many, mostly due to Ed and Loraine’s endearing love story. But amongst the romance is also the bone-chilling depictions of real-life hauntings researched and solved by the Warrens.
For a long time the Warrens’ work has been considered controversial or hoaxes by many. But The Conjuring series has resurfaced curiosity towards the real cases after many years. Now, Last Rites is the closing chapter to Ed and Lorainne’s story.
The story so far
The first Conjuring, directed by Insidious and Saw director James Wan, released back in 2013. Compared to other supernatural horror films, this one had a certain edge to it. Other than being based on infamous true stories, The Conjuring was more than just a horror. It is a love story of Ed and Loraine and a biographical story of their life’s work.
The real Ed and Lorraine are demonologists who founded New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952. Ed was a World War II veteran who developed an interest in the occult, turning to paranormal research soon after. Lorraine claimed to be a medium, able to communicate and see the demons Ed discovered. The first film follows the Perron family, who are tormented by things that go bump in the night in their home. The ancient spirit Bathsheba had latched onto Mrs. Perron, using her body as a vessel. In the end, the Warrens exorcise the demon from her body with the help of their crew.
The sequel is based on the Enfield Poltergeist, a case that to this day is deemed a hoax by many. The Warrens believe their story and travel to North London; they try their best to vanquish the demon only to realize the real culprit is Valak. The ancient nun-demon has had a vendetta against Lorraine and disguises itself as a nun to test her faith.
The Devil Made Me Do It depicts the first American murder trial where demon possession is used as a defense. But the Warrens believe the root of it leads to a demon possession. After exorcising 8-year old David Glatzel, his brother asks the demon to take his place instead of his brother. This plan goes awry when the demon possession makes Arne do awful things. After finding a witch’s totem, the Warrens learn that an occultist is behind it all.
Last Rites review
The Smurl haunting in Pennsylvania was allegedly haunted by a demonic spirit for a decade. The family reported experiencing physical and sexual assaults, objects mysteriously moving on their own, and bad odors. Their story quickly caught the attention of Ed and Lorraine who investigated the case alongside the Catholic Church.
The last two Conjuring movies have been directed by Michael Chaves, taking the place of James Wan. Religious imagery has never been more present within a horror film, almost teetering towards religious propaganda. But then again, the Conjuring universe is a dramatized version of the real-life Warrens that consist of possessed objects and vengeful demons.
Last Rites is the least terrifying of the four films, focusing instead on familial themes. The film centers around Judy Warren who, like her own mother, is spiritually sensitive. Annabelle returns to haunt Judy as her parents investigate the Smurl family. Last Rites is a crucial last chapter for the Warrens as it depicts their last case before retirement. Though it is meant to be a heartwarming farewell, Last Rites lacks the eerie-ness that made the first two movies great.
Even The Devil Made Me Do It— which steered more towards a detective investigation– felt flimsy, but still pumped with horror. Last Rites was more of a slow burn with cheap jump scares that were predictable. Part of what sets the Conjuring films apart from other supernatural horror films is the lack of cheap jump scares. There was too much focus on Judy and her doe-eyed fiance Tony Spera– who has worked with the Warrens since the 80s.
Critics call it a “sluggish” film that is “something akin to dad-rock horror,” according to The Guardian. And instead of the typical horror, “there are 75 minutes of beigey soap before the usual satanic hokey-cokey kicks off…” While Ed and Lorraine’s relationship is the heart of the franchise, their characters have had a downgrade since the first film. As opposed to the team work that him and his wife had in the previous films, Last Rites‘ focus was mainly on Judy. And because of the slow pacing, there wasn’t enough time for the Smurl family to get their screen time with the Warrens.
The previous films ensured that the audience had a good sense of these families by giving their characters enough screen time. Last Rites, however, seemed to have forgotten about the Smurls entirely by making their haunting about Judy Warren. While Judy is one of the central characters as Ed and Lorraine’s daughter, bringing Annabelle back felt lazy. The porcelain doll, based on the real Raggedy Ann, comes back for one more vengeance against Judy Warren. But instead of having a terrifying effect, her role didn’t make sense. And what of Ed? His heart problems had seemed to worsen throughout each film since the second Conjuring. It would’ve been interesting to see his character have a stronger role for the last chapter.
“As to why this particular case, it’s actually pretty personal for me. The movie, the TV movie that came out in the early ’90s, called The Haunted, starring Sally Kirkland, was the movie that introduced me to Ed and Lorraine Warren. It just felt full circle for me to come back and use this particular case, the Smurl case, as the last one,” Wan says about Last Rites. As an ex-director and now producer of the films, Wan keeps these films close to his heart. But while the last installation was supposed to be special, it instead lacked what made the previous films special.
Saying goodbye
After a four film series and spin-offs, the Conjuring multiverse has come to an end. The ending of Last Rites gave the film a nice touch by bringing in Cindy Perron from the first film and adding a James Wan cameo. “Last Rites reminds us over and over that this is indeed the final chapter through a myriad of ways, including cameos by a plethora of supporting Conjuring characters over the years,” according to Bloody Disgusting.
While there were some cons to the film, there was also pros. Judy’s character, though underdeveloped, allowed the Warrens to show their overprotective side as parents. This is a theme present in the previous films when Judy was just a little girl, only Last Rites gives Judy the limelight as she navigates her parents’ horrifying family business. The film also allows Lorraine to confront old fears she had been running away from.
Last Rites serves as a bittersweet farewell to a franchise that has redefined modern supernatural horror. While it’s not without flaws, it honors the emotional and spiritual legacy of the Warrens. By bringing back familiar faces and returning to the emotionally-driven horror that defined the early films, Last Rites reminds audiences why they connected with these stories in the first place.
Whether you believed in their real-life claims or not, the cinematic versions of the Warrens gave audiences something rare in horror: heart. Even as the universe expanded with the Annabelle trilogy, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona, it always circled back to the Warrens. Last Rites, while not the strongest in terms of plot, still delivers closure for its long-time fans. A way to give the Warren characters a send-off, or final goodbye. It reminds us that the Warrens’ sacrifices were not just about exorcising evil spirits, but also about family.
It’s also worth acknowledging that The Conjuring films reignited interest in a type of horror that had grown stale in the early 2010s. Where found footage and gore-driven franchises were popular, The Conjuring brought back a grainy, atmospheric style similar to 70s horror. James Wan’s careful pacing without excessive violence helped shift horror trends back toward suspense and dread.
So what happens next? So far, there are no announced spin-offs. When asked why the film focused on the Smurl case, Wan said, “We don’t want to be doing this 20 movies down the line, where we’ve driven the franchise into the ground. We love the idea that we’re going out with a big bang…It just feels right.”
