WAS 'THE CONJURING: LAST RITES' A WORTHY CURTAIN CALL?

Director: Michael Chaves
Release Date: September 5th 2025
Genre: Horror/Supernatural

After 12 years, we’ve reached the final installment in The Conjuring Universe. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back on our screens one last time as Ed and Lorraine Warren to take on the infamous case of the Smurl Family Haunting. Personally, I went into this with high expectations due to this being the final case the Warrens took on in their career. And I can confirm, I was not disappointed.

The movie opens with a flashback of 1964 where we see both the first encounter with the entity of the cursed antique mirror, and the birth of Judy Warren. Fast forward 20+ years, we begin to see the hauntings that took place in the Smurl Family home in Pennsylvania. As the Warrens had taken a step back from the paranormal, we see a more warm and emotional side as they set their priority as being parents to their very own miracle, Judy Warren.

With Ed’s health worsening and the Warrens themselves aging, we begin to see the threats around the family. The performance throughout this movie from both Patrick and Vera was absolutely outstanding. The pure and genuine emotion was enough to give goosebumps. The weight given to the family nature is enough to tickle on your heart strings. The chemistry between our two leads seems to solidify the attachment to our favorite horror movie couple.

The effects and scares in this movie were also applaudable. There are many scenes that have you on the edge of your seat with suspense. With a mix of jump scares and the eerie paranormal elements, it's enough to keep you thinking about as you try to sleep. One fault I will say about the scare factor , is the movie trailer. There were multiple scenes shown in the trailer that spoiled some iconic scares in the movie. Personally I believe they would have been perfect moments if not spoiled. At the same time, with such a big movie franchise, it would be quite difficult trying to avoid any trailers. The score also contributes to the atmosphere, in which I cannot fault.

Personally I enjoyed the slow burn pace. It felt more detailed into the personal life of the Warrens but I can't say the same for the Smurl Family. The comedic element of iconic one liners was also present. This included lines such as “sometimes its waffles” and “I wish I could have lasagne”. This was another touch that I really enjoyed.

I was very satisfied with the conclusion of The Conjuring Universe. There was a sense of familiarity and emotion. In the final scene, we see the wedding of Judy and Tony (played by Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy). There are a lot of familiar faces in attendance, including James Wan, director of The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2. Also present were characters from the other movies in the franchise, including; Officer Brad Hamilton (The Conjuring), Carolyn and Cindy Perrin (The Conjuring), Peggy and Janet Hodgson (The Conjuring 2) and David Glatzel (The Conjuring:The Devil Made Me Do It).

This felt like a beautiful tribute to the franchise as a whole. As we said a bittersweet goodbye, we also realized why people keep returning to the movies, the real human stories at its core. While this movie itself may not be the most frightening, it most certainly is a worthy curtain call.