The Conjuring: Last Rites
review by Bobby Blakey
When James Wan introduced the world to The Conjuring starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in 2013, who would have thought it was going to spawn not only a franchise, but an entire universe of spin-off films. Since its debut we have gotten to witness not only the three main films in the franchise, but also The Nun 1 & 2, Anabelle films and The Curse of La Llorona. Now we are returning to what’s billed as the final case from the theatrical Warrens with the fourth film The Conjuring: Last Rites once again helmed by La Lorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It director Michael Chaves.
The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers another thrilling chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.
I have never been a big fan of the possessed and haunting side of the horror world, but I love this franchise. Getting this seemingly final chapter left me bummed but excited to see where they were going to go with it. They have created a strong franchise here and how can you easily wrap it up with so many other cases they could deal with? This film found a way to do just that by not only taking some of the tone back to what made the original so great, but also deeper into the lives of the Warrens themselves.
We know what we are getting in these films, so you have expectations going in. One of the things I loved so much about this chapter is that it spent time with the Warren’s in their personal lives and evolution of family, most notably their daughter Judy. While we are letting the story of the latest case do its build up for all the horror stuff, we see the Warren family as a normal group of people
and their own struggles of life and growth, and it makes them stronger for it. I know they have embellished the Judy story into something bigger here, but I was here for it, and I think gave it that extra something it needed to feel different while still familiar.
Don’t worry though when it gets to the case it goes all in with some great visuals, violence and new ways to scare audiences. There are plenty of jump scares that are well executed without just feeling cliched along with some beautiful cinematography that screams vintage horror. I think the final act to this film is one of the better of the franchise in that it felt everyone was involved and bringing something bigger to their legacy along with the usual insanity and terror that they face.
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Filled with the always great make-up effects and classic hauntings, this film really does a great job at not only finding its place in the Conjuring Universe, but as a good ending to this unexpected journey we all ended up on in 2013. The final moments of the film embrace the Warrens and their lives as well as some clever nods to the entire franchise and those behind it that felt like a fitting goodbye to it all.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including numerous featurettes taking audiences behind bringing this final chapter to life. Join Ed and Lorraine Warren for one final case when The Conjuring: Last Rites haunts its way onto digital available now and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on November 25th from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.
