Directed by Michael Chaves
Starring Mia Tomlinson, Vera Farmiga, Ben Hardy, and Patrick Wilson
The highly anticipated ninth and final installment of The Conjuring series has finally been released in theatres and on streaming services. The Conjuring: Last Rites brings the story to a close, finally offering a long-awaited resolution. The series, spanning over twelve years, received overall mixed ratings from audiences and critics alike. Despite only having a total budget of $263 million, it became one of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time, making over $2.5 billion.
The first Conjuring film (2013) takes place in 1971, based on a true story. It follows married paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they protect a family from a spirit with malicious intentions. The entire series is set in the Northeast United States, with the exclusion of the second film, which takes place in London. The events of The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) occur fifteen years after the first movie, in 1986. The film is focused on both the retired Warrens and the innocent Smurl family, who are haunted by an evil force after buying an antique mirror as a confirmation gift for one of the children. The Smurls manage to get some media attention, bringing to light the torment the demon had been inflicting upon them. The Warrens had actually had an encounter with the mirror in 1964, when Lorraine was pregnant with their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson). Judy, having a demonic entity attached to her since birth, often experiences both visual and auditory hallucinations. Judy hears about the family and decides to help, feeling drawn to the mirror due to her possession. When Ed and Lorraine discover her plan, they decide to come out of retirement to aid their daughter.
The cinematography and imagery are by far some of the film’s strongest aspects. The costuming, makeup, expert camera work and filtering, and worldbuilding are virtually flawless. The way the opening scene connects pre-timeline Ed and Lorraine to the “present day” Warrens is almost perfect. Vera Farmiga never once fails to execute the fear and agitation brought on by her character’s anguish, making the audience feel as though she was destined to play her. On the other hand, many believe Patrick Wilson’s performance didn’t truly meet the precedent set by Farmiga in this film or by himself in the previous films. Nonetheless, the natural chemistry between the two is undeniable. It’s clearly consistent throughout the entire series, and it’s especially apparent in this addition. As for the horror, the technique of light and dark visual contrast adds to what would otherwise be a lackluster jumpscare. That being said, overall, the film’s legitimate scares are well thought out and well executed, with the exception of a few. Additionally, Beau Gadson, who plays the targeted Smurl daughter in the film, was exceptional for the structure she was given and her lack of notable acting experience.
While there are many good aspects, The Conjuring: Last Rites was definitely not without imperfections. The film was subjectively predictable, never particularly scary (except for a few moments), and too long for what it was. The predictability mostly came from the constant use of cliche horror tropes: Cars randomly fail to start during the climax, jump scares that you can see coming from a mile away, an overprotective dad who hates his daughter’s boyfriend, and an antagonist defeated by love. While these tropes could be effective, the film didn’t try to do anything new or interesting with them. At two hours and fifteen minutes, The Conjuring: Last Rites is undeniably long. While there’s nothing wrong with a long movie, it’s quite boring until the last thirty minutes. Mia Tomlinson’s performance stood out as being particularly inconsistent. She was okay for some of the film, but much of her line delivery was either too exaggerated or too flat for the context of the scene.
While the film itself falls short on some aspects, The Conjuring: Last Rites is not a bad movie. The ending is a touching, satisfying conclusion to the series, and there’s a consistent eerie ambiance throughout the entire film. Just don’t walk into the theater expecting a movie similar to the rest of The Conjuring franchise. The film is more straightforward, having most of the scares coming from a physical monster rather than a mysterious demonic presence, making it noticeably different from the rest of the franchise. If you like supernatural horror and an 80s aesthetic, go see it. However, if you’re a big fan of The Conjuring series, be sure to lower your expectations.
