Movie Review: The Conjuring: Last Rites
The Conjuring: Last Rites details the final case of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Verg Farmiga). It takes place in 1986 and brings the Warrens to Pennsylvania, where they face a terrifying evil that is possessing the Smurl family. But the evil they face is different than anything they faced before and puts the Warrens and the Smurls in grave danger.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is the grand finale for the Warrens and the Conjuring universe, and it is a spectacular finale for one of the best horror franchises of the 21st century. It’s relentlessly intense, features ridiculously fun jump scares, and is also the bloodiest entry in the Conjuring series, a series that, despite always having R-ratings, hasn’t had a lot of blood and gore and has gotten that rating specifically because of how terrifying they are. It is also a touching ending to Ed and Lorraine Warren and franchises two stars, Wilson and Farmiga.
Last Rites is directed by Michael Chaves, a frequent collaborator in the Conjuring universe who directed the last Conjuring film, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which was a bit of a letdown compared to the James Wan-directed Conjuring films and some of the other films within the franchise. But Chaves redeems himself with Last Rites. His direction is spot on, and he fully understands what made Wan’s Conjuring films so scary: the endless feeling of unease and tension. Wan set a precedent in the first two Conjuring films that the characters and the audience are never safe from the terror. You never knew when terror was around the corner, making the audience watch the film with a racing heart and a clutched armrest. Last Rites has that same feeling. Chaves quickly establishes that the evil in the Smurl house can show up at any time, which makes every scene in the home stressful and terrifying.
Beyond the scares and horror, the Conjuring series has always been about family and the relationship between Ed and Lorraine. Ed and Lorraine are paranormal superheroes. They go into places where nobody else would, they show up when there is no other option, they have a set of skills no one else has, and they use good to defeat the evilest of evil. Every Conjuring film has found the Warrens helping and saving a family while using their love and beliefs to help defeat whatever evil they are facing. In Last Rites, the Warrens need that more than ever when they discover the evil in the Smurl house might be something they’ve dealt with in their past. Chaves gives us enough quieter moments to help reestablish our love for Ed and Lorraine and introduce us to their now-grown-up daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson), who has the same abilities as Lorraine. Wilson are Farmiga are excellent once again and have firmly established themselves as horror icons with their performances in this franchise. The film’s final sequence is a surprisingly touching tribute to life, love, the greatness of the Warrens, and an appreciation for Wilson and Farmiga.
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