Married paranormal investigators and demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren return for one last case in the final The Conjuring film, The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Directed by Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), The Conjuring: Last Rites opens in 1964 with a pregnant Lorraine (Madison Lawlor) and her husband, Ed (Orion Smith), investigating the haunting of a family-owned shop. Lorraine is drawn to a creepy-looking, full-length, wooden-framed mirror, and when she touches it, an evil entity attacks her and causes her to go into labor. Lorraine and Ed are filled with happiness as they hold their newborn daughter, Judy, following an intense delivery and a brief, deadly scare.
The action then jumps to 1986 and focuses on the Smurl family of Pennsylvania as Heather Smurl (Kila Lord Cassidy) is having her confirmation ceremony at the family church. Later, as part of the celebration, her family gives Heather the same mirror that affected Lorraine years earlier. This sets off strange and violent events in the Smurl home, with a malevolent force attacking the family.
Meanwhile, Ed and Lorraine (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) have retired from paranormal investigating and now spend their time delivering lectures at college campuses, but attendance is dwindling. Their now young adult daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson), tries to reassure them that people are interested in their stories from their demon-fighting days.
During Ed’s birthday celebration, Lorraine notices Judy sitting alone in her room looking worried. They talk and Lorraine reminds Judy how to stop seeing ghosts and other disturbing images by reciting a child’s limerick and forcing the images away mentally. “You can stop it,” Lorraine assures Judy. It seems Judy is also clairvoyant, just like her mom.
A short while later, Judy’s boyfriend, Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), asks for their blessing to ask Judy to marry him. Lorraine and a reluctant Ed agree just as Judy walks in, sees the ring on the ping pong table, and realizes what is going on. Before Tony can even propose, she blurts out, “YES!” and the two are engaged.
As the party starts to wind down, the Warrens’ old friend, Father Gordon (Steve Coulter), tells them about a family in Pennsylvania who could use their help. Lorraine quickly shuts him down, saying, “Those days are behind us, Father,” and he leaves.
However, after a tragic incident and Judy feeling a connection to the entity at the Smurl home, Ed and Lorraine realize they must take on one last case to not only save the Smurl family from the demon terrorizing them but Judy as well.
Missing the effective scares and chills that powered the first two Conjuring films into horror blockbusters, The Conjuring: Last Rites is more of an eccentric family drama than a horror film. It has strong performances but lacks any original frights.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson deliver strong, touching performances as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who are compelled to return to battling evil forces in order to protect yet another family and their own daughter. They are the emotional core of the film and still exhibit wonderful on-screen chemistry. In fact, the best part of the film is when it focuses on them and Judy preparing for Judy’s wedding day.
Mia Tomlinson delivers a very effective performance as young adult Judy, who is struggling with her clairvoyant powers and is getting a deeper understanding of why her parents spent so much time away from her helping families being terrorized by the supernatural. Tomlinson has solid chemistry with Farmiga as mother and daughter.
The production design is once again excellent, bringing 1986 to life on the screen via period cars, clothes, hairstyles, furniture, toys, and cameras. The audience is sure to feel as if they have traveled back in time.
Unfortunately, what’s missing this time out are the creative and original creepy images, sounds, and scares that were perfectly crafted in the first two films. Not one scary scene is original; rather, the filmmakers recreate scenes from the earlier Conjuring films as well as other classic horror films such as The Omen, The Exorcist, and The Shining. Even the creepy full-length wooden mirror seems inspired by the 2013 horror film Oculus.
Heartfelt but missing spine-chilling fright, The Conjuring: Last Rites is a well-acted and even touching send-off to the Warrens and their spiritual, ghost-hunting world.
GRADE: B-
Rating: R for terror and bloody, violent content
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Studio: New Line Cinema
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