THE CONJURING: LAST RITES (2025)

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Michael Chaves
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy
Runtime: 2 hr 15 mins
Rating: NC16 (Horror and Violence)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 4 September 2025

Synopsis: 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. Experience the case that strikes at the core of Ed and Lorraine’s mission and attacks the very heart of the Warren family… their daughter, Judy.

Movie Review:

It’s only a matter of time — like every movie universe, The Conjuring saga will eventually come to a close. Since its debut, the horror franchise has been a commercial powerhouse, drawing audiences into the chilling, “based-on-true-events” tales of Ed and Lorraine Warren, real-life paranormal investigators.

The husband-and-wife duo became synonymous with some of the most infamous — and controversial — haunting cases ever recorded. Beyond their investigations, the universe expanded with spine-tingling spin-offs, most notably featuring Annabelle, the cursed doll, and the terrifying demonic Nun, each adding fresh layers of fear to the growing mythology.

The ninth and final entry in the series is aptly titled Last Rites, bringing closure to the hauntings that have haunted audiences since 2013. Over the years, the franchise has delivered some unforgettable moments — who could forget the chilling clap in the dark from the very first film, a scene that still lingers in horror fans’ minds?

Of course, not every installment was flawless, but each contributed to the eerie legacy of the Warrens’ cinematic journey. While Last Rites may not strike every note needed to send shivers racing down your spine, it succeeds in a different way — by reminding us how far the Warrens have come, not just as paranormal investigators, but as a family.

The film opens with a near-tragedy during the birth of the Warrens’ daughter, Judy — an emotionally charged sequence anchored by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who once again bring gravitas to their roles. As the narrative progresses, Judy (played with quiet sensitivity by Mia Tomlinson) comes into her own, experiencing first love and a budding romance with a young man (Ben Hardy).

Interestingly, much of the dramatic weight comes not from supernatural encounters, but from the Warrens’ reactions to Judy’s growing independence. For long stretches of the 135-minute runtime, the film trades in haunted-house scares for domestic drama, blurring the line between horror and family melodrama. While this shift in focus may surprise audiences expecting relentless chills, it does lend the characters a grounded, human dimension rarely explored in the franchise.

The wholesome family moments are punctuated by chilling sequences drawn from the infamous Smurl hauntings in Pennsylvania, the real-life case on which the film is based. These set pieces are staged with unsettling precision — from a young girl violently expelling blood to a man overtaken by possession in the dead of night.

The tension escalates further when Judy herself begins to encounter the supernatural, with one particularly memorable scene trapping her inside a suffocating, mirror-lined changing room. Inevitably, the path leads the Warrens to the Smurl residence, where the film builds toward its climactic confrontation between the couple and the demonic entity.

The scares in Last Rites lean toward standard studio fare — slick, polished, and safely executed, which may explain why the film never feels as raw or unsettling as earlier entries. That said, it’s far from a disappointment (unless you’re firmly against horror altogether). As a finale, it works reasonably well, offering a fitting send-off for the Warrens, with the narrative framing this as their final case due to its devastating toll.

Of course, whether this truly marks the end of the Conjuring universe remains to be seen. Given the array of cursed artifacts still sitting in the Warrens’ occult museum, it wouldn’t be surprising if more stories eventually crawl their way onto the big screen.

Movie Rating:

(In the end, The Conjuring Universe closes not with a scream, but with the reminder that it’s family that lingers)

Review by John Li