The Conjuring: Last Rites Review
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s journey as Ed and Lorraine Warren seems to come to a close with The Conjuring: Last Rites, now available on various VOD platforms like Amazon Prime Video. This, the fourth installment, is part of the sprawling universe that includes entries like Annabelle and The Nun. Although it managed to pull in about $460 million globally, it has received mixed reviews—some claiming it’s a snooze fest. While the earlier films offered a bit of charm with their period authenticity, jump scares, and humor, this latest outing feels like a tedious slog.
Key points: April 20, 1964, is a dark and stormy night as Ed and an expectant Lorraine start their paranormal investigation careers. They’re looking into an old, ornately framed mirror topped with three unsettling baby heads. Lorraine’s gaze into the mirror triggers typical horror tropes: unsettling sounds, eerie whispers, and an atmosphere filled with dread. It seems bad vibes abound; the glass shatters, sending Lorraine into premature labor. Ed rushes her to the hospital, but the haunting doesn’t let up. We catch snippets of the Warrens’ family life as they raise their daughter, Judy, who’s evidently affected by her mother’s sensitivities, reacting to vague scares most viewers will find mundane.
Fast forward to 1986, in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, we meet the Smar family—a typical, church-going bunch living in a spacious home with a creepy ambience. There’s Mom, Dad, two teenage daughters, younger twins, and the grandparents, living under one roof. One daughter, Heather, receives an unfortunate gift—a similar creepy mirror from her grandmother, indicating a connection to the Warrens’ story. It’s hard not to feel sympathy for Heather as she unwraps this nightmare fuel, which honestly, what teenage girl would want it?
With the arrival of the mirror, troubling events begin to unfold—lights flicker, items crash, and one teen even vomits blood. Meanwhile, Ed and Lorraine, who have since become renowned ghost hunters, are sidelined—after Ed suffers a heart attack, they pivot to home lectures. Their latest audience consists of college students who ask, “Are you guys like Ghostbusters?” Judy, now in her twenties and with a new boyfriend, Tony, finds herself caught up in a classic horror mess. After more than an hour of nothing particularly thrilling, Tony tags along with Judy to help the Smar family deal with the unsettling phenomena.
Which movie does it remind you of?: It’s hard not to think of various haunted house flicks where characters wander through waiting to be spooked. You know the type—one of them, anyway.
Featured performance: In previous outings, Wilson delivered some campy humor, but here, it feels like a missed opportunity.
Memorable dialogue: There’s a quaint exchange between Tony and Ed while preparing breakfast:
Tony: Do you always make pancakes? Is that part of the process?
Ed: I’m totally serious: Sometimes it’s waffles.
Gender and skin: Not applicable.
Our view: Rather than crafting genuine suspense, The Conjuring: Last Rites opts for tired plot devices, leading to a film that hardly thrills. While die-hard fans might find some Easter eggs and familiar references enjoyable, the rest of us may struggle to stay engaged. Clocking in at 135 minutes, some scenes felt excessively drawn out, leaving me fighting off fatigue.
This film spins a parallel narrative of a family facing their own internal struggles coupled with ghostly disturbances. One side hints at a lurking demon, but honestly, the film doesn’t provide much in terms of resolution. Meanwhile, the Warrens deal with family dynamics and future legacies, leaving us to wonder what their characters’ destinies will be. The film attempts to balance horror and drama but ultimately feels like a muddled mix.
While skepticism about the Warrens’ real-life claims is warranted, it would have been nice if the film had delivered some originality in its scares and a touch of humor. Instead, it rehashes clichéd horror tropes paired with an uninspired soundtrack that doesn’t elevate the viewing experience. Unfortunately, it lacks the humor and excitement that could have made it enjoyable.
Our call: I found more enjoyment in the previous films. It’s advisable to skip this one.
