The Conjuring: Last Rites Review – A Weak Farewell?

The Conjuring franchise has always been known for its terrifying scares and chilling stories, but The Conjuring: Last Rites failed to live up to that legacy. Compared to the earlier films, this installment felt like a letdown.

The horror element, which made the series so popular, was barely present. Instead of spine-chilling moments and jumpscares, the focus shifted to the romance and familial love of the Warrens. The plot, though based on real-life cases, was riddled with inconsistencies.

For example, the Warrens revealed that the Smurl family was haunted by three spirits, only to later show it was a demon’s trick. But unlike The Conjuring 2, where knowing a demon’s name was key to defeating it, here it was defeated simply through Lorraine and Judy’s psychic abilities. The mirror, shown as the reason for the haunting, lacked any backstory, leaving questions unanswered. Even John’s attraction to the mirror for his granddaughter’s ceremony felt unexplained.

Father Gordon’s warning of a powerful demon also felt wasted, as the climax showed the entity being defeated too easily. On top of that, Annabelle’s sudden appearance raised doubts — was it Judy’s trauma, or did Annabelle really escape the enclosure?

On the positive side, the performances were commendable, and both the camera work and CGI looked polished. Yet, the scares were predictable, and the film failed to create the chilling atmosphere expected from The Conjuring.

Verdict

The Conjuring: Last Rites had strong acting and visuals, but weak writing, predictable scares, and major plot holes left fans disappointed.

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