Hola What’s Hot Fam,
I caught an early screening of The Conjuring: Last Rites and grabbed a pic with Annabelle’s look-alike. As the fourth core Conjuring film, this “final” chapter gives nostalgia and a few well-timed jump scares. Here’s what I thought was good and areas where it fell short.
What Worked (aka the Pros)
The Conjuring: Last Rites smartly threads familiarity throughout the plot. Annabelle pops up, old cast members return (including the cop from The Conjuring —bite mark on the face and all), and even the moms from the first two films reappear in a church wedding sequence that ties timelines together. All of it works together to highlight the impact of the Warrens’ work over the years.
The core story reframes the Smurl case as a larger attack on Ed and Lorraine’s family—specifically their daughter, Judy—while the demon disguises itself behind other spirits (a tactic that echoes Valak’s demonic strategy in Conjuring 2). I loved the focus on Judy and Lorraine’s relationship. The restaurant scene where Ed jokes about not being able to enjoy lasagna like his daughter lands as a double-meaning moment—his health limits him, and his lack of “sight” leaves him outside the supernatural loop shared by his wife and daughter.
Another pro, the casting is on point. The actress playing Judy sells the mix of innocence and toughness; Tony is endearingly sure about his love; and Young Ed mirrors Patrick Wilson’s tone and portrayal to a tee. The script even slips in humor—especially around the proposal—that lightens the intensity of the overall film. And as a Christian viewer, I appreciated the film’s openness to faith-based miracles.
Scare-wise, The Conjuring: Last Rites had a couple of jump scares. The dining-room light crashing onto the Smurls’ table made me jump, and the bedside demon reveal was definitely unsettling. The use of mirrors (portals, reflections, bad ideas) adds depth, and Lorraine’s blood-drenched basement sequence delivers exactly what the trailer promised.
What Fell Short (the Cons)
The downsides of The Conjuring: Last Rites? We never truly know the Smurls the way we met past families; the empathy for them didn’t quite form for them. The labeling of the demon as a succubus never happens on screen, which feels like a missed educational/engagement moment for horror fans who know details about the real case. Other questions I was left with: What happened to Grandma after the fall? Why was Lorraine working a case while visibly far into pregnancy? And how, exactly, is the demon operating across locations with that kind of reach?
Most Memorable Moments
- Tony asking Ed and Lorraine’s blessing to propose to Judy…then Judy walking in mid-speech
- Judy in the bridal dressing room and the use of mirrors
- The “Susie” doll repeating “mama” while a demon holds her in the air
- Father Gordon’s church sequence: a burning cross, a disappearing secretary and a tragic death
The Verdict
The Conjuring: Last Rites won’t dethrone the first two films, but it’s a heartfelt sendoff that honors the Warrens, spotlights Judy, and is interesting enough to satisfy summer horror cravings. I wanted tighter lore and deeper family connection—but as a franchise capstone, it works.
🔥 Rating: 3.5 out of 5 flames
Fans of the Conjuring universe should definitely see it. Newcomers might have a deeper appreciation for The Conjuring: Last Rites, but the previous films are definitely better if you’ve been here since day one.