Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last terrifying case involving mysterious entities they must confront.
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| (C) Warner Bros. |
After taking a detour into detective territory with The Devil Made Me Do It, Michael Chaves and company return to what made The Conjuring a hit back in 2013: the haunted house tale. The scares, in particular, are once again well-executed. They're set up early and revisited later, which remains a tried-and-true method for delivering effective jump scares. No huge set pieces required.
That’s not to say they simply mimicked the 2013 film. This time around, the story feels more confident in telling a much grander narrative. Clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes, 'Last Rites' takes its time with the characters. While the length is occasionally felt, it fits the idea of a send-off for the ever-reliable Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson.
The main franchise has been gradually shifting focus to these two. This final chapter, their "last hurrah," pays off that buildup. In many ways, the film also works as an emotional family drama about letting go. It helps that the supporting cast is excellent across the board.
By now, the “based on a true story” element is no longer necessary yet the film makes a point to reaffirm its stance on the Warrens. That angle hasn’t aged well over the years, but Farmiga and Wilson’s chemistry is so strong that it becomes easy to separate them from their real-life counterparts... until the film explicitly reminds us.
In cinematic universes, no one’s ever truly gone. However, The Conjuring: Last Rites genuinely feels like a conclusion to the story we’ve followed for years with Farmiga and Wilson. Oh yes, it’s scary too. 3.5/5.
