Ed (Patrick Wilson; Aquaman) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga; Bates Motel) Warren were paranormal investigators who, in 1952, founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR). Ed was a demonologist, while Lorraine was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant, and together, they claimed to have investigated over 10,000 cases throughout their career. They were among the first investigators during the Amityville haunting and were also involved with the Annabelle possession, the Perron Family, the Enfield Poltergeist, Union Cemetery, etc. Their last case, that of the Smurf Family, dealt with sounds, smells, and apparitions within the Smurl's Pennsylvania home and is the subject of the Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona) directed feature film, The Conjuring: Last Rites, coming to theaters on September 5, 2025.
At the beginning of their career, Ed and Lorraine Warren tried to help a young woman in her father's antique shop. As Lorraine explored the storeroom, she sensed something evil and went into early labor after having a mirror crack that she touched. Hours later, their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson; The Lost Pirate Kingdom), was stillborn, but after a minute, Judy began to breathe and cry.
Fast forward twenty-plus years, the Warrens are retired, and Judy has become engaged to Tony (Ben Hardy; Bohemian Rhapsody). Just as everything seems to be going well, Judy starts sensing entities and becomes compelled to go to Connecticut after Father Gordon (Steve Coulter; Oppenheimer) visits the Smurls and then mysteriously dies. Suddenly, Judy, Ed, Lorraine, and Tony are "back in business" when the old mirror from the beginning of the film re-emerges and seeks out Judy.
Once again, Wilson and Farmiga reprise their roles as the lead characters, and thankfully so. They have played these people in film for so long that I believe they possess (pun intended) the essence of the real Ed and Lorraine Warren. Both are strong actors and have played this couple so many times that it is difficult seeing someone else play the Warrens. Tomlinson fits in well in this triangle, and the three actors really seem like a family. Hardy is also very good as the sweet and solid former cop who loves Judy.
However, the worst of the film comes in the form of the plot and script. The story is poorly written, and none of the characters are very well fleshed out. The story offers little excitement, even fewer scary moments, and no full explanation of how the demon came to be attached to the mirror it now inhabits. The Smurls aren't very likable, making one wonder if the audience will care if they live or die in the end.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is stupid, boring, unengaging, entirely too long, and does nothing to continue the Conjuring franchise. There are little to no jump scares, minimal gore, and two different story lines that intersect at some random place and time. Writers Ian Goldberg (The Nun II), Richard Naing (The Nun II), and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Aquaman) completely miss the mark because, while the stories presented in the film are interesting, they aren't fleshed out enough to make a compelling drama, let alone a horror film.
If this is what The Conjuring films have come to, then I am glad this will be the last in the series. Besides the cast, nothing is appealing about this movie, and even some of the cast (i.e., The Smurl Family) leave a lot to be desired. I wish they could have ended the franchise on a stronger note, but alas, as the saying goes...
Luckily for the movie, fans of the franchise will probably go to see it, but they won't walk away satisfied.
Grade: D
