After The Conjuring Universe’s impressive nine film stretch, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren’s arc finally (possibly) comes to an end with The Conjuring: Last Rites. Unfortunately, this big, horrifying finale can definitely underwhelm with some lackluster scares and a clogged narrative. 

The film takes viewers into the later parts of Ed and Lorraine’s career as paranormal investigators, where they’re doing more lectures than cases. However, they’re pulled back into the supernatural world when a family becomes tormented by a ghostly force that’s connected to one of the Warren’s early cases. Given where the Warrens are at this point and this being a (supposedly) final film for them, there’s a lot of time focused on their lives outside of exorcisms – for better or worse. Admittedly, it is nice to peer into the normal lives of Ed and Lorraine since they’re as charming as ever. Ed’s little tours of their haunted relics during their house parties are fun and incredibly nostalgic for fans. It’s great that their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is old enough now to play a more pivotal role in the film, and Tomlinson is a welcomed addition for the emotional layers and perspective she provides. And, it’s kind of nice to see Ed and Lorraine just be parents for a good chunk of time and Ed’s dynamic with Judy’s new boyfriend turned fiance Tony (Ben Hardy) offers some funny yet heartfelt beats in his arc. 

However, Last Rites struggles to balance Ed and Lorraine’s home life with this emerging case. Until they fully collide, it honestly feels like you’re watching two separate movies playing out at once with neither of them truly excelling. While the mundane living storyline for Ed and Lorraine has its moments, it’s often randomly interrupted by supernatural moments that don’t connect well. Scenes of Judy shopping for a wedding dress or Lorraine in the kitchen will suddenly spin into paranormal horror in ways that aren’t warranted and are solely there to eventually toss them into the other movie that’s playing alongside them. Meanwhile, the Spurl family haunting, a case which this film is based on, feels like its own little horror flick we’ve seen before. It’s basically an elongated collection of haunts this franchise has done to death and doesn’t present a big enough story of its own to stand apart. The characters are forgettable and you’re just waiting for Ed and Lorraine to arrive so things can get interesting. In terms of scares though, there is some good stuff in both plots. 

Director Michael Chaves, who’s helmed franchise entries like The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, creates some great set pieces that make for awesome sequences. There’s a seemingly endless room of mirrors that builds into an incredibly creepy nightmare that’s visually immaculate. Some of the ghouls we see haunting the Spurls are well-designed and have some subtle background appearances that’ll take your breath. There’s even a really unnerving scene of someone rewatching a video tape that’s got big Sinister vibes horror fans will love. Even the central totem, a giant mirror, is immensely creepy and fits neatly into the collection of items we’ve seen throughout the franchise. Last Rites can definitely have its terrifying moments, but it doesn’t maintain its suspense well when things finally do come together. 

After waiting for these two arcs to come together, you feel like a big finale is surely in store. And, while a lot happens, none of it feels like it’s emitting the suspense or thrills it should. In general, Last Rites lazily rips into the franchise horror playbook in its final stretch to the point where nothing is surprising. Despite Ed’s health scares or Lorraine’s closeness to this demonic threat, you’re never left in suspense over what scares are coming next nor who’s going to make it out of this nightmare unscathed. It plays out just like you think it’s going to, and even when things go wrong, the consequences aren’t impactful enough to really change anything. Last Rites might have the biggest letdown finale of any mainline entry, and that’s especially disappointing if this is the last time we’ll see Ed and Lorraine on-screen. 

Yet, Last Rites does at least provide fans with some fulfilling closure that shuts the book nicely, if it’s going to stay closed. As someone who’s watched this franchise through every chapter, it’s hard not to get choked up or excited about the sort of epilogue type ending this film provides after the case is done. Whether it’s the wholesome atmosphere of Ed and Lorraine’s finding the peace they’ve desperately craved or all the cameos that’ll surely have fans thrilled, it’s a great way to pay respect to everything this series has accomplished and fans will certainly leave a little misty-eyed by those final scenes of Ed and Lorraine. 

Last Rites definitely isn’t the grand slam finale it should be since it lacks those big finale moments and scares to propel it past typical territory for the franchise. And, it’s story isn’t the most balanced, but it’s heart is in the right place for fans to enjoy what they get. There’s still plenty of good scares and set pieces that’ll hook audiences, and a fulfilling enough send-off that’ll leave fans fairly satisfied.

Watch the Trailer Here: