The Conjuring: Last Rites is an American horror film that hit theaters on September 5, 2025. It is the ninth installment in this famous horror film universe and holds special significance, as it marks the final appearance of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan.
Plot
The story initially takes us back to 1964, when Lorraine touches a strange mirror and experiences a supernatural episode that triggers premature labor. Their daughter, Judy, is born without a heartbeat, but Lorraine miraculously manages to bring her back to life.
Many years later, in 1986, the couple has retired from active investigations because Ed is suffering from serious heart problems. However, the same cursed mirror reappears as a gift to a teenage girl named Heather Smurl, triggering a terrifying demonic attack in her family's home. The Warrens are forced to risk their lives for one final case, this time with their now-adult daughter, Judy, by their side. She plays a very important role in the story.
One of the film's strongest moments comes when Lorraine explains the entity lurking inside the house. That's when you get genuine chills. Connecting her words with the terrifying images from the opening scenes, it quickly becomes clear that this threat is far darker, more powerful, and more complex than any of their previous cases.
Performances
Once again, the chemistry and communication between Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are the film's greatest strengths. This time, their performances carry more emotion, as we see a couple who are more exhausted and vulnerable than ever before.
Mia Tomlinson, who plays their daughter, brings a welcome, fresh energy to the film and shows that she is ready to help her parents.
Finally, the actors portraying the members of the Smurl family manage to convey, in a very natural way, the desperation and sheer terror of people trapped inside a house like this.
Technical Aspects
Director Michael Chaves maintains the familiar dark style we have come to expect from the previous films, attempting to surprise and frighten us using classic horror techniques.
The film looks beautiful and successfully transports us to the 1980s. One interesting detail is that, although the story is supposed to take place in America, filming was done in London, where an entire neighborhood was recreated from scratch to look just like the real location.
The sound design also does an excellent job, using silence and sudden noises to keep you constantly on edge.
Trivia
The film smashed box office records, achieving the biggest opening weekend in history for a horror movie and bringing in millions of dollars during its very first three days.
The plot is based on the real-life story of the Smurl family from 1986, which became so widely known in America at the time that people even appeared on television to talk about their experiences.
In reality, however, there was no haunted mirror. The screenwriters came up with that idea to connect the film to the Warrens' past.
Regardless, this is the official farewell to our beloved leading couple, as the next film, currently in development for 2027, will take us back in time with a new, younger cast.
Conclusion
The final verdict on The Conjuring: Last Rites is that it delivers a respectable and deeply emotional conclusion to the Warren trilogy, although it sacrifices pure horror in favor of drama.
It is a film that fans of the franchise should watch. It works more as a tribute to the characters audiences have grown to love, offering a moving conclusion to their decade-long journey.
For hardcore horror fans: It may fall short of expectations. Its lengthy runtime and lack of fresh ideas prevent it from reaching the adrenaline levels and genuine terror of James Wan's first two legendary films.
Ultimately, it does not redefine the genre, but it brings the most successful horror franchise of our time to a close with its head held high.