The Conjuring: Last Rites Review: Competent, Atmospherically Strong and Solidly Performed

The Conjuring: Last Rites movie review

Michael Chaves (‘The Curse of La Llorona’ (2019), ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ (2021), ‘The Nun II’ (2023), directs the reported final film in the nine-film franchise of ‘The Conjuring’ – ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’. James Wan, co-author and director of the original story, remains a creative presence behind the scenes.

Every hero and every successful franchise one day or the other comes to a point when it’s time to say good bye. It has happened with phenomenal characters like James Bond for example or Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hunt - Tom Cruise.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ signals the end time for Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real-life paranormal investigators played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in ‘The Conjuring’ franchise.

‘The Conjuring’ when it debuted in 2013, organically became the talk of the town, not the crazy nonsense and allegedly manipulated/manufactured ‘Saiyaara’ reaction on social media. ‘The Conjuring’ in 2013 was something extraordinary. People were screaming and talking about the film, it found its place in the headlines. ‘The Conjuring’ became an example on how immersive mainstream horror could be.

‘The Conjuring’ brought back those jump scares, the bump-in-the-night wala feeling. ‘The Conjuring’ franchises have mostly been generic horror that revolved those haunted families which got its cure by the Warrens.

The final ninth film ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is based on the same familiar template, the only difference is that the Warrens are in action due to personal reason and for themselves.

Director Michael Chaves and his writers Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, take proper care that the legacy is maintained and the fan base does not get disappointed. Technically well-crafted, cinematography by Eli Born is excellent, the sound design by Harry Cohen is eerie, the atmosphere is a very strong over here and it is consistently tense.

Michael Chaves takes time to come to the final third act which is superb, the climax, the last thirty minutes are mind blowing though we see some extra blood which we have not seen previous Conjuring franchises but the impact of the last thirty minutes is the reason why we go the theatres for such jump scares.

The minus point of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is its obsession to keep on playing safe. The Horror genre recently has seen something quite extraordinary –‘Weapons’, ‘Bring Her Back’, have dared to be more deadlier.

Nevertheless, performances are solid

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson lead the way with excellent portrayal.

Mia Tomlinson gives a very strong performance.

Good support comes from Ben Hardy, Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon.

The Conjuring: Last Rites final words

The ninth and the reportedly final film of the blockbuster franchise may not be a revolution any more but still it remains a sensation amongst its loyal followers. ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is competent and is ruled by strong atmosphere and solid performances

Going with three and a half stars – 3.5/5 for ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’

Based on characters by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is a New Line Cinema presentation of an Atomic Monster, Safran Co. production. Peter Safran and James Wan are the producers.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is releasing in India on September 05, 2025.