For over a decade, The Conjuring has influenced the horror genre. The series, which began in 2013, has experienced various successes with the main line of movies and the spin-offs that have expanded the Conjuring Universe. The Warren cases were last depicted in 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, with filmmaker Michael Chaves taking over the director’s role from James Wan. Following the film’s release, discussion about another Conjuring installment began, and by 2023 (after The Nun 2 was released), production on the fourth film was underway. With Chaves back for another film, the next case for The Conjuring was established, and as the fall season approached, audiences would witness the Warrens return for one final case in the fifth installment- The Conjuring: Last Rites.

The movie tells the tale of Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), who are mostly retired from their case work. However, when a family experiences hauntings, and their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) becomes involved, Ed and Lorraine decide to take on the case. Inspired by the Smurl Haunting, the movie was intended to be a conclusion for the series, although the franchise would continue in a different format. As a fan, I was compelled to this installment as it was positioned to be a finale of sorts. After watching the latest addition, I found myself pondering a simple yet crucial question: Is The Conjuring: Last Rites a fitting conclusion to the series?

The Conjuring has been compelling for several reasons, most notably its balance between nuanced storytelling and frightening concepts. So with that in mind, how did Last Rites decide to culminate this chilling tale? The answer is a film that tries to live up to its legacy, but falls short of its potential. The story presented several ideas that work for the series and even twists some of the concepts that defined the Conjuring Universe. However, the execution of these ideas made all the difference, and in this case, the delivery of this frightening story was lacking. While the story focuses mainly on the Warrens, it relies heavily on conveniences that only serve to pad out the plot more than anything else. As for the other side of the story, the Smurl family, the haunting stuck to the series’ formula, albeit in a way that felt contrived. Despite its lack of execution, the story had its moments, especially near the end, and it was enough to give the Warrens a satisfying conclusion.

When it comes to the Warrens themselves, it is surprising to see how endearing these characters have been over the years. Throughout their four appearances, Ed and Lorraine have proven to be an impressive duo, making them stand out as an anomaly in the horror genre. In their latest appearance, the two continue to impress. Patrick and Vera continue to showcase their solid chemistry, and the direction for Ed and Lorraine was well-executed, bringing their characters full circle. Another character who undergoes significant development is Judy Warren. Judy has been a part of the series through several films, and it is interesting to see her take center stage in this new installment. Judy’s character arc was appropriate, with Mia Thomlinson’s performance being fairly impressive. Supporting Judy is her boyfriend, Tony (Ben Hardy), who surprisingly brought more to the movie than expected. Meanwhile, the Smurl family was alright, but lacked the impact seen in the previous families. As for the malevolent spirit, there was some hype surrounding it due to its connection to the Warrens’ past. However, the demon fails to have the presence of previous specters, to the point where the brief appearances from Annabelle seem to overshadow the film’s monster.

The horror of The Conjuring has been effective due to its practical delivery and chilling atmosphere. However, in the case of Last Rites, I found myself less than frightened. While some of the scares were effective, particularly the more subtle moments, the film relied on eccentric tactics such as jump scares, which took away from the precise delivery that has defined the series’ atmosphere. Fortunately, elements such as visuals and cinematography were up to the task in capturing the film’s tone. Also aiding in setting the tone was the music by Benjamin Walfish. Walfish is no stranger to the realm of horror, and he more than delivered for this installment. While it may not be one of Walfish’s most notable works, the music was still fitting as it captured the series’ eeriness and intensity that any horror soundtrack should have.

Is The Conjuring: Last Rites a satisfying conclusion for the series? The answer is more or less, leaning towards less. The movie had some good ideas and stellar callbacks to previous films. However, the execution was lacking, making the movie feel contrived and repetitive. The movie attempts to deliver horror, but only manages to conjure up thrills. While it may not be a fitting end for the series, The Conjuring: Last Rites is tolerable, but it hints that perhaps it’s time for this acclaimed horror series to take a rest.