At the ripe young age of 7, sandwiched between my mom and a stranger in a packed theater, I saw “The Conjuring.” I was a self-deemed horror fanatic — even though my main horror knowledge at the time consisted of R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” — but I’d never truly experienced fear until that clapping game scene. I remember going to bed that night swearing my closet door moved on its own.
Twelve years later, I sat in yet another packed theater watching “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” the supposed last installment of the franchise. It felt surreal —- like coming full circle, only this time, my feet could touch the popcorn-ridden theater floor.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Set in 1986, the story finds them reluctantly pulled out of semi-retirement to help a Pennsylvania family terrorized by a cursed mirror. The Warrens’ daughter, Judy, now grown and played by Mia Tomlinson, is drawn into the case as her own psychic abilities come into play.
The film opens with a haunting prologue set in 1964, showing a younger Ed and Lorraine (played by Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor, respectively) facing the mirror for the first time. It’s a chilling, well-executed sequence that sets the emotional tone and stakes before the film jumps forward 22 years. The mid-’80s setting gives the movie a nostalgic feel, with era-appropriate costumes and needle drops from artists like David Bowie and Howard Jones.
Director Michael Chaves leans heavily on atmosphere, using shadows, creaks and unbearable silences to build tension. One jump scare was so bad my friend bolted from her seat and ran out of the theater (I don’t blame her).
The scares are fun and familiar, though the storytelling doesn’t always match their strength.
Judy’s storyline had the potential to bring a fresh perspective and emotional weight to the movie. The idea of her grappling with her psychic gifts and her parents’ legacy is fascinating, but sadly, it never feels fully realized — like in a scene where she hesitates outside a room, clearly sensing something no one else can, before the moment quickly passes without further explanation. It’s one of many similarly anticlimactic moments throughout the film.
Tomlinson does her best with the material, but the script treats Judy more like a side character than a central figure.
Wilson and Farmiga remain the beating hearts of this franchise. Their chemistry and authenticity ground the supernatural chaos, especially as Ed faces health struggles and Lorraine wrestles with the toll her visions take on her emotional well-being.
The family at the center of the haunting, while portrayed capably, doesn't get the depth or development needed to make their story truly resonate. Their lives are upended by a cursed mirror — the father is levitated and strangled in his sleep, and the grandmother is shoved down the stairs by an unseen force — but the film rushes through these moments without giving the audience enough time to truly feel their fear and desperation. It’s hard to sympathize with characters when I didn’t necessarily feel a connection to them.
And yes, Annabelle the doll makes an appearance — because what would a “Conjuring” movie be without her creepy, unblinking face lurking in the shadows?
It would actually be just fine, but I digress.
Fortunately for my dreams, Annabelle doesn’t get much screen time, but every shot she’s in feels like a threat (sorry, Annabelle, please don’t curse me).
At 135 minutes, the film runs a little long. The pacing drags in the middle, weighed down by extended Warren family drama that, while meaningful, sometimes slows the momentum between scares. It’s the kind of uneven pacing that makes you wish the script had been tightened by about 20 minutes.
The final moments bring the story full circle, with a heartfelt scene that subtly honors past films and characters (including a cameo from franchise creator James Wan). It’s a touching nod for longtime fans, offering an end to the series without feeling forced or overly sentimental.
As someone who’s been with this series since childhood, I found “Last Rites” to be a bittersweet experience. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it did provide a satisfying farewell. The scares are strong, the emotional moments land when they need to and it feels like a respectful send-off for the Warrens.
It’s not perfect, but when the (very creepy) credits rolled, I felt a sense of closure. From watching the first movie as a child and the final one as an adult, leaving the theater felt like the perfect goodbye to “The Conjuring” franchise — and to the nightmares it inspired.
Contact Aaliyah Evertz at aevertz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @aaliyahevertz1.
Aaliyah is a general assignment reporter for The Avenue. She's a second-year journalism student in her first semester at The Alligator. In her free time, she loves to bake, read and also write for Her Campus UFL.
