La Conjuration: Derniers rites

The 9th film in The Conjuring Universe and the intended finale of the saga so far, The Conjuring: Last Rites starts on a rather promising note and even features a strong first half but soon heads downhill after that to finish as another underwhelming chapter in the series. Definitely no match to the first two films but certainly an improvement over the third, this latest entry settles for a lot less than what was up for grabs.

Directed by Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona & The Nun II), the story finds the Warrens taking on one last case that forces them to confront an evil from their past. Chaves never really was the right choice to helm the main stories but he does get some things right before resorting to cheap thrills. The film takes a slow-burn approach that patiently guides us towards the finale that proves to be downright forgettable.

The first two films directed by James Wan had that vintage quality, old-school flair, foreboding atmosphere & effective scares that heightened the experience. This one borrows bit of that for the build-up but fails to capitalise on it later in the story. Patrick Wilson & Vera Farmiga remain the glue holding this picture together and their warm chemistry helps keep things afloat for the most part but the film needed more on all fronts.

Overall, The Conjuring: Last Rites brings the Ed & Lorraine Warren journey full circle and gives them a proper send-off with its radiant epilogue but for a climactic chapter, it is disappointing without doubt. Add to that, like most instalments in the franchise, the jump scares are bland & predictable, lacking in intensity, and also devoid of the ingredients that made its predecessors stand out. In short, a lacklustre finale of The Conjuring saga.

I went in with high expectations, but this final film turned out to be a letdown. The story isn't very powerful-it feels more like an extended family drama than a true Conjuring movie. What disappointed me most was that the focus shifted away from Ed and Lorraine, the heart of the franchise.

The scares rely too much on jump scares, loud noises, and crude tricks to shock the audience. They startle, but they don't deliver the bone-chilling fear that earlier Conjuring films are known for.

It's not a total waste of money or time, but as the last chapter of such a beloved franchise, it feels like a weak wrap-up. I left the theater more sorry than satisfied.

I just left the cinema, and there's a lot to share. Conjuring: The Last Rite opens really strong-the beginning and build-up are amazing, with a solid story foundation that pulls you in right away. Unfortunately, the ending didn't land for me. The tension and scares were there in parts, but they never fully hit the level I was hoping for. Compared to the first movie, which is still the best in the series for me, this one falls a bit short in delivering lasting chills.

That being said, the cast was great-the actors really carried their roles well and gave strong performances. Overall, it's worth watching if you're a fan of the franchise, but the payoff at the end just didn't match the promise of its opening.

"This film is easily skippable. It has only one scene that's good at best, and even that feels like an accident in an otherwise poorly directed production. The rest is just over two hours of mind-numbing boredom, dragged down by sluggish pacing and characters you won't care about. It's just plain bad, not 'so bad it's good' funny, and for a movie trying to be a thriller, it is absolutely NOT SCARY!"

Let's get one thing straight: technically this movie works. If you want a night of pure scares, if you want to be shaken, frozen in your seat, and jump at every shadow on the way home.. this movie delivers. In 4DX, people were literally walking out disheveled, laughing nervously about how they "almost died." The atmosphere is there. The sound design is oppressive. The possession sequences are cold and terrifying. For raw horror execution, this is still the best franchise of the decade.

And that's exactly why the disappointment stings so much. Because when you peel back the scares, the story is garbage.

Last Rites was marketed as the Smurl case, which in real paranormal lore is one of the nastiest, longest, most infamous hauntings ever tied to the Warrens. This could have been the darkest Conjuring yet. Instead, the Smurls are basically window dressing. Their nightmare is pushed into the background so the script can revolve around... a haunted mirror. Yes, a mirror. The entire plot boils down to Ed, Lorraine, and Judy Warren holding hands in front of some cursed glass.

The result? We don't get The Smurl Haunting. We get Warren Family Values.

Fans wanted horror first, casefile first. What we got was a forced farewell story, sentimental, glossy, more about "love conquers all" than the true nightmare they promised. And that's frustrating, because the film had the perfect chance to go bold. Imagine a version where the Warrens are finally out of their depth, forced to admit they can't control what's happening. Imagine a film that actually leans into their controversial legacy instead of polishing it. That would have been a legendary ending. Instead, we get a Hallmark conclusion with some jumpscares.

Ed and Lorraine are treated once again as untouchable heroes, which is laughable when you know the real history behind them. The studio has turned two very questionable figures into horror superheroes, and by film four it feels like we're just watching brand management instead of a story.

So here's the bottom line: yes, it's scary. Yes, it's better than 90% of horror in 2025. But if you came for the plot, if you were hoping the infamous Smurl case would finally be given the full terrifying treatment, you'll leave frustrated. The Conjuring started as top-tier horror storytelling. Last Rites ends it as just another franchise movie, big on chills, empty on substance.

We wanted fear rooted in a real case. We got a haunted mirror and a love story.