The Conjuring Last Rites | Honest Review of the Latest Horror Movie
After months of anticipation and a marketing campaign that left our spines tingling, The Conjuring Last Rites finally possessed theatres on September 5, 2025. As the fourth mainline instalment and the tenth film in the sprawling Conjuring Universe, the hype was huge. Ed and Lorraine Warren are back for what is being billed as their last, scariest case. But does the latest horror movie of 2025 live up to the bone-chilling franchise’s history, or is this a spirit that should have remained buried? Let’s find out.
A Legacy of Fear: The Conjuring Universe
Before we plunge into the murky depths of Last Rites, let’s have a quick look back. The Conjuring franchise, which started in 2013, redefined modern horror. Directed by James Wan, in the first film, we met real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played with pitch-perfect chemistry by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The series became famous for its “based on a true story” cases, its atmospheric tension, and its effective jump scares.
The universe grew with spin-offs such as Annabelle, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona, building a connected world of demonic entities and haunted artefacts. While the quality of these spin-offs has varied, the core Conjuring films have remained the gold standard of mainstream horror. Now, The Conjuring Last Rites hopes to cap the Warrens’ story arc and promises a deeply personal and harrowing investigation.
Spoiler-Free Review: A Descent into Darkness
This spoiler-free review will give you a clear picture of what to expect from The Conjuring 2025 (The Conjuring Last Rites) movie without ruining its terrifying secrets.
Plot Overview
Last Rites occurs sometime in the early 1980s and sees Ed and Lorraine Warren struggling with the physical and emotional toll their life’s work has taken. They are called in to investigate a case in a rural community far from civilisation, where a young man is accused of a brutal crime and uses demonic possession as his defence. This situation, based on the real-life case of the Arne Cheyenne Johnson trial, places the Warrens between the task of proving the presence of the supernatural in a court of law. As they dig deeper, they reveal a conspiracy of evil that is much more powerful and insidious than anything they’ve ever seen before: one that is aimed directly at them.
Direction and Atmosphere
Michael Chaves, director of The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, returns to the helm. His direction in Last Rites feels more confident and appears to be closer to James Wan’s original vision. The film is brilliant at creating a sense of dread all the time. Chaves employs gradual, intentional movements of his camera, dark corners, and an unsettling soundscape to build an atmosphere in which terror can erupt at any moment. The movie doesn’t rely as much on a fast-paced parade of scares, and instead feels more concerned with sustained, psychological horror.
Acting Performances
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are the heart and soul of the film again. Their depiction of Ed and Lorraine has always been the anchor of the franchise, and here it’s more poignant than ever. You sense the burden of their past battles in every weary look and protective gesture. Wilson brings a fragile strength to Ed, who is physically weakened. At the same time, Farmiga’s Lorraine is pushed to her clairvoyant extreme: she conveys a deep vulnerability. The supporting cast is good, especially the young actor who plays the man possessed, who gives a very physically demanding and genuinely unsettling performance.
Cinematography and Scenery
The cinematography is an outstanding element. The film is shot using a desaturated colour palette, as it reflects the grim and decaying nature of the rural setting as well as the bleakness of the case. The camera work is masterful in its manipulation of perspective, often leaving the audience to scan the darkness for threats right along with the characters. Long, unbroken takes in confined spaces develop an almost unbearable level of tension.
The Horror Elements: Scares and Suspense
The Conjuring Last Rites does a wonderful job with suspense and equally executed jump scares. The horror is earned instead of being cheap. The film’s main character, in terms of being a twisty and evil creature, is a creature that not only jumps out of the dark, but one that delights in playing on the psychological fears of the audience. Several sequences are destined to become iconic within the franchise, including a terrifying scene in a morgue and a climactic exorcism scene that’s as much a mess as it is emotionally taxing.
Critical Analysis: What Worked and What Didn’t
No film is perfect, and even the best horror movies have their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of The Conjuring Last Rites:
Strengths
- Emotional Core: The focus on Ed and Lorraine’s relationship provides a powerful emotional anchor that elevates the film beyond a simple scare-fest. Their story arc feels complete and satisfying.
- Atmospheric Dread: The film prioritises mood and atmosphere over cheap tricks. The suspense is expertly crafted, making the payoff scares much more effective.
- Creative Scares: While using familiar tropes, the film executes them with fresh creativity. The horror sequences are memorable and genuinely frightening.
- A Worthy Villain: The demonic antagonist is intelligent and deeply menacing, posing a unique and personal threat to the Warrens.
Weaknesses
- Pacing in the Middle: The second act, which focuses heavily on the investigation and legal proceedings, occasionally slows down the momentum. Some viewers may find these parts less engaging than the outright horror sequences.
- Universe Connections: While mostly self-contained, a few connections to the wider Conjuring Universe feel slightly forced and could distract from the main narrative. It doesn’t derail the film, but it feels like a studio mandate.
- Familiar Formula: Despite its strengths, the film still follows the established Conjuring formula. For some, this might feel predictable, though it’s a formula that undeniably works.
How The Conjuring Last Rites Compares to Previous Conjuring Films
The Conjuring Last Rites is like a return to form after the mixed reception of The Devil Made Me Do It. While the third film wandered into detective thriller territory, Last Rites does a good job of blending the Veronica investigative element with the haunted house style horror that made the first two films so iconic.
It doesn’t quite achieve the impeccable, frightening heights of the original The Conjuring (2013), which is still a modern classic. However, it’s arguably on par with, if not a little stronger than, The Conjuring 2. It has a sense of finality and emotional weight that distinguishes it and is a very powerful final chapter for the story of the Warrens.
Audience Reception and Box Office Buzz
Early audience scores are overwhelmingly positive. Horror aficionados are praising the film’s dedication to real scares and emotional depth. On social media, viewers are calling it “a fitting end for the Warrens,” and “the scariest film of the year.” While official box office numbers are still coming in, initial tracking seems to be pointing to a huge opening weekend, proving that the appetite for well-crafted, mainstream horror is stronger than ever. The Conjuring Last Rites is set to become another big financial success for the franchise.
Final Verdict and Rating
The Conjuring Last Rites is a strong and terrifying ending to one of horror’s most beloved series. It delivers the high tension scares and atmospheric dread that fans expect, all while offering a profoundly moving and appropriate send-off for Ed and Lorraine Warren. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga give their best performances of the series, reminding us what it was that we fell in love with these characters in the first place.
While it does sometimes have problems with pacing and overly plays the formula of the franchise, its strengths are much greater than its weaknesses. This is a must-see for a horror fan, and a satisfying end for a follower of The Conjuring Universe. It’s a loud, terrifying, emotional bang, not a whimper.
Final Rating: 8.5/10
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