Conjuring: Last Rites Is the End of an Era—But Not a Great One

Element	Verdict
Genre	Horror
Runtime	2h 15m
MPAA Rating	R
Director	Michael Chaves
Best Moment	Basement axe chase
Worst Moment	Ping pong family drama
Rewatch Value	Low
Audience Score	78% (Google), 55% (RT)

🎬 The Warren’s Final Case—or Is It Just Another Case?

Set in 1986, The Conjuring: Last Rites follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate what’s being called their final and most dangerous case. This time, they’re called to Pennsylvania, where a cursed mirror is terrorizing the Smurl family. The film leans hard on “final chapter” energy, trying to wrap up the Warrens’ story with emotional arcs, legacy-building, and the symbolic passing of the torch to their daughter, Judy.

Unfortunately, what should’ve been an emotional, terrifying swan song instead feels like a bloated rehash of earlier, better Conjuring films.

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🧱 A 30-Minute Story Stretched to 2 Hours

The first hour sets up two main storylines: the Smurl family being haunted by a mirror, and the Warrens dealing with personal struggles—Ed’s failing heart, Lorraine’s doubts, and their daughter’s emerging abilities. These run on parallel tracks, rarely intersecting meaningfully.

The biggest issue? Pacing. There’s a solid 30-40 minute horror movie buried inside 135 minutes of filler. When the Warrens finally arrive to help the Smurls, it’s already deep into act two. Everything else is padding—montages, unnecessary side plots, and lots of mirror-staring.

The final act tries to go epic, but it leans into absurdity without payoff.

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🎭 Patrick & Vera Still Carry It—But It’s Getting Heavy

• Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren is reliable as ever. But he’s weighed down by flat material and an oddly comedic ping-pong scene.
• Vera Farmiga continues to bring gravity to Lorraine, though her character choices range from noble to downright baffling.
• Kaleigh Rivera (Judy Warren) is fine, but her subplot slows down the pace.
• The Smurl family actors are solid, especially the two teenage daughters, but the film forgets they exist halfway through.

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✅ Axe-Wielding Demons, Creepy Grins, and a Cool Priest

• The opening sequence involving a stillbirth and demonic presence is haunting.
• Some creepy visuals, particularly the axe-wielding ghost and the eerie smiling woman.
• The basement chase is a standout—tense, atmospheric, and one of the few scenes with bite.
• Wilson & Farmiga still sell the Warrens, even with weak material.

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❌ Boring B-Stories, CW Romance, and Mirror Logic

• Terrible pacing. The Warrens don’t even arrive at the haunted house until an hour later.
• Jump scare fatigue. The film relies on them constantly instead of building dread.
• Mirror is the final boss. Really? That’s your big climax?
• Wasted side characters. The Smurl family gets sidelined after Act Two.
• Too much filler. Unnecessary romance subplots, party scenes, ping pong montages—none of it helps the horror.

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🎥 Too Long, Not Scary Enough, and Kinda Dumb

• “This thing could’ve been a 30-minute episode of a horror series, not a 2-hour movie.”
• “Did we just watch a CW family drama with a few ghosts tossed in?”
• “Ed gets one more heart attack and then plays ping pong for 10 minutes. What are we doing here?”
• “The creepy old lady was cool. That’s about it.”

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⚠️ Spoiler Section (Scroll to skip!)

• The cursed mirror is gifted to the Smurl family. After early hauntings, the kids try to destroy it. It reappears in the attic.
• Lorraine investigates while pregnant—yes, really—and accidentally links the demon to herself and her unborn child.
• A priest who tries to help ends up hanging himself in a church. One of the better horror moments.
• Judy becomes possessed. The final showdown involves the Warrens and Judy’s fiancé, all of whom push a mirror while shouting nursery rhymes.
• The mirror shatters after a group effort (and a flaming Bible), ending the curse.
• Lorraine has a vision of a peaceful future. The Warrens retire.

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🎯 Stream It Later, If You’re Still a Conjuring Completist

Only if you’re a die-hard Conjuring fan who wants to see how the Warrens’ story ends. Everyone else? Skip it.

There’s no innovation here. No great scares. No meaningful conclusion. Just a lot of ghost movie tropes we’ve seen a dozen times—done better—in earlier entries.