The Conjuring Last Rites Review: Fear Meets Emotional Goodbye

In the last decade, The Conjuring series has established itself as one of Hollywood's most successful horror franchises. In 2013, James Wan's original made its debut, and before we knew it, the franchise erupted into a universe of sequels and spin-offs that included the Annabelle trilogy, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona. Collectively, these films have even made billions and they revived an old-school supernatural horror series for a whole new contemporary audience.

Now, as The Conjuring: Last Rites will finally release to audiences on September 5, 2025, the saga will come to an emotional and terrifying conclusion directed by Michael Chaves. If that wasn't enough to evoke some nostalgia and closure for long-time fans, The Conjuring: Last Rites will even feature Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren for their final case.

The Big Question – Does It End on a High Note?

When a beloved series concludes, post-expectations are high for a finale that is both scary and satisfying. Last Rites attempts to achieve both but doesn't always succeed.

The film opens well enough with some truly creepy scenes that evoke memories of the franchise's original films; however, as the films blossoms into its second act, it builds more than horror. It focuses more on emotions rather than keeping a sustained pace. For some viewers, this is refreshing; however, for many, it takes away from the intended fear aspect of the film.

A Return to Classic Horror Scares

The film follows the same basic formula that has made The Conjuring successful:

• Haunted houses with haunting silence.
• Shadows lurking in dark corners.
• Ghostly apparitions to shock and surprise audiences.
• A haunted mirror acting as the connective tissue that wove the story together with the previous investigations of the Warrens.

These elements evoke the thrill and atmosphere that Conjuring fans love. But critics argue that the movie relies too much on familiar devices, and that as a result, the whole experience loses a lot of unpredictability and scares. Rather than surprising the audience, it feels like a cheap trick, reminding them of what had already worked in the earlier films.

Heart Over Horror – The Emotional Core

Where Last Rites differs from its predecessors is in its emotional purpose. The film focuses on the Warren family, particularly their relationship with Judy. It depicts Ed and Lorraine not only as ghostbusters but as parents and partners confronted with their demons together.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are so effective in their roles providing a sense of warmth that encompasses the overall story as it unfolds in an otherwise dark setting. This creates an effect that lends the film a quality beyond simply representing a horror story.  It becomes a love story, to its characters, and in recognition of its fans who have followed along on their journey for years.

Audience and Critical Reactions

The reception has been somewhat split so far, with positive and negative.

• What many loved: emotional stories, strong performances, a respectful finish to the saga.
• What disappointed some: slow pacing in the second half of the film, some scares feeling like rehashings of scares from the previous films, less intensity compared to the previous films.
• On social media: fans are calling it "a fitting farewell," but many fans also admit that they wish it had been scarier.

Some critics called it "nostalgic but uneven"; others called it the "most emotional chapter" in the series. Ultimately, the responses bring out how differently audiences value fear and feelings.

#TheConjuringLastRites is really good! Saw it in IMAX and the sound/screen really adds to the atmosphere of a horror movie

Scary, chilling, and a solid conclusion(?) to the Conjuring movies

I will say that a lot of people are probably gonna piece this movie together very early,… https://t.co/1uIrtB3KMS pic.twitter.com/HNBC62ZhDf

— Plisken (@PliskenMGS) September 5, 2025

Why The Finale Still Matters

Even though Last Rites is not the most terrifying installment in the series, it serves an important purpose of wrapping up the story. Providing the feel of a haunted mirror, references to all the other films and the emotional goodbye feel closing for the franchise. 

For many long-time fans, it isn't just about jump scares. It is also about saying goodbye to Ed and Lorraine Warren, who have been central to modern horror. By focusing on the humanity as well as their paranormal struggles, Last Rites takes great care to make sure the saga did not just slip away, but has an everlasting feeling.

Final Verdict

The Conjuring: Last Rites is both a horror narrative and a letter of farewell. It might not serve up the biting scares of the first two, it gives the Warrens a good ending. The scares mix with family drama, sending them off with honor, heart, and hopefully enough chills to remind viewers why this franchise became a worldwide phenomenon.

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