The husband-and-wife team of paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are now retired and trying to devote their time to their family. They are called out of retirement when a family is tormented by a haunted mirror. Since Lorraine previously tangled with the cursed object when she was pregnant eighteen years ago, that can only mean one thing: It wants her daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson).
This is supposedly the “final” installment of the series, but I’ll believe it when I see it. While it certainly feels like the end of the Warrens’ story, I have a feeling they will be able to squeeze more blood from this stone, especially considering this was the series’ biggest box office hit. I mean, it ends with Ed handing the keys to the franchise to his new son in-law, so I imagine they filmmakers will pull some kind of Next Generation-type shit in the near future.
Director Michael Chaves has been responsible for some of the worst (The Curse of La Llorona and The Devil Made Me Do It) and best (The Nun 2 and this installment) entries in the series. While it does have more than its fair share of long scenes where people wander down darkened hallways investigating spooky noises and/or scary whispers, the film contains everything from possessions to ghosts to axe murderers, so it keeps you entertained the whole way through. We also get a great puking scene, a cool bit with a giant Annabelle doll, and a funny moment where the Warrens are giving a lecture and people keep asking questions about Ghostbusters
Chaves also delivers some solidly executed sequences, such as a girl using a VCR to find the ghost in a home movie or when Judy is trying on a wedding gown in a room full of mirrors. The scenes with the Warrens and their daughter are well-crafted too and give the film an emotional core the previous sequels lacked. The moments fleshing out her relationship with her and her fiancé aren’t merely filler but help make us care about them. Ed and Lorraine’s interactions are endearing too. That’s partially because Wilson and Farmiga have been together for so long in these movies that you almost feel like you’re watching a real married couple by now.
Like most Conjuring films, Last Rites runs on too long (well over two hours). There’s also a scene with some CGI blood that looks hella fakey. However, the dramatic meat is much stronger in this entry, which makes it a shade better than your average installment. If Wilson and Farmiga bow out and make way for their daughter to take on the franchise, I’d say this would be a fine moment to do so gracefully. I wouldn’t fault them for returning though.
The Conjuring Universe Scorecard:
The Nun 2: *** ½
The Conjuring: ***
The Conjuring: Last Rites: ***
Annabelle Comes Home: ***
Annabelle: Creation: ** ½
The Conjuring 2: **
The Nun: **
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It: * ½
The Curse of La Llorona: *
Annabelle: ½ *
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