The Final Exorcism: A Comprehensive Review of The Conjuring: Last Rites
In the landscape of modern horror, few franchises have maintained the cultural footprint or commercial dominance of The Conjuring Universe. With the release of The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), director Michael Chaves and producers James Wan and Peter Safran bring the mainline saga of Ed and Lorraine Warren to a definitive, emotional, and bone-chilling conclusion.
Billed as the final chapter for the iconic demonologist duo, Last Rites moves away from the courtrooms of the previous installment and returns to the series’ roots: a sprawling, haunted domestic space where the stakes are not just spiritual, but deeply personal. Featuring the return of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, the film serves as both a high-stakes supernatural thriller and a poignant farewell to the genre’s most beloved couple.
Film Overview: The Conjuring: Last Rites
| Category | Details |
| Director | Michael Chaves |
| Release Date | September 5, 2025 |
| Genre | Supernatural Horror / Mystery |
| Runtime | 135 Minutes |
| Cast | Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy |
| Studio | Warner Bros. Pictures / New Line Cinema |
| Budget | $55 Million |
| Box Office | $499.2 Million (Worldwide) |
Full Plot Synopsis: The Smurl Haunting
The narrative of The Conjuring: Last Rites is anchored by a dual-timeline structure that begins in 1964. A young, pregnant Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) are investigating an antique mirror at a local curio shop. During the investigation, Lorraine is struck by a violent vision of a malevolent entity targeting her unborn child. The trauma sends her into premature labor; though the baby is initially stillborn, Lorraine’s fervent prayers seemingly miracle the child, Judy, back to life.
Fast-forward to 1986, and the Warrens are in a state of fragile semi-retirement. Ed is grappling with a worsening heart condition, and the public’s interest in their paranormal lectures has begun to wane. Their daughter, Judy (now played by Mia Tomlinson), has grown into a powerful clairvoyant in her own right and is planning her wedding to Tony Spera (Ben Hardy).
The peace is shattered when the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, becomes the target of an escalating demonic infestation. Jack (Elliot Cowan) and Janet Smurl (Rebecca Calder) report terrifying phenomena: phantom voices, physical assaults, and the appearance of three distinct entities—a man with an axe, a young girl, and an elderly woman.
The investigation reveals a horrifying truth: the Smurls’ haunting is tied to the very same antique mirror from 1964. The mirror acts as a gateway for a “Demon of Mirrors” that has spent decades hunting Judy Warren to finish what it started before she was born. As the demon possesses Judy and Ed suffers a near-fatal cardiac event, the Warrens must rely on Judy’s burgeoning abilities and their collective faith to shatter the conduit and banish the entity once and for all.
Detailed Critique: A Final Stand for the Warrens
Direction and Visual Style
Michael Chaves, who previously directed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, exhibits a matured sense of pacing in Last Rites. While James Wan’s original entries were defined by “hide-and-seek” suspense, Chaves leans into Gothic maximalism.
The cinematography by Eli Born utilizes 1.90:1 IMAX formatting for key sequences, creating a sense of vertical dread in the Smurl attic. The “Hall of Mirrors” sequence in a bridal shop is a standout, using practical reflections and lighting shifts to create a disorienting, claustrophobic nightmare that rivals the best set pieces in the franchise.
Performances: The Heart of the Horror
The undisputed soul of this film remains the chemistry between Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. After twelve years of playing these characters, there is an effortless shorthand in their performances. Wilson portrays Ed’s vulnerability with heartbreaking sincerity, showing a man whose physical heart is failing but whose spiritual resolve is unbreakable.
Farmiga continues to find new layers in Lorraine, shifting from the wide-eyed terror of the 1960s sequences to a fierce, protective matriarch in the 1980s. Mia Tomlinson proves to be a capable successor, holding her own during the intense possession sequences and providing a bridge for the future of the franchise.
Screenplay and Themes
The script, penned by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, focuses heavily on the theme of Legacy. By involving Judy as a central protagonist, the film explores the burden of the Warren name. The dialogue occasionally leans into melodrama—particularly during the wedding preparations—but it serves to raise the emotional stakes for the final confrontation.
Sound and Score
Benjamin Wallfisch delivers a score that honors Joseph Bishara’s dissonant origins while adding a more melodic, tragic undertone. The use of silence is weaponized effectively, particularly in the Smurl household where the sudden “crash” of a ceiling light or the scratching of floorboards provides more impact than a traditional jump scare.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
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Emotional Resonance: The film successfully closes the character arcs of Ed and Lorraine, providing a satisfying “ride into the sunset” for the duo.
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Creative Scares: The “Mirror Demon” allows for inventive visual horror that moves beyond the standard “ghost in the corner” tropes.
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Technical Prowess: Excellent production design and cinematography make this the most visually polished entry in the series.
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Historical Integration: The 1986 setting is captured with authenticity without feeling like an “80s nostalgia” caricature.
Weaknesses
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Pacing: At 135 minutes, the middle act drags slightly as it balances the Smurl family’s plight with the Warrens’ domestic drama.
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Predictable Beats: Certain horror mechanics (the “false jump scare” followed by the real one) feel overly familiar to long-time fans.
Final Verdict
The Conjuring: Last Rites is a fitting, high-octane conclusion to a legendary horror saga. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it polishes the spokes to a mirror finish. It prioritizes the love story of its protagonists as much as the terrors they face, proving that the secret to the franchise’s success was always its heart, not just its hauntings.
For fans who have followed the Warrens since 2013, this is an essential, emotional viewing experience that cements the series as the “Gold Standard” of 21st-century supernatural cinema.