All things eventually come to an end. That’s the case with The Conjuring franchise, which began in 2013 and has spawned three original films and a total of eight films in an extended franchise. It’s a good run for the horror series based on the case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, real life paranormal investigators who worked some infamous cases during their decades of service.
On Friday, Sept. 5, the fourth and presumably final film in the franchise—The Conjuring: Last Rites—made its debut in theaters. It returns Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the lead role and looks at “the case that ended their career.”
Start at the beginning
Before diving in, the film picks up in 1964. A young Ed and Lorraine are working a case, and Lorraine is close to delivering the couple’s child. The evil she encounters is strong. It leaves a mark and promptly pushes her into labor.
They race to the hospital, but things don’t go as planned. There is a raging storm that takes its impact on the hospital, and inside Lorraine is struggling. The birth is rough, with the cord wrapped around the child’s neck. The baby is still born. Unable to believe it, Lorraine calls out for her daughter.
The couple clutch the baby while they pray. As the doctors and nurses look on, the baby comes to life and lets out a cry. It’s a miracle. The Warrens have their Judy. But the events of the case left them shaken, so they opt not to return.
The spirit returns
Flash-forward to 1986, and a family in rural Pennsylvania, the Smurls, are having their own problems. A confirmation brings a new mirror, one that looks familiar to those who watched the cold open. Naturally, after the item arrives, and because of the spirit it brings with it, the Smurls begin to suffer.
They turn to the media to get help, but none comes. Father Gordon (Steve Coulter), a friend of the Warrens, arrives to help. He senses the evil within and goes to the church for backup. But the spirit proves too much, and Father Gordon is consumed.
At the memorial, a presences stirs Judy (Mia Tomlinson), now 22 and sharing her mother’s gift. Judy recently got engaged to Tony (Ben Hardy) and urges him and her parents to get involved. Ed is dealing with health issues that have the Warrens semi-retired, but after Judy heads to the Smurls, her parents and fiancé follow. What they find there is a spirit they left behind 22 years earlier.
Plenty of scares
Like previous films in the franchise, this has a strong look and some truly unsettling images. We get a return of Annabelle, a near constant presence in the franchise, but there are some new demons and images that will leave you unsettled. The pacing of the story is a bit slow at first, but once the action kicks in, there is plenty to have you hooked.
Wilson and Farmiga make for a good team. Their bond and their on-screen chemistry has always elevated these films for me. This installment has that but adds in Tomlinson in the mix. The parent-child dynamic, especially between Lorraine and Judy, works well to enhance the story. And the performances work well to serve this story.
While the opening crawl portends something dire in the outcome, this film more-or-less follows the format of previous installments. It has a solid ending, too, as the film pays tribute to the Warrens who inspired the franchise. This also feels very much like the end of something. The final sequences has special guests that call back to previous films as the story of the Warrens on screen draws to a close.
Over the closing credits, the film pays even more tribute to its subjects. There are a series of home videos that showcase the real Warrens at work. It’s a nice touch that serves the film and franchise well.
Overall, I enjoyed this fourth installment. I’ve never loved The Conjuring films, but I’ve long appreciated them. This final installment feels like one of the best, rivaling the original in terms of quality and being a satisfying experience. If you’re a fan of the franchise or of horror films in general, this is worth seeking out.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is now playing nationwide.