The Conjuring: Last Rites Review – Lack Of Backstory, Terror, But A Lot Of End-Movie Emotions

We have been hearing a lot about The Conjuring: Last Rites; the buzz for an Ed & Lorraine Warren is huge. So, much like a fan myself, I decided to go and watch it right after the day of release (Couldn’t afford a 500 bucks IMAX, sorry.) I decided on popcorn and then sat, and sat, occasionally dropping a few kernels, the movie ended. Let’s talk about the movie, because I have a lot of hot takes. Perhaps, a lot of things a Conjuring Universe fan would rather die than be honest about.

A Mid Story To Bid Farewell To The Warrens

HOC Rating – ★★

Firstly, the movie starts with intrigue: A demon back of Ed & Lorraine and their miracle baby, Judy. Explains a lot why the demon came back to kill Judy, but what doesn’t make sense is… what was this demon? Did it have a name? Absolutely not. Why did it haunt the Warrens in the first place? Also, no idea.

Secondly, to a certain extent, I understand the involvement of The Smurls, given that they had found the supposed “Portal Mirror” and brought it home as an antic. But why did the demon have three other ghosts giving it a barrier? The involvement of the granny, the axe-killer husband, and the wife… practically didn’t do much for the story. Perhaps the only thing that made sense was Judy’s wedding, despite the chaos of the whole haunting case.

No Thrill: Terrible Jumpscares

I am like a scaredy cat. I will flinch at the smallest beat drop in a scary movie. So, for me to say that The Last Rites flushed down even the most average jumpscares, it surely tells something.

And, honestly? The whole premiere shabang, offering the guests holy water- I was really expecting something terrifying, and it was anything but. There were a couple (literally) of them, like when the almost Disney-Villain-like granny shows up, or the axe monster trying to chop up Lorraine, but that’s that.

And, it kind of is disappointing, because let’s be real. Most of the Conjuring Movies’ supernatural plots are not exactly Oscar-worthy. BUT, the whole experience was engaging because it was scary, with heart-dropping jump scares. And, this movie completely dunks on it.

Terrific Acting As Always

 

One thing to count on was Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s consistency with their roles as Ed & Lorraine. With each movie, they are older, wiser, and a lot more mesmerizing as a duo. Chemistry? Check. Dialogue Delivery? Outstanding. Consistent in Character? Absolutely.

Apart from the two, the rest of the cast were splendid in their roles too. I actually liked Beau Gadson, who played Dawn Smurl, the first of the Smurl Hunting victims.

Conclusion: What Went Wrong With Last Rites

For me, the whole movie was a big lag in the storyline. We don’t get much about the demon’s history, only the part about why it was coming for the Warrens. The overshadow of three of the ghosts were… unnecessary. Overall, a very low bar story for something as Big as the Conjuring franchise.

And, while I am sure it’s making box office loot, we know that fans like us have just rushed for the sake of nostalgia, and a goodbye to the Warrens. I mean, the movie did end on a happy note, an emotional farewell to the Conjuring Universe. But that’s just not enough, especially for the hype it created.

If you have any opinions regarding The Conjuring: Last Rites, feel free to share them in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!