The Conjuring : Last Rites(2025) Review

 

The Conjuring: Last Rites, released in September 2025, received mixed reviews, with critics and audiences finding it to be a heartfelt character study of Ed and Lorraine Warren but a less-effective horror movie. The film is considered a fitting, if unspectacular, send-off for the franchise's main characters. 

What critics and audiences liked

·        Strong performances: Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, reprising their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren, are consistently praised for their chemistry and performances. For many, they are the main reason to see the movie.

·        Focus on the Warrens' relationship: The film was lauded for its focus on the human and emotional toll of the Warrens' work, providing a more melancholic and reflective conclusion to their story. Some found this family drama aspect to be the most compelling part of the film.

·        Effective first half: Several reviewers noted that the beginning of the film has a strong story and a compelling buildup. The depiction of the 1980s-era Smurl haunting was seen as initially effective. 

What critics and audiences disliked

·        Weak scares and formulaic horror: Many found the horror elements predictable and lacking the intense terror of earlier films, especially the original Conjuring. The film relies heavily on "loud bang" jump scares that many consider overused and less impactful.

·        Inconsistent plot: Critics pointed out logical inconsistencies in the climax, where the demon seems to lose its powerful abilities simply to serve the script. The third act is widely seen as boring and formulaic.

·        Disappointing ending: For many, the film failed to deliver a truly resonant or memorable conclusion to the franchise. Some felt the final exorcism was underwhelming and that the horror felt sidelined in favor of character drama.

·        Side characters and pacing issues: The movie was criticized for its slow pacing, with a bloated runtime that takes too long for the Warrens to get involved. The story also reportedly shifted focus too heavily onto the Warrens' daughter, Judy, making the family in peril feel like an afterthought. 

Verdict

In the end, The Conjuring: Last Rites is considered a mixed bag that serves as a touching but flawed farewell to the iconic paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. While Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga deliver solid, emotional performances that provide a heartfelt conclusion to their characters, the film fails to impress as a horror movie, offering mostly formulaic scares and an underwhelming finale. For fans invested in the characters, it may be a satisfying emotional send-off, but for those expecting a genuinely scary and impactful horror experience, it falls short of the franchise's best.