The final installment of the long-running horror series arrives with a sense of exhausted familiarity, offering little innovation to a formula that has remained largely unchanged since its 2013 debut. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” positions itself as the franchise’s swan song, yet demonstrates minimal creative growth despite the evolving horror landscape around it.
Set in 1986, the film reintroduces paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as middle-aged figures struggling to maintain relevance in a changing world. The narrative follows the familiar pattern of the couple investigating a Pennsylvania household plagued by supernatural forces, this time centered around an antique mirror serving as a portal to demonic realms.
What distinguishes this entry is its deliberate pacing, with nearly seventy-five minutes of domestic drama preceding the expected supernatural confrontations. This character-focused approach, once a hallmark of the series, now feels more like a narrative burden than an asset. The film’s central tension involves the Warrens’ daughter’s impending wedding, creating personal stakes that attempt to ground the supernatural elements.
The production maintains the series’ technical polish, with capable performances from its leads and professional execution of horror conventions. Yet the filmmaking demonstrates little ambition beyond fulfilling audience expectations, recycling familiar elements including another haunted doll, standard demonic manifestations, and the obligatory ascent of a darkened staircase.
In an era where horror cinema continues to push creative boundaries, this concluding chapter feels notably conservative in its approach. The film ultimately serves as a comfortable, predictable experience for established fans rather than attempting to expand the franchise’s artistic horizons.
