The Conjuring: Last Rites Provides Middling Scares in a Rather Disjointed Finale -

By Luis Zonenberg

With October right around the corner, it seems Hollywood is eager to start getting into the spooky season and has already sent out some tantalizing new treats for moviegoers. They already started sending out appetizers last month with films like Weapons and Together. Now, they are sending out some of the main courses this month. The first dish comes hot from New Line Cinema, chronicling paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren’s final case in The Conjuring: Last Rites.

The story focuses on Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) being forced into retirement alongside his wife, Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) following a massive heart attack years prior. At the same time, the couple are struggling to let go of their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson), as her wedding day approaches. To make matters worse, their friend, Father Gordon (Steve Coulter) tragically dies while investigating a haunting in Pennsylvania. They soon connect it to one of their oldest cases, threatening not only the lives of the Smurls but also their daughter as well!

Unfortunately, most of those plot details do not surface until about halfway through the movie, with most of the runtime juggling two tonally different stories. The movie feels very disjointed, with so many scenes either padded out or incredibly rushed. While the character motivations feel more underdeveloped than usual, the story does feel very emotional and brings a truly threatening presence worthy of being the case that ended the controversial careers of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The acting was pretty strong across the board, with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga continuing to have amazing chemistry all these years later. Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy are wonderful additions to the cast, with all four working so well off each other that you feel immersed in each respective character’s world. While not every character got time to shine, I feel that Steve Coulter, Kíla Lord Cassidy, and Rebecca Calder all shone through the cracks amidst the crowded cast.

The costumes and set design worked very well to evoke the more drab aesthetic of the 1980s. From the choice of clothes to hair styling and cars driving down the street, they really pinned down the look and feel of that era. The selection of music choices and makeup also helped drive home the more thrilling aspects of the story, amping up the tension and scare-factor throughout the film.

The cinematography was a real mixed bag, with some shots having real ambition and evoking a similar style to Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Other times, it tries to go more hand-held to make it feel more authentic or gritty. Instead of having this effect, it almost takes you out of the film, especially when contrasted with the more outlandish aspects of the movie. There are also several pointless close-up shots that are very hit-or-miss, either successfully capturing an emotional scene or failing to creep you out in the theater.

The movie was directed by Michael Chaves, perhaps more famously known for his cinematic blundering, The Curse of La Llorona. With this being his fourth directed entry in the Conjuring Universe, you do feel real growth from him as he creates a lot more suspenseful and scary imagery. While this film may not be quite as epic and thrilling as The Nun II, it does capture a real rush of adrenaline and emotion that was sorely lacking in his previous films.

With this being the final entry in the core films for the franchise, it cannot help but feel rather lackluster when compared to its phenomenal predecessors. While the actual ending of the film is emotionally rich and gives them a proper send-off, the film as a whole feels more like a workprint copy than a finished product. The editing makes the story feel very disjointed, creating a real slow-burner that I think will try many movie goers’ patience. While not without its share of thrills and intrigue, The Conjuring: Last Rites closes out this chapter on the Warrens for better or worse.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is now playing in theaters.

Rating: ★★ ½ of five