“THE CONJURING: LAST RITES” is a 2025 American supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves. It draws inspiration from the alleged true-life investigations of the Smurl haunting by the Warrens. The film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who reprise their roles as paranormal investigators and authors Ed and Lorraine Warren, alongside Mia Tomlinson in her film debut and Ben Hardy. This movie is the sequel to ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ (2021) and marks the ninth and final installment of the first phase of ‘The Conjuring Universe’.
While many people believe the stories in ‘The Conjuring’ series are based on true events, there has been skepticism surrounding them, and this film is no exception. Judging the movie solely based on whether it’s true or fictional may not provide a fair assessment of the legacy of the Warrens, who have recently become larger-than-life figures.
The Smurl Haunting is presented as the Warrens’ final investigation. Ed is portrayed as facing serious heart issues, and the film delves into the challenges and love between him and his daughter Judy, played by Mia Tomlinson. Judy was resurrected after being stillborn, and the film follows her journey into the paranormal life of her family. As she grows older, the story culminates in her engagement to a former police officer named Tony, played by Ben Hardy. As the Smurl family prepares for retirement, they begin to experience disturbing paranormal events, prompting the Warrens to investigate. During their initial exploration of the case, they discover the horrific role that their daughter will play in the investigation.
The use of music and sound in this film effectively enhances the horror we witness on-screen. Years ago, I praised the original ‘Conjuring’ movie as a masterpiece of horror due to its blending of spiritual components specific to Christianity with themes of demonic evil and the paranormal. Although we see hints of that here, it is less pronounced than in previous installments, yet what remains is still powerful.
The film portrays the attempts of evil to break up families, illustrating that malevolent entities do not care about the pain they inflict. Both the Warrens and the Smurls are acutely aware of the demonic forces attacking them, recognizing the reality of these attacks but feeling financially compelled to stay in their haunted home.
While the story focuses on supernatural elements, it also includes religious beliefs and Christian symbolism, including crosses, prayers, and direct invocations of Jesus Christ. This aligns with my long-held belief that no other genre portrays the battle of good versus evil, God versus Satan, as effectively as horror does. There are clear attempts in the movie to emphasize this aspect of the paranormal.
What would you be willing to do to protect your family from evil? Is it possible that Satan truly exists? How does the devil influence and impact people today? These questions are worth considering.
One issue that has lingered in my mind is the credibility of the Warrens. Recent studies have raised doubts about their integrity and adherence to the Christian principles they often promoted. The YouTube program ‘The Why Files’ explores various aspects of the paranormal, and their analysis of the Warrens raises some intriguing questions, which can be found at this link: https://youtu.be/pl7DE8RFfUc?si=6LsYp0WUctresJdJ.
I encourage anyone interested to check it out. While the new ‘Conjuring’ installment may not be as good as some of the earlier films in the series, it is still entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking and scary. I enjoyed the movie and wouldn’t mind watching it again. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it a solid 7 for entertainment value.
So, check it out, prepare yourself, and maybe say a prayer or two before and after viewing. Believe me, you’ll want to avoid any unwanted spirits.
