The Conjuring: Last Rites Review: Is It a Worthy Finale for the Warrens? (Story, Scares, Cast, Ending & Our Take)

the case that ended it all

Introduction

The Conjuring: Last Rites is billed as the final chapter in the Warrens’ story, the last big-screen case for paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in the mainline Conjuring series. It follows one of the most successful horror franchises of the modern era, and its opening weekend was the biggest the series has ever had.

What makes it interesting is that it is less interested in being the scariest film in the series than in being the most personal. It asks what a lifetime of facing evil has done to the people who do it, and what happens when the next generation, their daughter Judy, is pulled into the family business.

Reviews were mixed, but many fans and critics say it works best as an emotional farewell. In this review we cover the story, the scares, the cast, the pacing and the ending, and we tell you whether it deserves your ticket or your streaming time.

Quick Facts

FilmThe Conjuring: Last Rites
GenreSupernatural horror
DirectorMichael Chaves
WritersIan Goldberg, Richard Naing, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (story by Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan)
ProducersJames Wan, Peter Safran
StudioWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dateSeptember 5, 2025 (US)
Runtime135 minutes
RatingR
BudgetAbout $55 million
Worldwide box officeAbout $499 million
Opening weekend (US/Canada)About $84 million, the best of the franchise
Critics’ scoresRotten Tomatoes 57%, Metacritic 54, CinemaScore B
Digital releaseOctober 7, 2025
Physical releaseNovember 25, 2025
Our rating7 / 10

The Real Story Behind the Film

Like the earlier films, Last Rites is based on a case from the Warrens’ files: the Smurl haunting, a famous 1980s case in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The Smurl family claimed that they were tormented by supernatural activity in their home for years, and the Warrens were brought in to investigate.

It is worth remembering that the Warrens’ cases are controversial. Skeptics have questioned many of their claims, and the films take dramatic liberties. We treat these as horror films “inspired by” real accounts, not as documentaries.

The Smurl Haunting in More Detail

The Smurl case is one of the best-known cases from the Warrens’ files, and it has been told before. Jack and Janet Smurl and their family said they were tormented for years in their West Pittston home in the 1980s, and the Warrens became involved. The story was later retold in a book and in a 1991 TV movie, so the case was already part of horror folklore before Last Rites arrived.

How much of it is true is debated. Supporters of the Warrens point to the family’s testimony, while skeptics argue that the evidence is thin and that the Warrens’ methods and motives were open to question. The Conjuring films never hide that they are dramatized: they take a real case as a starting point and build a cinematic story on it.

Why this case? The Smurl story gives the film a family in danger at its centre and a long, drawn-out haunting, which suits a film that wants to mix scares with emotional stakes.

The Warrens: A Short Refresher

If you are new to the series, or it has been a while:

  • Ed Warren was a self-described demonologist, and the more practical, protective half of the couple.
  • Lorraine Warren was a clairvoyant and medium, the one who senses the supernatural and carries its emotional burden.
  • Their approach: investigate hauntings, help families, and document cases, often with help from the Church.
  • Their daughter Judy appeared as a child in earlier films, and in Last Rites she is an adult who has inherited her mother’s sensitivity.

This is why the film matters emotionally: after decades of facing darkness, the Warrens now have to think about what they pass on and what it costs.

What Is The Conjuring: Last Rites About? (Spoiler-Light)

The film brings the Warrens to a haunting connected to a cursed antique mirror, which later torments the Smurl family in their Pennsylvania home. As the events escalate, the case turns deadly, with the death of a priest who had been investigating the house.

At the same time, the story follows the Warrens’ own family. Ed is dealing with health limits and the weight of age, Lorraine worries about their daughter, and Judy, who has inherited her mother’s psychic sensitivity, is drawn into the case. The result is part haunted-house horror and part family drama about legacy, faith and letting go.

We will not spoil the finale. It is the part critics argued about most.

Cast and Characters

ActorRole
Vera FarmigaLorraine Warren
Patrick WilsonEd Warren
Mia TomlinsonJudy Warren (recast from Sterling Jerins)
Ben HardyTony Spera, Judy’s boyfriend
Steve CoulterFather Gordon
Elliot CowanJack Smurl
Rebecca CalderJanet Smurl
Peter WightGrandpa Smurl
Kate FahyGrandma Smurl

Several actors from earlier films, including Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Foy, Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe and Julian Hilliard, return in cameos, which will please long-time fans.

Themes: What the Film Is Really About

1. Family and legacy. At its heart, this is a story about parents trying to protect a daughter who is walking into the same dangerous world they chose. Lorraine’s worry about Judy is the emotional spine of the film.

2. Ageing and limits. Critics noted that Ed is sidelined by health problems, and the film treats the cost of a lifetime of this work as seriously as the haunting. It is unusual for a horror franchise to let its heroes get older on screen.

3. Faith. The series has always taken faith seriously without preaching, and this film continues that. Faith here is shown as something that supports people through fear, not as a tool for easy victories.

4. Facing fear. The title’s idea of “last rites” is about endings, but the story is about courage: continuing to act when you are afraid.

5. Passing the torch. Judy’s growing role, together with Tony, sets up the question of whether the next generation will carry on the work, and what that means for them.

Behind the Scenes

  • Director: Michael Chaves, who previously directed The Curse of La Llorona, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II. He takes a more polished, big-screen approach than James Wan, who directed the first two films and is credited on the story and as a producer.
  • Filming: The film was shot in London, from September to November 2024.
  • A recast: Judy was played by Sterling Jerins as a child in earlier films, and Mia Tomlinson takes over the role as an adult.
  • Fan-service cameos: Actors from earlier films, including Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Foy, Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe and Julian Hilliard, return.
  • Franchise future: A prequel called The Conjuring: First Communion is scheduled for September 2027, and there are reports that James Wan may not be involved because of a pay dispute.

The Scares in Detail

We will keep this spoiler-light, but here is how the film’s main fear sequences work.

The cursed mirror. The mirror is the film’s central object of dread, and it is where the film is at its most atmospheric. Mirrors are a natural horror device: they make you watch the edges of the frame for something that should not be there. Critics and viewers singled out the mirror sequences as the most effective haunting in the film.

The Smurl house. The haunting of the family home delivers the traditional Conjuring experience: creaking spaces, shadows and a family that cannot leave. These scenes are the closest to the original film’s feel.

The wedding-dress scene. An intense sequence involving a wedding dress is widely mentioned as one of the film’s best. It works because it combines a real fear with a personal moment in the story.

Annabelle. The famous doll appears, but one critic called her scene one of the weakest because it felt like fan service.

The climax. The final confrontation leans on exorcism-style spectacle. Some viewers loved the scale; others, including some critics, found it overwhelming and generic.

Our scare ranking: mirror and wedding dress at the top, the Smurl house in the middle, and the finale and Annabelle at the bottom.

The Emotional Core: Ed, Lorraine and Judy

Ed and Lorraine. Their marriage is what many people love about the series, and the film gives it room. Wilson and Farmiga play their roles with affection and humour, and the film lets them be tired, scared and tender, not just heroic.

Judy. Her story is the film’s main emotional thread. She is a young woman with a gift she did not choose, living in the shadow of parents who want to protect her. The film uses her to ask whether the family business should continue, and critics generally found her storyline engaging even when they disliked how some of it was handled late in the film.

Tony. Judy’s boyfriend gives the story warmth and a human tie outside the family business, and he is the film’s link to its wedding-themed set piece.

What Works

1. More than just scary moments

The film goes beyond ghosts and jump scares. It shows how the Warrens and their family are affected emotionally by all the strange and frightening things they have faced. That gives the story a personal weight the earlier sequels lacked, and the first two-thirds are widely described as compelling.

2. Scares that connect to the story

The scares are not only there to make you jump. They tie into the characters. The cursed mirror and an intense wedding-dress sequence are the moments most viewers and critics single out as the most memorable, and they feel more unsettling because they connect to the family at the center of the story.

3. Great acting from the leads

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga remain the heart of the series. They play the Warrens as brave but vulnerable: people whose bodies and nerves have taken a toll after decades of this work. Their chemistry carries the film even when the plot wobbles. Critics also noted that the film treats the couple with real affection.

4. A fitting, respectful farewell

The film’s focus on family, faith and facing fears gives long-time fans a meaningful send-off, and its handling of the Warrens’ age and legacy is where it feels most genuine. The epilogue was singled out by at least one critic as a particularly well-judged ending.

5. Atmosphere

When the film leans into the haunted house, particularly the Smurl scenes, the ghost designs and the director’s eye for creepy imagery recapture some of the atmosphere of the original Conjuring.

What Doesn’t Work

1. Pacing and the third act

Critics’ most common complaint is that the climax is overlong and generic, leaning on familiar exorcism tropes. Some felt the shift toward Judy’s story came at the expense of pacing and terror, and that the Smurl family became more of a plot device than a fully developed family.

2. Familiar tropes

Haunted objects, possessions, priests and last-minute ritual battles are all here. Fans of the series will recognise most of the beats, and for some the film is less frightening than earlier entries.

3. Annabelle’s cameo

One review described an Annabelle scene as one of the film’s weakest, a fan-service moment that adds little to the story.

4. A finale that feels like a hand-off

Because the ending also passes the torch to the next generation, some critics felt it reads more like a setup than a true conclusion. That fits the fact that the franchise is continuing, with a prequel, The Conjuring: First Communion, scheduled for September 2027.

5. Less terrifying for some

The film is more drama than pure horror. If you want the scariest film in the series, you may find it milder than the first two.

What the Critics Said

Reviews were divided, and the disagreement shows where the film succeeds and where it stumbles.

The positive view: Some critics praised the leads and the film’s tone. One described the first two-thirds as uncommonly compelling and said the film treats the Warrens with real affection. Others admired its sincere but non-preachy approach to faith, and its R rating without heavy gore. The epilogue also earned praise as a well-timed farewell.

The negative view: Other critics said the third act was overlong and generic, that the effects in the climax felt like spectacle, and that the resolution depends on arbitrary words and deeds. Some felt the story’s turn toward Judy came at the expense of pacing and terror, and that the Smurl family was reduced to a plot device.

The tone debate: One reviewer described much of the film as a warm, humorous midlife dramedy about family healing that becomes more formulaic once the horror escalates. That is a useful way to set expectations: this is not a relentless fright machine.

Our reading: Both sides are right. The film is strongest when it focuses on people, and weakest when it falls back on the formula.

Reception and Box Office

Critics57% on Rotten Tomatoes (average 5.8/10), 54 on Metacritic
AudiencesCinemaScore “B”
Opening weekendAbout $84 million in the US and Canada, the franchise’s best
Worldwide grossAbout $499 million

Reviews were mixed, with praise going to the leads and the emotional approach and criticism aimed at the climax and familiar tropes. Audiences turned out in huge numbers regardless, and the film became one of the highest-grossing horror films of the year.

To be fair, the claim that it is the franchise’s strongest film is a matter of opinion. Its scores are lower than those of the original, so it is better to say it is one of the most emotional entries, not the most acclaimed.

Where Does It Rank? The Conjuring Franchise at a Glance

Release order of the full franchise

#FilmYear
1The Conjuring2013
2Annabelle2014
3The Conjuring 22016
4Annabelle: Creation2017
5The Nun2018
6Annabelle Comes Home2019
7The Curse of La Llorona2019
8The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It2021
9The Nun II2023
10The Conjuring: Last Rites2025

If you only want the Warrens’ main story, watch The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, The Devil Made Me Do It and then Last Rites. You can skip the spin-offs without losing the plot.

Do you need to see the earlier films first? It helps. Last Rites carries emotional payoffs, callbacks and cameos that mean more if you know the earlier movies, especially the first two.


Last Rites vs the Earlier Conjuring Films

The Conjuring (2013)The Conjuring 2 (2016)The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)Last Rites (2025)
DirectorJames WanJames WanMichael ChavesMichael Chaves
ToneSlow-burn, atmosphericBig, polished scaresMore of a mystery/courtroom feelEmotional, family-driven
Scare levelHighestHighModerateModerate
Emotional focusFamily under threatFamily and faithThe Warrens’ bondThe Warrens’ legacy and Judy
Best forPure horror fansFans of big set piecesFans of a different angleFans who want closure

Where it fits: Last Rites is closer in spirit to a farewell than to a fresh scare. It is the most sentimental of the main films and the least terrifying, which is exactly why some viewers like it more and others like it less.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Emotional, personal story about the WarrensSlow, overlong third act
Strong performances from Wilson and FarmigaLeans on familiar horror tropes
Memorable mirror and wedding-dress scaresLess terrifying than the original for many viewers
Fitting, respectful farewell for fansSome fan-service moments feel unnecessary
Good atmosphere in the haunted house scenesEnding feels like a hand-off more than a full stop

Is It Scary? A Parent and Viewer Guide

  • Rated R: Expect intense supernatural scenes, creepy imagery and some disturbing moments.
  • Gore level: Moderate; the film relies more on atmosphere than on graphic gore.
  • Jump scares: Yes, but secondary to the character drama.
  • Not suitable for: Young children or anyone who dislikes possession and exorcism themes.

Who Should Watch It?

  • Watch it if you have followed the Warrens since the first film, enjoy horror with emotional depth, or want a thoughtful farewell to the series.
  • Skip it if you want relentless terror or fresh, innovative scares, or if you have never seen a Conjuring film.

If You Liked This, Watch These Next

TitleWhy watch it
The Conjuring (2013)The original, and still the series’ scariest and most atmospheric film
The Conjuring 2 (2016)Bigger scares and a strong emotional core
InsidiousFrom the same horror universe of filmmakers, with a similar mix of family and haunting
SinisterA bleaker, darker option for hardcore horror fans
The ExorcistThe classic that set the template for possession stories
HereditaryA family-centred horror film that goes much darker

Our Take

The Conjuring: Last Rites serves as a fitting and emotional finale to the Warren family’s supernatural saga, blending genuine scares with a more personal and heartfelt story. Though it is not without flaws, it recaptures much of the atmospheric horror of the original film and delivers some of the franchise’s most impactful scare sequences, particularly the cursed mirror and an intense wedding-dress scene.

What stayed with us is how the film explores the psychological and emotional toll on the Warrens and their daughter Judy. That emotional layer adds depth to the horror and makes the scares matter more. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are as strong as ever, and the new characters bring real feeling to the story.

The criticisms are fair. The film relies on familiar tropes, and the pacing and the payoff in the climax are weaker than the build-up promised. Compared with earlier entries, it is less terrifying, and hardcore horror fans may be left wanting more innovation.

Still, we see it as a respectful, emotionally driven conclusion to the Warrens’ story. It is about family, faith and facing your fears, and it gives fans a meaningful goodbye while still delivering plenty of chills.

Our rating: 7 / 10

CategoryScore
Story and emotional depth8 / 10
Scares6.5 / 10
Performances8 / 10
Atmosphere7.5 / 10
Pacing and climax5.5 / 10
Franchise send-off8 / 10

FAQs

1. Is The Conjuring: Last Rites worth watching? Yes, especially if you love the Warrens. It is more emotional than scary, and the climax is its weakest part.

2. Is Last Rites really the last Conjuring movie? It is the final mainline film about Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story, but the franchise continues. A prequel, The Conjuring: First Communion, is scheduled for September 2027.

3. Is it based on a true story? It is inspired by the Smurl haunting in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, though the Warrens’ claims are disputed by skeptics and the film takes dramatic liberties.

4. Who is in the cast? Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren, with Mia Tomlinson as Judy and Ben Hardy as Tony Spera.

5. Who directed it? Michael Chaves, who also directed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II.

6. Do I need to watch the earlier films first? It is recommended, especially the first two, since the emotional payoffs and cameos depend on them.

7. Is it scary? It has strong set pieces, particularly the mirror and wedding-dress scenes, but it is less terrifying than the original for many viewers.

8. How long is it? About 135 minutes.

9. How much did it make? About $499 million worldwide on a budget of roughly $55 million.

10. Where can I watch it at home? It was released digitally on October 7, 2025, and on disc on November 25, 2025. Streaming availability changes by region, so check your local services.

11. Does Annabelle appear in the film? Yes, though at least one critic felt her scene was one of the weakest moments in the film.

12. Is there a post-credits scene? We could not confirm this from our sources, so we recommend checking before you watch.

Other True-Haunting Movies to Try

If the “based on a real case” angle appealed to you:

FilmWhy watch it
The Haunting in ConnecticutAnother case from the Warrens’ files
The Amityville HorrorThe classic “real haunted house” story
The Exorcism of Emily RoseA courtroom drama built around a possession case
PoltergeistA family-in-danger haunting that helped define the genre
The ConjuringThe original, where the Warrens’ story began

Viewing Tips

  • Watch the first two films first if you can; the emotional payoffs hit harder.
  • Expect a drama as much as a horror film, so you are not disappointed by the pacing.
  • Watch it with someone if you are easily scared, and with the lights off if you are not.
  • Stay for the epilogue, which several critics singled out as a highlight.

Final Verdict

The Conjuring: Last Rites is not the franchise’s best or scariest film, and it stumbles in a long, familiar third act. But it makes a smart choice by focusing on family, faith and the cost of a life spent fighting darkness. Led by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, it gives the Warrens the respectful send-off fans wanted. Go in expecting a heartfelt farewell with some excellent scares, not a reinvention of the genre.

Rating: 7 / 10

Have you seen it? Tell us in the comments whether it was a fitting end for Ed and Lorraine.