The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) Review 👻🔮 | The Final Chapter of the Warrens’ Battle Against Evil

The Warrens’ chilling saga comes to a close in The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), directed by Michael Chaves and produced by James Wan and Peter Safran. Marketed as the ninth and final film of the first phase of The Conjuring Universe, the movie promised to end the supernatural horror franchise on a high note. But did it deliver? Let’s dive into the scares, the story, and the reception.

🪞 The Story: Mirrors, Demons, and the Smurl Haunting

The film blends true-life paranormal accounts with cinematic spectacle.

• In 1964, we see Ed and Lorraine Warren face off against a cursed mirror—an ominous omen tied to their daughter Judy’s birth.

• Two decades later, the Smurl family encounters terrifying disturbances in their Pennsylvania home: shadows, whispers, possessions, and brutal physical attacks—all linked to that same sinister mirror.

• The Warrens, long retired, are pulled back into the fight when Judy (now grown, played by Mia Tomlinson) is targeted. Alongside her fiancé Tony (Ben Hardy), she joins her parents in one final confrontation with the demonic force.

“It was never the house… it was always the mirror.” – Lorraine Warren

The climax sees the Warrens channel their faith, Judy’s psychic gifts, and relentless determination to banish the evil once and for all. The final scenes—Judy’s wedding, cameos from past characters, and Ed and Lorraine’s last dance—bring bittersweet closure to the saga.

🎭 Performances: The Heart of the Horror

• Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson once again anchor the film with emotional gravity, their chemistry reminding fans why they’ve become horror’s most beloved duo.

• Mia Tomlinson makes a strong debut as Judy, balancing vulnerability with courage.

• Ben Hardy brings warmth as Tony, grounding the supernatural chaos with humanity.

• Cameos from Lili Taylor, Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe, and Julian Hilliard serve as a nostalgic nod to fans of the earlier films.

🎬 Direction & Style: Michael Chaves’ Final Haunting

Michael Chaves, who also directed The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, returns with a darker, more atmospheric style.

• The mirror sequences stand out—fragmented reflections, distorted realities, and creeping shadows provide some of the film’s most terrifying moments.

• Benjamin Wallfisch’s score amplifies the dread, weaving eerie church organs with tense string arrangements.

• However, some critics felt Chaves leaned too heavily on jump scares instead of building the slow-burn terror James Wan perfected in the original films.

🍿 Audience & Critical Reception

The response to The Conjuring: Last Rites has been mixed but passionate.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 55% approval from 125 critics

• Metacritic: 54/100, indicating “average” reviews

• Audience Reactions: Fans praised the emotional closure, but some felt the scares didn’t match the intensity of The Conjuring (2013) or The Conjuring 2 (2016).

At the box office, the film grossed $8.5 million in previews, marking a franchise record for early screenings, though overall earnings suggest a softer run compared to earlier entries.

“Not the scariest of the series, but a heartfelt farewell.” – Audience review

🕯️ Final Verdict: A Haunting Goodbye

The Conjuring: Last Rites may not be the scariest film in the franchise, but it succeeds as a final farewell to Ed and Lorraine Warren’s cinematic legacy. Blending family bonds, faith, and horror, the movie feels more like a tribute than a fresh nightmare.

For longtime fans, the cameos, Judy’s expanded story, and the Warrens’ last dance make it worth the watch.

⭐ Rating: 3.5/5 – A flawed but fitting conclusion to one of horror’s most iconic sagas.

👻 Should You Watch It?

If you’ve followed the franchise from The Conjuring (2013) to now, this is a must-watch for closure. It’s available in theaters now (since September 5, 2025) and will likely arrive on Max (formerly HBO Max) in the coming months, following Warner Bros.’ distribution deal.

🔮 The Conjuring Universe may end Phase One here, but its echoes will haunt horror for decades to come.