The Conjuring: Last Rites Review

By Natalia Day

After its release on Sept. 5, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” had audiences looking over their shoulders as they joined Ed and Lorraine Warren for their most spine-chilling encounter yet. Expectations were high for director Michael Chaves, as “The Conjuring” series is considered a modern-day revival of the supernatural horror genre. Though the movie is undeniably gut-wrenching, reviews were mixed when compared to previous “Conjuring” movies. 

“Last Rites” stays true to its roots, portraying suspense and jump scares similar to the earlier movies. The lack of gore and cheap thrills is what sets “The Conjuring” franchise apart from other classic horror films, such as “Saw,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Nightmare on Elm Street,” all of which contain intense and graphic murder scenes featuring their iconic but brutal killers. The quiet, rural setting of “Last Rites” is an intentional strategy Chaves uses to build suspense through silence and anticipation rather than excessive gore. The film stands out for its pacing, letting unsettling scenes linger long enough to make the viewer uncomfortable; you know something is coming, but not when. 

A common response to the fear while watching a horror movie is repeating “It’s not real” over and over. Freddy Krueger cannot kill you in your dreams, and Michael Myers would’ve died in the first movie had he been real. None of these horror movies is real or even possible…but what if they were? “The Conjuring” is infamous for its introductions: the scene is set with a haunting being investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren, one that couldn’t possibly have occurred in real life. What makes these movies so unsettling is that in every film, the introduction comes to a sudden stop, the music becomes distorted, and a text appears describing the upcoming events. At the end of the text, however, appear five words dreaded by all viewers: “Based on the true story.” 

If the introduction isn’t unsettling enough, the end credits are even more spine-chilling. They feature real footage and audio from the actual case documented by the Warrens. Both the introduction and the credits take away our only defense against the horrors on screen, making the movie that much more frightening. 

Ed Warren (Patrick Watson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) are the paranormal investigators we follow throughout the movie. Though it’s a horror movie, their bond adds a level of emotion to the movie that highlights the themes of love versus hate and faith versus fear. Their picture-perfect relationship contrasts with their abnormal career: a seemingly normal, white picket-fence family that fights ghosts. Who wouldn't want to watch that?

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” shows that fear doesn’t have to be loud to be lasting. The quiet suspense, the “true story” foundation, and the Warrens’ unusual occupation all make this movie a success. So be wary when you move into a new house, you never know what happened to its previous guests.