The Stream: Too similar to the other films and nothing memorable

The Big Screen: Still eerie and chilling like the other films

The Final Bill: Same old Conjuring both positively and negatively

– S2S: Movie Review
Director: Michael Chaves
Writers: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Elliot Cowan
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R (a couple strong language moments)
Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes
Production Companies: Atomic Monster, New Line Cinema, Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit
Platform: Released in theaters September 5, 2025
Notable Trailers: The Smashing Machine, Tron: Ares, One Battle After Another

Welcome back, Streamers! It’s that time of year again… HALLOWEEN MOVIE SEASON! I know what you’re saying… you haven’t even had your first taste of pumpkin spice and fall yet. But the NFL has started, hood season is upon us, and the leader of scary movies has set the stage. This weekend I was able to see the final(?) installment of The Conjuring movies, The Conjuring: Last Rites. This movie, of course, follows the stories of Ed and Lorraine Warren as they try to help families who are being tormented by a spirit/demon. This time it’s the last time and their daughter is all grown up to participate. Something from their past is popping up to usher them into retirement and horror hijinks ensue. (For sanity purposes, I believe they say this story actually isn’t the last story they had.)

Anyway, jumping in like the jump scares, The Conjuring franchise is back and at it again.  Obviously, the movie is the same quality as the others have been, including those films in the extended universe, but sometimes just the same quality is no longer good enough.  They’ve perfected the eerie and chilling nature. They’ve perfected the slow burn into the frantic conclusion.   The downside of that is that they’ve gone to the well one too many times. Yes, Annabelle is your main star. Yes, the Nun’s face is haunting. However, nothing new really occurred in this movie. We see a couple non-scary new ghouls, but they are the most basic of basic, one of which is seen in the trailer. On top of the lack of original scares, the story is pretty stale. Ed and Lorraine are getting older and keep questioning whether they should keep doing these things. Something from their past is back to haunt someone else. There’s a family that’s being tortured that needs help. I mean, come on. At least, the previous installment had a bit of a mystery as to who done it. Here, there’s a mystery that’s basically never solved, unless I missed something. Essentially, the story was fine but then it was pointless.

Long story short, The Conjuring: Last Rites is a just another Conjuring movie. It’s eerie and chilling, but this one lacks originality like a few of the others. I can’t even say you’ll truly be scared; however, I know your leg will hurt from one scene. Either way, check this out at the matinee time and make sure you watch at least the original for Halloween season!