By: Payden Morris

For fans of scary movies, The Conjuring: Last Rites, has been an anticipated film. The announcement of the final movie in a well-loved saga left fans eager to see how the movie would play out. 

The film directed by Michael Chaves starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga is the fourth Conjuring movie and the ninth film within the Conjuring Universe. Wilson and Farmiga have starred in all Conjuring films to date.

The Conjuring: Last Rites, like all other Conjuring films, is based on a real-life case that Ed and Lorraine Warren had investigated during their career. This film follows the Smurl case, taking place in West Pittston, Pennsylvania.

The movie began with background context that would later set the scene as to why the Warren family ended up taking this case. This context includes showing the birth of Ed and Lorraine’s daughter Judy, giving us an idea of the family dynamic that the Warrens had when navigating their careers as paranormal investigators. 

The main plot of the film takes place twenty two years later, where we follow Ed, Lorraine, Judy and her fiance as they face one of their most challenging cases yet, attempting to free a large family in Pennsylvania from the terror they are being put through.

The overall atmosphere of the film from the acting to the visuals was solid, achieving the goal of making the audience feel a sense of unease and anxiety as the plot developed. The directing of the film did a great job of creating anticipating moments as you waited for the next scare. Through the directing and acting you could feel the tension as scenes progressed.

Although there were plenty of scary moments, the film did a good job of providing joyful moments as well, really showing you how the Warrens were able to keep their lives well-balanced, happy, and fulfilling through their love of each other and their faith in God when working in such a dark and terrorizing profession.

While some may find the movie appealing, others find fault within the film. For example, Jameal Boykin, a student at West Virginia Wesleyan College, had seen the movie and gave his thoughts on the film by stating, “The movie felt short and rushed since it was the last movie they were making.”

Boykin continued his thoughts stating, “I would rate the movie a 5/10. I felt like the movie wasn’t really that scary.”

Overall the film was good; the acting was well-done and the scenes that were set led to an atmosphere that drew you in and put you in the places of the characters and what they experienced. The soundtrack added to the tension and environment, creating unease and adrenaline as scenes became more intense. 

Although based on a true story many moments, particularly in the height of the investigation, were dramatized in order to create a more terrifying experience for viewers. This led to an ending that most may find unfulfilling. Considering all factors of the film, I would rate it a 6/10.

Photo by: Payden Morris