Named the final chapter for beloved ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” was the latest installment in the fan favorite mystery horror series “The Conjuring.” The movie was meant to wrap up a story that began more than 10 years ago in 2013. Fans had high hopes when entering theaters due to all the excitement around it being the end of the well-loved series. 

The movie did exceptionally well at keeping audiences on edge in the first half. It leaned toward an eerie, unsettling sound design and imagery, making viewers face a constant stream of jump scares from the start. Fandango’s critic reviews pointed out that the film is packed with scary moments, and they aren’t wrong. For fans who mainly wanted thrills, “Last Rites” certainly delivered. 

The movie’s visuals were also a plus. Flickering Myth gave the movie high marks for using images that stayed with viewers, such as the haunted mirror and demonic encounters as cameos from characters like Annabelle. These scenes were often big and dramatic, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, ultimately reminding them as to why “The Conjuring” series became popular in the first place. The directors managed to make something ordinary, like a mirror, feel terrifying. 

The cast, of course, played an overwhelming part in “The Conjuring” franchise’s success. Since 2013, actors Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson have played Mr. and Mrs. Warren, a married couple with a passion for the supernatural, and their chemistry continued to hold the plot together. 

Even when the plot got really jumbled, they gave the story a feeling of depth. The majority of Rotten Tomatoes critics agreed, pointing out that even when the plot fell apart throughout the movie, the actors maintained a strong emotional core and remained familiar to viewers. With her insights and visions of the Warren family’s difficult past and their efforts to assist the Smurl family, their daughter Judy, took center stage this time. 

Although the movie had a strong and captivating start, it fell apart in the last act. So many issues were left unanswered, and the narrative felt messy and muddled. According to a review from Flickering Myth, the film at times “tries too hard” to frighten viewers and the ending felt rushed and clichéd instead of being unique, ultimately boring viewers. It seemed like a collection of incomplete ideas and plot holes, almost as if the writers were more focused on being scary and were not concerned about the viewers’ and fans’ desire for a satisfying series ending.

The movie, despite the ending, served as an introduction to the franchise for those who were unfamiliar with it. Many have found it to be beginner-friendly because the pacing made it easy to follow without needing to know the plot of every previous movie. 

Beginner horror fans are likely to appreciate the simpler scares the movie has, but die-hard fans could find it lacking in comparison to the earlier movies. 

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” was a mixed package: the cast, the atmosphere and the jump scares that kept viewers on the edge of their seats were all excellent, but the movie fell short. When instead of bringing everything together, it relied on clichés and left questions unanswered. Although it may not be the best conclusion for a major and well-loved horror series, it was sufficient to keep viewers interested and eager to see what might happen to The Conjuring universe in the future, because after all, it was loosely based on a true story.