by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: $14.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Elliot Cowan
Intro:
… a perfectly appropriate send-off for a series of films that has probably run its course.
The first Conjuring movie released some twelve years ago and was an absolute monster hit. How monstrous? It not only spawned three direct sequels (The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Conjuring: Last Rites) it also launched a connected Conjuring universe of five spin-off flicks (Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, Annabelle Comes Home and The Nun II). However, all good things must come to an end, as indeed do all sporadically entertaining things, and allegedly Last Rites is the final entry* in the franchise. So, how does the old girl finish up? Honestly, about as good as one could expect, nine films in.
The Conjuring: Last Rites takes us back to the 1980s and the lives of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), who are now essentially retired. Oh sure, they still write books and go on speaking tours, but they no longer face evil directly on account of Ed’s bum ticker. However, when nice young family The Smurls from Pennsylvania report a demon infestation due to a cursed mirror, the Warrens – now joined by their adult daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson) – must dust off their spook-chasing daks and get back in the game. But will this final case be their last, and will Ed’s heart survive the ordeal?
So, first things first: The Conjuring: Last Rites is not a triumphant return to form. It doesn’t equal the robust, visually exciting thrills of the first two films helmed by Aussie director and horror legend, James Wan. It is, however, better than the previous entry, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Directed by Michael Chaves, Last Rites feels like a back to basics yarn, featuring a large working class family being menaced by a narky demon who had a previous run-in with the Warrens. There are plenty of familiar spooky scenes, some of them quite effective. One sequence taking place in a changing room that acts as a kind of hall of mirrors is conceptually strong and well executed. Also, the appearance of a creepy old lady is crudely effective (albeit done better in the original Conjuring).
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga continue to do solid work in roles that must now feel like a pair of comfy old slippers. Mia Tomlinson is excellent as their daughter who is beginning to manifest powers of her own and Ben Hardy has fun as her dorky but good hearted beau, Tony.
Look, The Conjuring films are basic bitch horror movies for people who get freaked out by antique dolls and creaking rocking chairs. They’re goofy, even quaint affairs with simple good vs evil themes and loads of silliness. Taken from that perspective, The Conjuring: Last Rites is a perfectly appropriate send-off for a series of films that has probably run its course.
Still, it would have been nice to have had James Wan back for the big finale.
*There are some loose rumours floating about that there might be a phase 2 of Conjuring universe films, but they remain unconfirmed and mercifully unlikely.
