The Conjuring: Last Rites – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Conjuring: Last Rites – Horror with The Warrens: A Final Ride

From turmoil to tension, the grips of reality can falter in the face of terror.  This kind of emotional roller coaster is a trail into creative discourse, one that can be showcased in many mediums … including film. From myths to real-life moments, horror is a dime a dozen.  No matter how many tales can be told, if the right story strikes fear, then it can become memorable.  If there is nothing new to behold … then it is just another ‘flavor’ of the week.  In this review, I look at the latest entry of a popular horror franchise.  In this film, it is a journey at a crossroads of pushing forward while staying relevant in its details.  Even when moments become dull, The Conjuring: Last Rites is an interesting ride that shows another demonic case from the Warrens.

The Warrens, well-renowned paranormal investigators, have faced many horrific cases of hauntings and possessed spirits.  No matter the trials or tribulations, there was one that ended their careers; this was the case.  With horror, there is a general sense of expectations that surround the tale.  No matter the situation, what stirs that grip is a connection of characters to the journey.  With this franchise, the hook of ‘based on true events’ becomes that grip into feeling a rawness for what is ahead.  No matter what tale comes to light, what is to be expected are two things: The case and The Warrens.  In the beginning, we get a quick flashback sequence before moving to the main crux of the film: in Pennsylvania in 1986, the Smurl family (after convenient plot elements) become trapped by a horrific possession of the unknown.  As things begin to get worst, they reach out to the local news in hopes of finding help.  That help comes in the form of Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren.  With this general foundation, there is a slow build that focuses on two aspects: familial themes and the horrors of the unexpected.  As the film builds through the ‘further adventures’ of the Warrens, it becomes a parallel to the consequences of all the horrors they have faced (through the years).  On the opposite end, the caution of the paranormal has a ripple effect, leading to this auspicious connection with the spirits haunting the Smurl family.  As this slowly gets peeled back, the familial themes level out the horror tropes, creating a grounded feel that weaves around the predictability and recognizable MacGuffin (at play).  For all the repetition, what keeps you going is the evolution of our paranormal investigators as they grow weary of the moment but knowing, they are the only ones that can help.

As the journey continues, the strength of characterization starts to wane when the Warrens come into contact with what is haunting the Smurl family.  This leads through scenes of expositional dialogue, jump scares, ominous voices and conveniently dark lit rooms.  As the familiar starts to take effect, we head into a third act of predictability, leading to a standard horror climax and epilogue.  The Conjuring: Last Rites is a mix bag of familiar bleeding through potential.  If you are a fan of the franchise or horror flicks, this is one for you.  For anyone else, this might be a good time at the theaters, but at the right price.

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)