Garland, TX – This time last year, I had never seen a single installment in “The Conjuring” movie series and had no idea that the creepy nun that becomes ubiquitous around Halloween was tied to the story. Then my daughter took me through the haunted house at Six Flags Over Texas’ Fright Fest about 20 times and I decided I should see what it was all about. In the year since that time, I have now seen all of the “Conjuring” movies and “The Nun” spin-offs, as well. “Last Rites” presents itself as the final chapter, but also leaves the door open to other stories, as these things often do.
If the horror movie genre is not your thing, well, then you probably aren’t reading this. It’s not my favorite genre, but when the air turns cooler, Spirit Halloween starts popping up and Fright Fest approaches, it puts me in the mood. “Last Rites” was just the right thing to see, even as “Hamilton” on the big screen worked very hard to draw us away.
There are two ways you can enjoy “Last Rites,” as with the rest of the movies in the series. You can be a true believer in demon possession and things that go bump in the night and view this as something of a documentary. “The Conjuring” does present itself as being based on a true story, and as with its predecessors, “Last Rites” tells the story of a family in Pennsylvania that did claim to be haunted by demons. The heroes of the previous movies, Ed and Lorraine Warren, show up to bust the ghosts and get pretty busted up themselves. It’s a compelling and riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat – and no spoilers follow.
On the other hand, you may not believe in demons or ghosts and you may just enjoy the horror movie genre as creative works of fiction that suit the mood of the season. The movie works quite well from that perspective, as well. The “true story” claim is a stretch, at best, but the willing suspension of disbelief can cast that little detail aside and allow you to just grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the ride. There are plenty of touching and compelling plot points to go along with the jump scares and, as with the previous installations in the series, you’ll want to root for the main characters.
Yes, the overdone horror movie elements are all here. Every character has to wander off on their own so the demons can torture them one by one. No one likes to turn lights on as they walk around in creepy basements or sketchy attics. The characters do things no rational person would do in order to fall into suspenseful and even terrifying situations. This movie is a checklist of all the things you always see in these types of movies, but again, you must like them or you wouldn’t be reading this.
Will “The Conjuring – Last Rites” be on the top of anyone’s Oscars list this year? Absolutely not. But if you enjoy immersing yourself in this particular movie series or even just the genre, this is a great choice for a Saturday afternoon matinee. It’s not even necessary to have seen any of the others to enjoy it.
If this sounds completely awful to you, don’t worry, I’ll be reviewing “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” next week. I already have advance tickets.
Previous movie reviews from The Garland Gazette:
“Superman” (2025) – The World Really Does Need Superman!
“Jurassic World: Rebirth” – Not Just Another Dinosaur Movie
“Fantastic Four” – A Blockbuster, or Just a Bust?
“F1” – An Unexpected Pleasure
