Well, they’re not the “Ghostbusters” as a group of kids cheekily called them out for during one of their lesser-attended lectures on the supernatural forces that permeate the world. But it’s time for one last ride for the Warrens’ cases in Last Rites, and a decent sendoff for the duo of Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson leading the way as Lorraine and Ed, respectively (well, according to new rumors, it’s not the official sendoff for the characters, but this seems to be the end of the first phase of Conjuring films). But, it’s hard to get invested in a ride as lengthy as this, as the ninth installment seemed all too familiar and never pops into a second collective gear that embellishes some of the more renowned chapters of this series. Yours indeed is young enough to remember being caught off guard by the creepily intriguing atmosphere in the first two Conjuring films (in 2010 and 2013), and then cheap knockoff thrills from Annabelle and perplexing storytelling in The Nun. Director Michael Chaves returns to the helm after helming The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, and much like those installments, it’s another middle-of-the-road entry.
To kick off with the story, we journey back to 1964, where the younger Warrens are investigating a mirror at an antique shop after reports of an older man having committed suicide. Lorraine goes into premature labor after coming in contact with said mirror and gives birth to their only child, Judy, after fighting off the darkness. But the darkness is temporary, as 22 years later, the mirror arrives in the household of the Smurl family in Pennsylvania, and abnormal moments and demons begin to saturate their lives, putting them in grave danger. Despite being semi-retired and not interested in involving themselves in any more cases, the Warrens come around to work the case after their adult daughter Judy (played by Mia Tomlinson) develops her own psychic abilities and becomes entrenched with the horrors hidden behind the infamous mirror.
Chaves here doesn’t possess the chaotic, fun vibe that James Wan once infused into this franchise, despite his reasonable attempts at building tension for the set pieces. He likes toying with some of the most renowned places in a household that spook us (i.e., the basement, the closets, the attic), so the fun stays humming along at select points. The problem is that this feature bashes itself using a non-daedal approach, because it doesn’t even bring the two leads into meeting the Smurl family until the, checks notes, halfway point of the film. Huh? Not even a beat of connectivity erupts until a death occurs with another individual the Warrens know. The only connection we become invested in is meeting Tony (Ben Hardy) and his desire to marry Judy, despite Ed’s grumpy protests. And consequently, this takes the stage from characters of the Smurl family that could stand out, and instead becomes peripheral background supporting players.
Kudos to Farmiga and Wilson for retaining their casual, fun chemistry with one another; they’re a dorky little couple that keep things humming when the story strikes the right notes. When it doesn’t, we’re simply plodding along, waiting for the next jump scare or for some buffoon to open an entryway so the inevitable arises. Tomlinson and Hardy also excel here, delivering engaging performances and beats alongside the two leads.
Overall, Last Rites doesn’t produce the same sensation we’ve previously witnessed in this series, as much of the scares and frights are monotonous, and we’re left hanging to enjoy our leads making it past another supernatural being. It’s a flawed fourth chapter, lacking tantalizing ingredients and becoming somewhat of a Frankenstein film. A mixed bag for the Warren family’s last ride indeed.
