A Chilling, If Familiar, Finale for the Warren Saga
The Conjuring 4: Last Rites marks the latest—and reportedly final—entry in the enduring Conjuring franchise. Directed with a steady hand and featuring the return of notorious paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film offers familiar thrills and notable chills, even as it treads well-worn ground.
This instalment follows Jack and Janet Smurl and their family, who have just moved into the home of their dreams. Their excitement quickly sours when inexplicable phenomena begin to torment them. As the Warrens are called in to investigate, the case escalates in disturbing ways, ultimately shifting the supernatural threat onto the Warrens themselves. This narrative twist distinguishes Last Rites from earlier films, giving the story a more personal and emotionally resonant focus on the franchise’s central characters.
The Conjuring 4 excels in delivering genuine jump scares and sustained tension—hallmarks of the series that fans have come to expect. Director Michael Chaves employs classic horror techniques to keep viewers on edge, and while many of the scares may feel familiar, they are executed with enough finesse to be effective.
The film’s atmosphere is consistently unsettling, with moments of respite that only serve to heighten the next scare.
One of the film’s strengths is its deeper exploration of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s relationship and family dynamic. The narrative spends more time on lighter moments, allowing audiences to connect with the Warrens beyond their roles as supernatural investigators. This emphasis on character development helps to ground the story and adds emotional depth, particularly as the Warrens themselves become the focus of the haunting.
The structure of Last Rites closely mirrors the second film in the franchise, echoing its pacing and style. However, by making the Warrens the primary victims of supernatural forces, this entry offers a fresh perspective, even if it doesn’t stray far from established conventions. For longtime fans, these callbacks provide a sense of nostalgia, while the new focus adds a layer of intrigue.
While The Conjuring 4: Last Rites may not reinvent the haunted house genre or deliver radically new ideas, it stands as a solid, if average, conclusion to the series. The scares are effective, the tension is palpable, and the storyline remains engaging throughout. The film’s dedication to rounding out the Warren family’s arc ensures a satisfying sense of closure for fans.
If you’ve followed The Conjuring films, Last Rites is worth watching for its scares, emotional beats, and the sense of finality it brings to the franchise. It may not reach the heights of its predecessors, but it remains a respectable entry that honours what came before while offering enough new perspective to keep audiences invested.
Horror enthusiasts and series devotees alike will find it a fitting end to Ed and Lorraine Warren’s cinematic adventures.
Scaring in cinemas from Friday, September 5.
-Dirk Lombard Fourie