The Conjuring: Last Rites - IS IT SCARY? - Movie Review

Quick Overview

The Conjuring: Last Rites is a disappointing and lengthy final installment in the franchise, criticized for its excessive jump scares, poor pacing, and a convoluted plot that dilutes the horror. Reviewers rated it a 3 out of 10, recommending viewers wait for streaming or skip it entirely, as it fails to deliver genuine scares or a compelling narrative despite the actors' efforts.

Key Points: "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is overwhelmingly considered not scary, with reviewers citing an excessive number of unnecessary jump scares and a "long and drawn out" plot. The film suffers from poor pacing, with a significant portion of the movie feeling "boring" and stretched thin, to the point where the "main story line you just don't really care" about. Critics noted narrative issues, including two parallel stories (the Smurl family haunting and the Warrens' personal lives) that felt disconnected and weighed down the film, with the Warrens becoming "background dressing" for much of the latter half. The movie received low ratings, with reviewers giving it a "solid three" or a "three and a half" out of 10, suggesting audiences "wait for it for a stream" or "skip this one until it goes out on VOD." Despite the actors' efforts, the "opponent" (the mirror entity) was not compelling, leading to an "unsatisfying" conclusion for what is presented as the Warrens' final case. The film's plot was criticized for embellishing "true events" to an unbelievable degree, feeling "half-baked and weird and off-kilter" when trying to balance reality with extreme supernatural occurrences.

Context: This review discusses "The Conjuring: Last Rites," presented as the final film in the Conjuring franchise, focusing on Ed and Lorraine Warren's most dangerous case. The discussion delves into the controversial nature of the real-life Warrens, with allegations of them being "con artists" and details of Ed Warren's alleged affair and Lorraine's alleged involvement in an abortion. The review also touches on the massive commercial success of the Conjuring universe, which spans nine films including spin-offs like "Annabelle" and "The Nun."