The latest installment in the Conjuring Universe pays homage and sends off the Warrens, who spearheaded the series with their paranormal investigations. I haven’t been a fan of the entries in the Conjuring Universe, with the exception of the first film. When I had first seen the trailer for Last Rites, I did get my hopes a little high. After all, it was going to be the grand finale between the evil forces and the Warrens! But, not even halfway into the movie, all my hopes were shattered into smithereens.

Plot:

In 1964, young Ed and Lorraine Warren, who have just begun their paranormal investigation career, come across an insidious evil dwelling inside an antiquated mirror that pesters a troubled woman. When they try to expel the evil, it turns against them and threatens the life of their daughter. Fast forward 22 years, and both Ed and Lorraine are nearing the end of their careers, giving lectures about their supernatural encounters. The evil from their past now haunts the Smurl family. After the death of a close associate who was trying to help the Smurls, the Warrens decide to offer their help in fighting against the ancient evil. Through their experience and faith, the Warrens battle against their deadliest demonic nemesis.

The Good aspects:

If you’re a fan of The Conjuring movies, the one thing you will appreciate is the time that has been devoted to understanding the Warrens in this movie. While it was a bit too much for my liking, true fans might get a kick out of the portrayal of the family’s daily life, banter, moral support in the face of trauma, and the love they have for each other.

It was Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson who carried the weight of this movie on their shoulders. While everything else failed, these two stars shone brightly in the dark. The commitment of these actors to stick to the script and make us believe in their actions within the paranormal world is commendable!

The Bad aspects:

I had paid to get a ticket for a horror movie. And I watched a movie with next to no horror elements in it. This was the part of the movie that irritated me a lot. It felt as if the movie wanted to document the lives of the Warrens and the Smurls but had no interest in dealing with the horror aspects that were promised to the viewers. I have no issue with the director in paying homage to the Warrens or putting across the perspective of the Smurls. But why do you have to cut back on a good scare?!

Last Rites had a ridiculously overstuffed plot. I am thrilled when movies try to cover a lot of ground and smartly handle the runtime. This movie failed to do that. Some scenes that had no effect on the overall plot of the movie extended for such a long time that they completely derailed the intensity of the story. There were instances of editing cuts in the movie that also contributed to forgetting the important aspects of the story.

Conclusion:

With terrible pacing, a poorly planned plot, and no horror elements in it, I can confidently say that this is the weakest horror movie I have seen in the theater this year.

Lucy Locket might have lost her pocket, but I lost precious time and my mind while watching this movie. I would not recommend this movie at all. But hey, if you’ve got loads of time on your hands, have watched the previous 3 movies, and do not agree with the sunk cost fallacy, then go ahead and enjoy this movie.