God, it's hard to believe we're here—nine films deep into The Conjuring universe, and suddenly, it's time to say goodbye to Ed and Lorraine Warren. Or is it? The Conjuring: Last Rites hit theaters today, September 5, 2025, and if you've been riding this horror rollercoaster since the first creak of that possessed door back in 2013, you know the stakes feel personal. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have embodied these real-life ghost hunters with such raw conviction that watching their story arc bend toward an end… well, it hits different. Not in a explosive, blood-soaked finale way—though there's plenty of that demonic flair—but in the quiet ache of lives well-lived amid the shadows.
This installment dives headfirst into the Smurl family haunting, a case pulled from the Warrens' actual files, twisted with a mysterious mirror that's more portal than reflection. It's classic Conjuring: creaky houses, flickering lights, spirits that whisper too close for comfort. But here's where it pivots—the mirror's malevolence ties back to the Warrens themselves, forcing Lorraine to confront visions that blur past horrors with future peace. Judy, their daughter, steps up in a pivotal moment, teaming with Lorraine to banish the entity. Short, sharp bursts of exorcism intensity… then relief. The Smurls breathe easy again. And just like that, it's over for Ed and Lorraine. Their last case.
Retirement? Yeah, that's the twist—no fiery demise mid-ritual, no tragic sacrifice to seal some hellish gate. They walk away, or rather, they fade into normalcy. Lorraine's final vision paints it clear: books penned in cozy studies, lectures shared with wide-eyed students, years of quiet companionship. Gorgeous. Grating, almost, in its simplicity after all the chaos. But true to life—Ed suffers a stroke later, Lorraine stays vigilant by his side until he passes. She follows not long after. Bittersweet doesn't even cover it; it's the horror genre's nod to mortality, reminding us that even demon-fighters can't outrun time.
I've sat through enough festival screenings—Cannes' midnight slots, TIFF's genre spotlights—to know when a franchise bows out gracefully. This one does, without slamming doors shut. Spin-offs like Annabelle or The Nun proved the universe can thrive sans Warrens, and Last Rites hints at more: maybe Judy picks up the mantle, or we revisit dangling threads from past cases. James Wan, who kicked this all off, isn't directing here—Michael Chaves takes the helm again after The Devil Made Me Do It—but the essence lingers, that blend of jump-scares and emotional heft that made the series a billion-dollar beast.
Flawed? Sure. The pacing drags in spots, like it's savoring the goodbye a tad too long. Yet, there's sincerity in Farmiga's gaze, Wilson's weary resolve—human touches that elevate it beyond popcorn fodder. Everyone's sweating through these scenes; was the set cursed with a broken AC, or just the weight of wrapping a decade's work? Anyway. It made me tear up. Then groan at the predictability. Still, intrigued by what comes next.
For more on the production quirks and early buzz, check out ComingSoon‘s coverage.
The Warrens' Graceful Exit Ed and Lorraine don't perish in battle; instead, they retire to write and teach, embracing a well-earned peace that feels earned after nine films of terror.
The Smurl Haunting's Climax Judy and Lorraine unite to expel the spirit from that eerie mirror, saving the family and marking the end of the Warrens' active investigations.
Visions of a Happy Afterlife Lorraine's premonition shows a future of contentment, contrasting the franchise's usual dread with a rare glimpse of joy—before real-life inevitabilities catch up.
Ed's Later Years A stroke claims Ed eventually, with Lorraine by his side, underscoring the human fragility beneath their supernatural bravado.
Franchise Doors Ajar Spin-offs abound, and Judy's role suggests the legacy could continue, proving The Conjuring world doesn't need its founders to haunt us further.
Lorraine's Final Chapter She outlives Ed briefly, passing away in quiet reflection—a fitting, if somber, coda to their shared adventures.
If you're a horror devotee like me, catch The Conjuring: Last Rites in theaters now—IMAX if you can swing it. It'll leave you pondering your own ghosts… or at least debating the next spin-off over drinks. What lingers for you?
