The Conjuring: Last Rites Trailer Unleashes the Warrens' Most Terrifying Case Yet
“I don't know how to protect you this time…”
That single line from Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) in the new trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites sets the tone for what may be the darkest entry yet in James Wan's horror empire. Warner Bros. has just released the full official trailer for the fourth installment, and if this preview is any indication, director Michael Chaves (The Nun II, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) is pulling out all the stops.
A Case Unlike Any Other
The trailer wastes no time plunging us into the nightmare of the Smurl family, whose dream home quickly becomes a battleground against an insidious demonic force. The Warrens, now seasoned but visibly weary, are called in for what's being billed as their final case—“Last Case. Last Rites.” The ominous tagline suggests a definitive end, but whether that means a conclusive victory or a tragic farewell remains to be seen.
Visually, the trailer leans into the franchise's signature dread—shadow-drenched corridors, sudden apparitions, and lingering shots of possessed figures just out of focus. But Chaves amplifies the tension with a few fresh tricks: a frenetic handheld sequence inside a collapsing house, a distorted reflection in a mirror that almost looks human, and a particularly unsettling shot of a child's toy rocking on its own—a callback to The Conjuring 2's infamous crooked man sequence, but with a far more sinister edge.
The Warren Legacy Expands
Beyond Ed and Lorraine, the film introduces their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) and her boyfriend Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), suggesting a passing-of-the-torch subplot. Given the franchise's penchant for spinning off side characters (Annabelle, The Nun), this could hint at future installments—even if this is the Warrens' last ride.
Patrick Wilson's Ed looks more burdened than ever, while Farmiga's Lorraine carries a quiet desperation, her usual resolve cracking under the weight of an enemy she can't immediately decipher. The supporting cast—including Rebecca Calder and Elliot Cowan as the besieged Smurls—delivers the kind of raw, terrified performances that make these films work.
Why This Trailer Stands Out
Most horror trailers rely on jump scares, but The Conjuring: Last Rites' preview builds dread through pacing. The first half plays like a slow-burn haunted house flick before escalating into full-blown exorcism chaos. The sound design—creaking floorboards, whispered Latin chants, and that awful guttural growl at the 1:42 mark—is a masterclass in unease.
Marketing-wise, Warner Bros. is smartly leaning into the “final case” angle, positioning this as an event horror film rather than just another sequel. The poster's stark imagery—a fractured crucifix—hints at a crisis of faith, a recurring theme in the series.
Final Thoughts: Will This Be the Scariest Conjuring Yet?
If the trailer's any indication, The Conjuring: Last Rites could surpass even the original in sheer terror. Chaves has proven he can handle Wan's universe (The Nun II was a step up), and with a script co-written by The Autopsy of Jane Doe's Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing, expectations are high.
The film hits theaters on September 5, 2025—just in time to kick off the Halloween season. Will it be the franchise's grand finale? Or just another chapter in an ever-expanding universe? Either way, brace yourselves.
