Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) return for one final terrifying case of paranormal possession. 

Last Rites opens in 1964 to show us the Warrens in one of their first ever cases. A case that is interrupted by Lorraine going into labour earlier than anticipated and their daughter Judy being stillborn, before miraculously coming back to life. Fast forward twenty-two years to 1986 and Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is now a young lady struggling with similar visions to her mother and the Warrens are trying their hardest to enter into retirement. So when the Smurl family of Pennsylvania reach out for assistance in relation to the demonic possession attacking their family the Warrens try to stay away as long as they can. 

This is the fourth and purportedly final film in The Conjuring series with its two separate timelines bookending the other three films’ settings and also featuring small cameos from characters in the other films. It also marks the tenth film in the wider Conjuring universe that features The Nun, Annabelle and La Llorona stories. There is a sneaky suggestion that the torch could be passed on to Judy and her man Tony (Ben Hardy) but that might result in it losing one of its key differentiators; the fact that it can claim to be a true story. 

I am happy to report that the mainline Conjuring films have managed to maintain a good level of quality throughout and this one is no different. In the main this is down to the fantastic chemistry that Wilson and Farmiga have developed as the Warrens. The small twist in the tale for this final story is the introduction of Judy and Tony’s parallel story to Ed and Lorraine and the idea that for once the Warrens want to stay as far as possible from the possession they are being asked to exorcise. Something that gives this feature an enjoyable slow burn and climactic finale. 

Yes there are many cliche jump scare moments and anyone who has not been a fan of the Warrens’ Conjurings to date are not going to be converted in this final film. Those that have enjoyed the previous stories will certainly have a good time here also.