Review: The Conjuring: Last Rites Is a Gentle Farewell — But That Mirror Will Haunt You

The Conjuring: Last Rites is the fourth main entry in The Conjuring franchise. Directed by Michael Chaves, the film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, and it opens in U.S. theaters on September 5. The movie runs **135 minutes** and is set in 1986.

- Director and key cast details
- Basic plot elements and main locations

Notable scenes and visual motifs
Release date, runtime, and where to find the trailer

Summary

The story centers on the Smurl family — Jack Smurl (Elliot Cowan), his wife Janet (Rebecca Calder), daughter Heather (Kila Lord Cassidy) and other relatives — who experience disturbing phenomena after a mirror enters their home. Meanwhile, Ed and Lorraine Warren live in retirement and are drawn into the case despite living in another state. The film also includes a small cameo by the doll Annabelle.

Background on the Warrens

Ed and Lorraine Warren are depicted in the series as paranormal investigators based on real-life figures, though the films fictionalize many elements. For more on the real-life figures behind the characters, see this MentalFloss piece.

Trailer

Key scenes and visual motifs

Several sequences in the film focus on a mirror as the central object. For example, one scene involves Heather watching a VHS tape of a birthday party to find a brief, mostly unseen presence reflected on screen. Another shows a wedding dress and a room filled with mirrors that create repeated reflections. The climax includes a sequence in which Ed and Jack move the mirror through a multi-story house.

Additionally, the film uses mirror-based visual effects and other practical and digital techniques to stage those set pieces. The movie blends archival-format footage (a VHS tape) with more conventional camera work in its scare sequences.

Cast and crew

Director: Michael Chaves (who also directed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II)
Ed Warren: Patrick Wilson
Lorraine Warren: Vera Farmiga
Jack Smurl: Elliot Cowan
Janet Smurl: Rebecca Calder
Heather Smurl: Kila Lord Cassidy
Judy (Warrens’ daughter): Mia Tomlinson
Tony: Ben Hardy

Production notes

James Wan is credited as a producer on the franchise. Michael Chaves returns to direct, having previously worked on other entries. The film uses a mix of practical sets (a multi-room family home, an attic) and visual effects for reflective and supernatural moments. The script places the story in 1986 and includes family dynamics alongside the haunting.

Runtime, rating and release

The Conjuring: Last Rites has a runtime of 135 minutes. The franchise films have historically been rated R. The movie opens in theaters on September 5.