The Conjuring: Last Rites Review
The story begins in April 1964, focusing on the Warrens, paranormal investigators, during a haunting case linked to a mysterious antique mirror. Lorraine Warren, heavily pregnant, senses a demonic presence in an antique shop where the shop owner believes an evil spirit forced her father to commit suicide and now threatens her life.
When Lorraine touches the mirror, the entity shows her a vision of danger to her unborn daughter Judy, triggering premature labor. Despite a traumatic birth and the presence of dark forces in the hospital, Judy survives thanks to Lorraine and Ed’s prayers. However, Judy inherits the ability to see spirits, a gift that is both special and terrifying, and Lorraine teaches her a protective poem to help her cope with the darkness.
The narrative then shifts to 1986 Pennsylvania, introducing the Smurl family: parents Janet and Jack, their four daughters, and grandparents. The family is celebrating their daughter Heather’s confirmation when they receive the same cursed antique mirror from the grandparents, unknowingly inviting the evil into their home.
Strange, frightening events begin to unfold—candles extinguish on their own, lights fall, and ghostly apparitions terrorize the family, particularly targeting the twin daughters Karen and Shannon. Heather and her sister Dawn discover that all disturbances started with the arrival of the mirror, which they discard, but this only worsens the situation as Dawn falls ill, vomiting shards of glass from the broken mirror.
Meanwhile, Ed Warren, who has distanced himself from paranormal investigations due to his heart condition, is pulled back into the supernatural realm when his daughter Judy experiences increasing paranormal activity.
Judy’s boyfriend Tony proposes to her, and the family celebrates, but soon the supernatural attacks intensify. Father Gordon, a spiritual helper, attempts to aid the Smurls but is brutally killed by the dark entity. Judy herself begins to experience terrifying visions and encounters with the evil spirit, culminating in her possession by the demon linked to the mirror.
The Warrens rush to help, confronting the dark forces in the Smurl house. Judy, fully possessed, attacks her parents and family pets, and attempts to end her own life under the demon’s influence. In a dramatic climax, Ed, Lorraine, and Tony fight the demonic entity using strength, prayers, and courage.
They ultimately destroy the mirror, banishing the evil and saving both families. The mirror is secured in Ed’s artifact room, and Tony becomes part of the Warren family, entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the supernatural artifacts.
The story concludes with Judy and Tony’s wedding, attended by everyone the Warrens had helped over the years. Lorraine shares a hopeful vision of their future, including writing a book and continuing to help others. The epilogue reveals Ed’s partial paralysis and eventual death at age 79, followed by Lorraine’s peaceful passing at 92 in 2019, marking a heartfelt end to their extraordinary journey.
This narrative richly combines supernatural horror with deep human emotions, family dynamics, and the timeless battle between good and evil, crafting a compelling story that spans generations and leaves a lasting impact.
