The Conjuring: Last Rites – a chilling farewell to the franchise

Good news for horror fans, The Conjuring: Last Rites will hit theaters on September 5, 2025, marking the end of the first phase of the Conjuring Universe.

The movie will star lead actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who will face their final haunting case based on one of their most challenging and life-threatening cases. 

What sets this film apart is its emotional focus and the end of Warren's legacy, as well as the fact that it will be the emotional finale for these characters and the actors themselves.

Background: The Warrens, the Franchise, and the Smurl haunting

The Conjuring Universe began in 2013, telling the stories of Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigated supposedly haunted cases. Over more than a decade, the franchise has grown into a global phenomenon, grossing over $2.2 billion across multiple films, including spin‑offs like Annabelle and The Nun. Now Last Rites serves as the ninth installment and is meant to wrap up the Warrens’ story arc.

This chapter is inspired by the real Smurl haunting, which happened in 1986 in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The Smurl family claimed their home was haunted by unseen forces, noises, foul odors, even physical attacks, and sought help from the Warrens after everything else had failed.

Plot

Five years after the events of The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), Ed and Lorraine are nearly retired, delivering lectures and trying to move away from the darkness. But when the Smurl family reaches out and asks them for help, the demonologist feels compelled to return for one last case. This final case is framed as most terrifying and deeply personal.

The story begins in 1973 when the Smurl family moved into a fixer-upper duplex on 330 Chase Street in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. After Hurricane Agnes flooded their home in the nearby town. Jack, Janet, and their four daughters lived on one side of the house while the children grand grandparents, John and Mary, lived on the other side.

As the Smurl started to renovate their property, their troubles began. At first, the family attributed the odd noises they heard to the house's age, but soon they felt a sense of malice as odd, vexing events started happening while they were at home, and tools disappeared as they worked.

Stains bled through fresh paint, and unplugged appliances would turn on and off. Terrible sulfurous odors wafted through the house, but plumbers couldn't find any issues with the pipes. Despite these aggravations, the Smurl made every effort to create a happy environment, and for some time, life was good. But after some time, the evil events start, and it gets worse.

Moreover, director Michael Chaves has considered this the spookiest and most emotionally intense movie of the series, with the demon involved harboring a personal vendetta against the Warrens. The trailer gives glimpses of creepy moments: disembodied hands, blood and hair emerging from mouths, violent hangings, and even an exorcism.

The story also revisits younger versions of Ed and Lorraine, portrayed by Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor, to show how their past trauma connects to this final confrontation.

Cast: Who’s new and returning

• Patrick Wilson returns as Ed Warren, a demonologist and paranormal lecturer, offering a steady, solemn presence.
• Vera Farmiga is back as Lorraine Warren, the clairvoyant medium whose emotional core holds the film together.
• Mia Tomlinson debuts in the franchise as Judy Warren, now grown up. Judy inherits her mother’s psychic sensitivity, making her central to the unfolding events.
• Ben Hardy plays Tony Spera, Judy's boyfriend. Their relationship adds a “meet‑the‑parents” angle and relatable family tension.
• Steve Coulter returns as Father Gordon, a familiar ally in the Warrens' supernatural battles.
• Rebecca Calder and Elliot Cowan portray Janet and Jack Smurl, the couple who call on Ed and Lorraine to save their family home
• The Smurl children are played by Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, Tilly Walker, and Molly Cartwright, who add depth to the haunting’s household dynamic.

Also, the infamous Annabelle doll makes a surprise return. Though not the main villain, director Chávez believes her presence is nearly mandatory, “almost the mascot” of the franchise.

What’s new:

Unlike the previous part, built mostly around jump scares and intense action, Last Rites is mixed with horror and emotional weight. There is a strong focus on family relationships, especially the Warrens’ bond with Judy and the way that spiritual sensitivity affects her life. The story explores themes of legacy, aging, and letting go of a life marked by tragedy and ghostly encounters.

The film adds a bite of nostalgia: it closes the curtain on over a decade of storytelling for Ed and Lorraine, who first appeared on screen in 2013. In character and outside of it, Wilson and Farmiga are said to have given deeply emotional tributes on social media, recognizing this film as the end of their shared journey.

Production & behind the scenes

The movie is directed by Michael Chaves, who previously worked on The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II, and The Curse of La Llorona. The screenplay is written by David Leslie Johnson‑McGoldrick, Ian Goldberg, and Richard Naing, building on a story co‑written by Johnson‑McGoldrick and franchise creator James Wan. The score is composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, stepping in after Joseph Bishara’s work on earlier films.

Filming took place in London between mid‑September and late November 2024, wrapping principal photography by November 22.

The final chapter

This movie is not only a horror story, it’s a the warren farewell. By bringing closure to the main characters, Last Rites marks the end of "Phase One" of The Conjuring Universe. That doesn’t mean the franchise ends entirely. Plans are already underway for a Phase Two, possibly including TV shows or spin‑offs, but without Patrick Wilson or Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine.

If you’ve followed this series from the beginning, this entry gives a respectful, emotional close to an era.