The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the supposed end of James Wan’s long-running horror franchise, but unfortunately, it doesn’t go out with the same bite it began with. Directed by Michael Chaves, the film once again follows Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they assist another haunted family plagued by supernatural forces.

As someone new to the franchise who only caught up with the earlier entries last month, I’ve found these films “all right.” They usually take too long to introduce the Warrens and establish the family, juggling multiple characters in ways that often slow the pacing. Last Rites suffers from this same problem. At 2 hours and 15 minutes, the film tries to maintain intrigue with intermittent scares, but most boil down to cheap jump scares or pop-up figures with flashy makeup.

What helps elevate the material, as always, is Vera Farmiga. She delivers incredible emotional weight, particularly in a scene involving birth and another moment of grief when a friend passes away. Farmiga’s performance grounds the story and reminds you why she’s the soul of this franchise.

Technically, the film looks and sounds strong. The cinematography is polished, the editing times the jump scares effectively, and the sound design helps immerse you in this ghostly world. Unfortunately, when the scares feel routine, strong craft only highlights how familiar the formula has become.

Fans who have loved every previous Conjuring movie may still find enjoyment, but for me, this was the weakest entry. While the first two films were decent and The Devil Made Me Do It started strong before fading, Last Rites struggled to keep me engaged; I nearly nodded off during the final act, already anticipating the predictable resolution.

As a “last rites” for the franchise, this finale feels less like a haunting goodbye and more like a rehash of scares we’ve already seen.