After four main entries and six spin-off films, “The Conjuring” franchise comes to an end with “The Conjuring: Last Rites” hitting cinemas this weekend.
The Conjuring Universe franchise has had its ups and numerous downs, with the James Wan-directed first two main entries widely considered the best. The overall films have grossed a combined $2.2 billion against a total budget of $208 million.
Michael Chaves directs the new film, which sees Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as paranormal investigators and authors Ed and Lorraine Warren one last time. Reviews for the film are now in and so far they’re not good.
On Rotten Tomatoes the film sit at 60% from 52 reviews counted. That’s better than the third film’s 56% but a long way from the highs of 86% and 80% that the first two films scored.
On Metacritic it landed the worst score of the main films with 51/100 compared to the 68, 65 and 53 of the first three.
“As a scary movie, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is a generic film, neither good nor bad. It’s practically begging audiences to judge it on a ‘pass/fail’ basis. As the conclusion of the ‘Conjuring’ series, it’s a little more successful, but not much.” – William Bibbiani, TheWrap
“Despite something of a false opening promise, Last Rites is appropriately terrifying, far more successful on a scare-by-scare basis than the second or third films and a really frothy return to the aesthetic pleasures of Wan’s first Conjuring.” – Gregory Nussen, Deadline
“Last Rites is suitably nightmarish where it counts, bringing memorable chills that linger and spilling more blood than usual in a Conjuring film. But it’s more affecting for the way it wears its heart on its sleeves.” – Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
“Farmiga and Wilson haven’t lost their appeal, and with their relaxed chemistry they make for engaging company. But it all feels old hat by now, with returning director Michael Chaves failing to bring much freshness or vitality to the proceedings” – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“The story ends up on-rails and the stakes seem smaller than ever, despite a bloated, franchise-high runtime. That this highly derivative horror series bottoms out by over-investing in the Warrens is a sure sign that it is well past its utility.” – Variety
“Cue the creepy attics and doom-filled cellars and horrific visions of ax-wielding maniacs, but these haunted-house trappings no longer carry the fright or the fun that the Conjuring movies once reliably provided.” – Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict
“Wilson and Farmiga remain solidity incarnate, capable of enlivening even speculative spiritual dialogue. The film-making pulls no surprises out of the hat, though, and gives no indication that it would if it could.” – Mike McCahill, The Guardian
“‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ feels crowded from the inside out: it’s as if an earnest domestic drama and a horror flick were thrashing around, trying to occupy the same running time. Neither one is able to cast the other out.” – Adam Nayman, Toronto Star
“The Conjuring: Last Rites” opens on Friday and is projected to hit an $80 million global opening over the weekend.
