RKA

The film takes its time building tension, with the horror elements gradually creeping in rather than hitting hard from the start. While this slow-burn approach allows the atmosphere to settle, it also means the scares don’t fully land until much later. When the jump-scare moments do arrive, they’re effective enough and help maintain a sense of unease. What weakens the impact, however, is how the central threat is portrayed. The demon terrorising the Smurl family has been described as one of the most powerful entities the Warrens ever encountered — a chilling premise that promises relentless terror. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t quite deliver on that potential. The haunting often feels relatively mild, lacking the brutality and intensity needed to reflect such a supposedly terrifying and unstoppable force. Another missed opportunity is the limited use of material from the real-life Smurl haunting. The case itself is full of disturbing and bizarre details that could have been explored more deeply to heighten the horror. Incorporating more of these real-life elements would have made the story feel more authentic, disturbing, and ultimately more frightening. I also would’ve liked to see some of the franchise’s wider lore woven into this story. The Crooked Man’s zoetrope toy, along with appearances by both the Crooked Man and the Nun, could have added another layer of menace and continuity within the Conjuring universe. Similarly, the film could have given more focus to the mirror — a chilling device that could have shown the family glimpsing evil apparitions, further amplifying the terror. Finally, the title Last Rites feels underutilised. In Catholic tradition, the last rites — also known as the Commendation of the Dying — are the final prayers given to someone before death. To reflect that theme more powerfully, the film might have dared to kill off a central character, such as Tony, tying the spiritual weight of the ritual to a real and devastating loss. This would have grounded the title in something tangible, heightening the emotional and theological stakes. Overall, the movie is decent and engaging, but it never quite reaches the heights of fear it sets up. For viewers seeking a horror that’s atmospheric and unsettling, it works. For those expecting a truly harrowing experience worthy of the Warrens’ darkest case, it may feel underwhelming.