Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren return for a case so traumatizing it caused them to end their careers. That’s the true story of the real Warren couple, but based on the continuing box-office success of the series and its spinoffs, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last of the Warren-affiliated scares. Director Michael Chaves marks his third consecutive franchise outing after the prior Conjuring release and The Nun II, although his third time is not exactly a charm.
Buy The Conjuring 4: Last RitesBefore diving into the latest case, the film opens with a flashback to the harrowing birth of the Warrens’ daughter, Judy, attended by an evil spirit. It’s a clumsy sequence designed to raise the personal stakes for the Warrens when they encounter the same ghoul decades later, even though there’s very little endgame payoff. On the plus side, the actor playing young Ed (Orion Smith) is a super convincing doppelganger, making it fun to see him emulate the OG, Patrick Wilson.
The series utilizes totems for scares, with the primary object here a full-length mirror with three creepy wooden babies carved in the top of the frame. The Warrens encounter the mirror in the flashback, then it ends up in the home of the Smurl family years later where its demonic forces begin wreaking havoc that leads to the Warrens’ investigation. In a nod to the Annabelle doll from the original Conjuring film and its spinoffs, the spirit possesses a plastic doll in the Smurl house for added scares, although Annabelle herself also makes a chilling but nonsensical cameo late in the film.
While Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are still the stars, the film soft launches the next generation by giving ample screen time to Mia Tomlinson as grown-up Judy Warren, as well as her new fiancé, Tony (Ben Hardy). They’re fine in their roles, but their presence detracts from the stars and the main plot as we wade through Tony’s fumbling attempts to connect with the Warrens and Judy’s freakouts about her tangential encounters with the spirit away from the Smurl house. There’s also a subplot about Ed’s failing health, with heart issues continually threatening to sideline him at the most inopportune times.
As in the past films, the latest entry feels like a throwback largely out of step with modern horror films. The scares just aren’t that scary, and the pre-digital ‘80s setting makes it feel more like an old Amityville or Omen outing for grandparents than anything today’s teens would flock to see. The unabashed religious faith of the Warrens is once again on full display, and convivial dinner table scenes at the Smurl house utilize chaotic overlapping dialogue nearly to the extent of Robert Altman’s ‘70s films. To its credit, the era-specific production design is top notch, right down to the VHS and audiotape technology and some rarely used ‘80s songs.
With its unnecessary subplots, lack of forward momentum, and poorly defined antagonist motivation, the film limps to its underwhelming finale. It’s also far too long at 2 ¼ hours. The final act is sporadically entertaining as the extended Warren family battles the mirror ghost, but Chaves makes a weak case of portraying why it was the final straw for the Warrens. While Wilson and Farmiga are game, and fans of the series will enjoy taking one last trip with their comfortable roles, the lazy writing and poorly paced direction make this a lesser entry in the franchise.
Three bonus features on the Blu-ray focus on the legacy of the series, details on crafting the scares, and a chat with Chaves. The film is presented in 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with certain archival footage formatted in 1.78:1. Surprisingly, the soundtrack is premium Dolby Atmos TrueHD instead of DTS-HD Master Audio, allowing suitably equipped home systems to envelop viewers in lossless, spatial 3D sound, particularly useful during the most terrifying moments. A digital code is also included.
