The Conjuring: Last Rites - Paranormal investigators take on last terrifying case

YOU can’t keep a good horror franchise down it seems.

That is especially true when you look at the box office numbers generated by James Wan’s Conjuring Universe.

This is now the fourth installment in the main thrust of the series and the ninth edition in the franchise altogether, counting the various spin-offs.

Wan, whose deft directorial touch brought earlier films in the series critical acclaim is on producing duties this time, handing the reins to Michael Chaves.

This is Chaves’ fourth time directing a Conjuring Universe movie and probably his best so far.

Die-hard fans will likely be satisfied with what is reportedly the franchise’s final installment.

He doesn’t bring anything especially new to the table but manages to bring proceedings to a solid and suitably spooky conclusion.

In a flashback set in 1964, a young Ed and Lorraine Warren confront a paranormal case in which a creepy old mirror appears to be possessed.

Before the couple can investigate further a heavily pregnant Lorraine goes into labour and their baby daughter Judy almost dies in childbirth. Lorraine is convinced of supernatural interference.

Decades later in 1986, a now grown Judy has inherited Lorraine’s powers of clairvoyance. Ed (Patrick Wilson) is suffering from health problems, forcing him and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) to retire from paranormal investigations.

Though Judy has found love with new boyfriend Tony, supernatural visions continue to plague her.

Meanwhile in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, the Smurl family begins to suspect that all is not right in their once happy home. Family members begin to see strange figures hiding in the shadows of the basement.

Household objects seem to move around of their own accord and loved ones suffer unexplained injuries and accidents.

The haunting becomes too much to bare and the Smurls call in the Warrens for help.

Ed and Lorraine reluctantly take on the case and soon learn that dark forces from the past may be responsible for the horrors of the present.

Part of the The Conjuring series’ appeal is its sense of period. The films, particularly those set in the 1970s, have a kind of nostalgic charm that harks back to classic studio horror movies of that time.

The films have more in common with The Exorcist than say; Wan’s other, contemporary horror series Insidious.

Though the spin-offs (Annabelle, The Nun) have varied in quality, the primary films focusing on the Warrens have generally been solid entertainment of the old school kind.

Even though it leans heavily on the tried and tested scares of the series (creepy dolls, leering ghosts and thudding sound effects), this latest effort succeeds in what it sets out to do.

This is because it gets other aspects of the Conjuring craft right, not just the mainstream horror scares.

Once again there is warmth and a close-knit family dynamic to this film and Chaves makes pains to ensure the audience cares about these characters just as much they want to be spooked by the supernatural shenanigans.

Though his direction is pretty safe and lacks the flair of Wan’s, he sustains a solid sense of unease over the generous 135 minute running time and when the third act denouement finally arrives, packs in plenty of suspenseful horror thrills too.

This may not be high art but it is strong craftsmanship.

The Conjuring: Last Rites manages to be an entertaining send-off for the Warrens rather than a final nail in the coffin.

RATING: ***

Matthew McCaul