FILM REVIEW: The Conjuring: Last Rites Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Steve Coulter, Rebecca Calder, Elliot...
FILM
REVIEW: The Conjuring: Last Rites
Cast:
Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy, Steve Coulter, Rebecca
Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kila Lord Cassidy
The
Conjuring Universe has been a major money making horror franchise since
the release of the first film in 2013, following the paranormal adventures of
real life investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they go around solving
cases of haunting and their terrifying brushes with supernatural entities.
The
Conjuring: The Last Rites, the fourth and final chapter and the ninth
instalment in The Conjuring Universe brings to an end the supernatural
adventures of the Warrens as they battle an unknown vicious
entity that shakes their very core in its attempt to take from them that
which is most to them, their daughter.
Opening
in 1964 a heavily pregnant young Lorraine touches a cursed mirror
resulting in her going into early labour and giving birth to a stillborn girl,
By some miracle the child comes back to life and is named Judy.
Twenty-two
years later in 1986, the Warrens (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) are leading
a semi-retired life touring educational institutions and giving lectures on the
supernatural to indifferent and bored students. Daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson)
suffers from occasional bouts of intense anxiety as she continues to see
terrifying visions which her mom tells to shut out. Her boyfriend Tony (Ben
Hardy) soon proposes to her much to the dismay of Ed.
In
the meanwhile the cursed mirror has landed in the Pennsylvania home of the
Smurls and begins terrorising the family of eight. With the hapless Smurl
family appealing for help becoming fodder for the Press, the Warrens are forced
to intervene after Judy takes off to Pennsylvania in a bid to help the family
out. Lorraine is shocked to discover that the demon is the entity haunting the
cursed mirror way back in 1964 and that the demon's real target is not the
Smurls but Judy. With Lorriane advising Judy to face her fears rather than
running away the demon is vanquished. Lorraine's visions are now of a happy
family: Judy's wedding and her grandchildren.
With
more emphasis on family life and the cuteness of the two couples, the horror is
diluted to a great extent, with this final chapter serving more as a thriller
rather than a hard core horror film. So far so good as the audience gets a
positive message to face their fears head on to overcome all perils in
life.
Partrick
Wilson and Vera Farmiga continue to make for a super cute couple who are always
there for each other no matter which entity comes in their way. Mia
Tomlinson while Judy and Ben Hardy as her loving boyfriend and later husband
give the elder couple stiff competition in the cuteness factor.
Watch
it as a rather tame but fitting tribute to the franchise or get ready to be
thrilled and entertained even if you are not familiar with The
Conjuring Universe.
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