In a verdict that will send shivers down the spines of studio executives, the latest chapter in the once-venerated Conjuring franchise has been condemned as a hollow shell of its former self. Peter Hoskin's review pulls no punches, declaring 'The Conjuring: The Last Rites' a masterclass in missed opportunities and lazy filmmaking.
Gone are the days of the original film's masterful, creeping dread that made audiences afraid to turn off the lights. This new instalment, Hoskin argues, has abandoned its roots in favour of a tiresome parade of predictable and cheap jump scares that startle but never truly terrify.
Demon Hunting Without a Soul
The core premise—following the famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren on another case—feels less like a compelling narrative and more like a contractual obligation. Hoskin suggests the film merely goes through the motions, checking boxes on a list of horror clichés without injecting any of the heart or cleverness that made the first film a modern classic.
The review highlights a critical flaw: the film's over-reliance on loud noises and sudden appearances to generate fear, a technique that becomes tedious and ineffective rather quickly. It's a far cry from the atmospheric, psychologically unsettling terror that defined the franchise's early success.
A Franchise Running on Empty?
This critique raises a larger question about the state of Hollywood horror. Hoskin posits that the film is a symptom of a bigger issue: studios milking a popular franchise until it's devoid of all originality and genuine suspense. It's less about telling a compelling story and more about cashing in on a recognised brand name.
The final word from the review is a sombre one for fans: this is a disappointing stumble for the series. It appears that when it comes to 'The Conjuring: The Last Rites’, the real horror isn't on the screen—it's the spectacle of a great franchise losing its way.
