Final Installment of 'The Conjuring' Series

*The Conjuring: Last Rites* wraps up the nine-film series with Ed and Lorraine Warren facing a demon tied to an antique mirror, inspired by the real Smurl family haunting in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga deliver what many call their most emotionally resonant performances after 12 years in these roles. New Line Cinema calls it the end of "Phase One," meaning the franchise isn't truly finished — and there's plenty more to uncover here.

Key Takeaways

• *The Conjuring: Last Rites* is the ninth and final film in the Conjuring series, concluding Ed and Lorraine Warren's story.
• The film draws inspiration from the real Smurl family haunting in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, which escalated throughout the 1980s.
• Vera Farmiga advocated against CGI de-aging, pushing for younger actors to portray the Warrens in past-set scenes.
• Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga's performances are described as their most emotionally resonant work after 12 years in their roles.
• New Line Cinema confirmed Last Rites ends "Phase One," with the franchise expected to continue in new forms beyond the Warrens.

What Is The Conjuring: Last Rites and What's It About?

*The Conjuring: Last Rites* closes out the nine-film Conjuring series with a supernatural horror story centered on Ed and Lorraine Warren, played once again by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Directed by Michael Chaves and written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, this 2025 American horror film expands its character focus beyond the Warrens to include their daughter Judy, played by Mia Tomlinson, and Ben Hardy.

The story follows the Warrens as they investigate the Smurl family of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, who've been terrorized by paranormal forces tied to an antique mirror. The film's mirror lore traces back to 1964, when Lorraine first encountered a demonic presence connected to the object, setting the stage for the haunting's terrifying return. Ultimately, the demon is defeated through the destruction of the mirror with the help of Judy and the Prayer to Saint Michael, with the mirror's remains stored in the Warrens' occult museum.

The Real Smurl Family Haunting That Inspired the Film

While The Conjuring: Last Rites takes creative liberties with its story, it's rooted in one of the most widely publicized paranormal cases of the 1980s. The Smurl family's ordeal began after hurricane displacement forced them from Wilkes-Barre following Hurricane Agnes in 1972. They settled into a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, where they reported escalating disturbances — from foul odors and phantom screams to physical and sexual assaults by unseen entities.

Priests performed multiple exorcisms throughout the decade, identifying four spirits, including a commanding demon. The Smurl controversy intensified as skeptics pointed to psychological stress, financial motives, and neighbor contradictions.

A subsequent resident reported nothing unusual after the family left in 1987, leaving the case permanently unresolved and endlessly debated. The family's story was further chronicled in a 1986 paperback book co-authored by Jack and Janet Smurl alongside paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and writer Robert Curran.

Why the Warrens Took the Smurl Case: And What It Cost Them

By 1986, the Smurl family had endured years of escalating hauntings with no resolution in sight — and that's precisely when Ed and Lorraine Warren stepped in. The family faced physical assaults, poltergeist activity, and entities that neighbors heard even when the house sat empty. Lorraine identified four presences, including a dominant demon commanding three lesser spirits. Ed recorded a 30-degree temperature drop and watched a black mass form on his very first night.

The case tested the Warrens' investigative ethics at every turn. Four exorcisms over more than a decade failed to deliver lasting relief, and the psychological toll on both the family and investigators proved immense. Skeptics called it a hoax, but the Warrens maintained it was among their most dangerous and impactful cases ever. The Warrens documented their findings through notes, audio recordings, and photographs, including a chilling mirror message reading "Get out" discovered during their investigation.

Why Wilson and Farmiga's Last Rites Farewell Is Their Best Work Yet

After 12 years of embodying Ed and Lorraine Warren, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga deliver what many are calling their most emotionally resonant performances yet in The Conjuring: Last Rites. Their acting chemistry, refined across multiple films, reaches its peak as they bring genuine depth and emotional resonance to the franchise's finale.

You'll notice Wilson's particular attention to Ed's performance depth and Farmiga's thoughtful approach to Lorraine's final chapter. Both actors reflect openly on their 12-year journey, discussing real paranormal case research and the emotional closure their characters deserve.

Farmiga even influenced key production decisions, successfully arguing against CGI de-aging in favor of casting younger actors. Their dedication transforms Last Rites from a horror film into a genuinely moving farewell to two iconic characters. Notably, Farmiga has spoken candidly about recurring unexplained bruises and bizarrely shaped marks she experienced across the franchise, lending a deeply personal and unsettling dimension to her commitment to these roles, with Lorraine Warren herself advising her to avoid giving unexplained incidents excessive attention.

Is The Conjuring: Last Rites Really the Final Film?

New Line Cinema president Richard Brener described Last Rites as the end of The Conjuring Phase One, signaling that the franchise will likely continue in a different form.

The Warren story ends, but The Conjuring universe keeps expanding on its own terms.

How the Cursed Mirror Ties Together the Conjuring Universe's Biggest Threads

When the Smurls unknowingly bring the mirror home, the cursed reflections weaponize every surface around them, summoning three subjugated spirits and escalating into full psychological warfare.

You'll notice how the demon exploits each family's vulnerabilities differently, yet the mirror remains the consistent anchor.

Only the synchronized Warren bond finally enables its destruction through prayer and shattering the glass. Even after being destroyed, the mirror reappears fully intact in the Smurl attic, proving the demon's hold cannot be broken through physical means alone.

Where Could the Conjuring Universe Go After This?

You can expect filmmakers to explore:

• Objects glimpsed in Annabelle Comes Home as standalone film focal points
• International settings featuring paranormal traditions outside American contexts
• Modern-day narratives referencing Warren documentation as historical context
• New exorcists and investigators anchoring fresh storylines

The shared horror universe model already proved viable through Annabelle and The Nun, confirming the franchise thrives beyond its original anchors. The Conjuring universe spans over a decade-long run and continues expanding with its tenth installment, a prequel set to release on September 10, 2027.