Every horror fan was hyped. The trailers sizzled. Glimpses of haunted mirrors, possessed daughters, and fan-favorite faces promised chills. But after “The Conjuring: Last Rites” hit screens, the buzz quickly faded. The question is on everyone’s mind: Why didn’t this final chapter scare like the classics before?
Secrets, slip-ups, story shifts, it all happened. Grab your popcorn. Here’s the wild ride through how “Last Rites” went from highly anticipated to “meh” for so many, plus a look into which franchise actually rules the horror kingdom now. Get ready to debate, rage, and maybe discover what to binge next!
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Once a Franchise on Fire: How The Conjuring Changed the Game
Rewind to 2013. “The Conjuring” set the horror world on fire with wicked jump scares, true-life chills, and the iconic duo Ed and Lorraine Warren. With James Wan at the helm, it felt fresh. Haunted houses, shaking furniture, creepy dolls, suddenly, horror movies felt real again.
“Annabelle,” “The Nun,” “The Curse of La Llorona”, the universe grew fast. Box office records fell. With nine films and a billion-dollar haul, The Conjuring became the world’s biggest horror movie family.
But somewhere, the scares went soft. Did fans expect too much? Or did Hollywood just run out of tricks? Let’s get into the breakdown.
Tag a friend who’s watched every single spinoff.
What Went Wrong With Last Rites? Not-So-Scary Details
1. The Chilling Truth: Movie Lost Its Edge
“Last Rites” didn’t bring the terror many feared. Critics called it a “slowburn horror that burns a bit too slow.” Scares felt fewer. The demon’s screen time? Minimal. When it finally appeared, fans were left asking, was that it?
Jump scares, a staple of the series, barely made people flinch. The big bad demon’s backstory got glossed over. Villains felt confusing; even familiar ones like Annabelle and Valak just came and went with no real impact. Fans missed the relentless terror that made the classics iconic.
Ever wanted a horror movie that made you check under the bed? This wasn’t it.
2. Too Many Stories, Not Enough Scares
Trying to wrap up years of haunted cases, “Last Rites” juggled too many threads. Judy gets possessed. Lorraine and Ed race to save the Smurl family. There’s a cursed mirror, ghosts, and more.
But instead of suspense, the plot got muddled. Main scares faded. Critics noted that the haunted family subplot was sidelined and rushed, while emotional beats sometimes felt forced or unearned.
A tighter focus would’ve helped. Instead, the movie felt like a crowded elevator where nobody could move.
3. Family, But Make It Sentimental (Not Scary)
Horror loves a strong emotional core, but “Last Rites” laid the sentiment on thick. Big themes of love and family unity took center stage. The finale was billed as uplifting, “the most joyful ending yet”. Yet die-hard fans wanted more heart-pounding, not heartwarming.
The Warrens save the day by touching a mirror in solidarity. Some viewers called it cheesy, even comparing the big finish to a superhero team-up more than a horror showdown.
Who knew a haunted house could feel this wholesome?
4. The Wan Effect: Where’s the Old Master?
James Wan, the director behind the franchise’s scariest moments, sat the final film out. Many blame the dip in chills on his absence. Even the second “Conjuring,” with Wan, is praised for its spine-tingling storytelling and strong villain reveals.
As one fan put it, “They desperately need James Wan to direct… most non-Wan Conjuring movies flop.” His vision, his pacing, and his wild ideas powered the earliest hits.
See what happens when the boss leaves the haunted house.
5. Monsters With No Real Bite
The first movies made villains famous: Annabelle, The Nun, even the Crooked Man. “Last Rites” teased new threats, but they ended up mostly background noise. The supposed main demon got little screen time, minimal depth, and an easy defeat.
It’s like going to a haunted house where the actors are on a coffee break.
6. Felt Like a Farewell Tour (But Not a Grand Finale)
Fans wanted the world to come crashing down, a final fight, a massive reveal, anything. Instead, the movie felt more concerned with closure than chaos. Ed and Lorraine get a gentle send-off. Judy gets married. There’s a psychic glimpse of the Warrens’ peaceful future. There’s even an Avengers-style victory party.
But chills? Few and far between. It ended with a whimper, not a scream.
What Could Have Saved The Last Chapter?
Brutal truth: the franchise needed sharper scares, clearer mysteries, and bolder payoffs.
The demon should have been terrifying. Annabelle and Valak deserved real moments or a final showdown. Bringing James Wan back could have made all the difference. And a focus on what made the Sal and Enfield cases so stunning–real family terror, slow-building dread–might have given fans the ending they craved.
And who says an ending always has to be happy? Sometimes it’s the tears, not the smiles, that linger.
Was It Really That Bad? Not For Everyone
Some adored seeing the Warrens get closure. Performances by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga still wowed. There’s a sweet spot for nostalgia, some reviewers called it “hauntingly beautiful” and “an emotional and fitting conclusion”.
But is that what anyone wanted from the scariest horror universe in history?
Did it give you chills or just warm fuzzies? Let people know in the comments.
Who Rules the Horror Franchise Kingdom?
So with The Conjuring’s exit, what’s the best scary franchise out there? Fans are ready to take sides.
The Final Showdown: Conjuring vs. the Rest
Insidious fans tout the first two films as peak horror with real depth and less cartoonish jump scares. Evil Dead is madness on screen, no apologies. Scream stays sharp by sending up every slasher idea in the book.
The Conjuring: the most bankable, but not everyone’s pick for the best by quality or scares.
Share this with the horror geek in your squad who’s always ready to argue the best franchise.
The Conjuring’s Real Legacy
Regardless of last-minute stumbles, The Conjuring shaped a decade of horror. Everyone knows the names Ed and Lorraine Warren. Their cases inspired a whole generation who wanted both heart and horror. For box office alone, the universe reigns supreme.
But maybe it’s time for bolder, scarier stories. Franchises that make you keep the lights on. Filmmakers are paying attention, fans want goosebumps, not just ghost stories.
Final Take: Is The Conjuring Still Your Favorite?
This is it: the legacy, the letdown, the battle for the best franchise. If “Last Rites” missed a trick, someone else will pick it up. Maybe it’ll be Scream next. Maybe Insidious will scare up something new. Horror fans never settle.
Got opinions? Leave a spicy comment. Tag someone who needs to settle the debate. Hit share and see which creepy universe wins in your group chat.
Don’t forget: the scariest thing in horror is always what comes next.
