The Conjuring: Last Rites is the final movie in the billion dollar franchise, and this is what happens when Ed and Lorraine encounter the Smurl haunting, plus how the Warrens ultimately bow out.
The first Conjuring movie hit screens in 2013, and quickly became a horror phenomenon, grossing $300 million more than its budget.
Sequels The Conjuring 2 and The Devil Made Me Do It followed, as did spinoffs concerning Annabelle and The Nun, and between them the movies have grossed more than $2 billion.
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That number is set to rise with The Conjuring: Last Rites now in cinemas, and below you’ll find out how the story – and the series – ends. Meaning SPOILERS ahead…
Ed and Lorraine investigate the Smurl haunting
Warner Bros.
Loosely based on a true story, The Conjuring: Last Rites sees Ed and Lorraine Warren following their daughter Judy and future son-in-law Tommy to West Pittson, Pennsylvania, where a family called the Smurls are being haunted by a malevolent spirit that arrived in a mirror.
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Lorraine’s paranormal abilities means she soon figures out what’s up, and explains that the Smurl house sits on farmland where a shocking drama once unfolded.
It revolved around a “wild, tormented woman,” who had an affair that drove her husband insane. He went after his betrothed with a shotgun, she hid in a basement with her mother-in-law, and he found and killed them both.
But Lorraine also reveals that the three spirts are just a facade, and something even more evil is at work, and has an ulterior motive…
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How the ending of Conjuring: Last Rites circles back to the start
Warner Bros.
That’s because the real evil was encountered by the Warrens at the start of their careers, in a scene that we witness at the beginning of the movie.
Said spirit attacks pregnant Lorraine through a mirror – the same mirror – resulting in her having a premature birth, and daughter Judy only just surviving the ordeal.
But the evil wasn’t done with the Warrens, and it’s now after Judy via the Smurl haunting, and even briefly takes possession of her during the finale.
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The mirror then floats and spins, and Ed seems to cast the “ugly spirit” out, but it’s a false victory, and the malevolent force comes back even harder, quickly incapacitating Tommy.
“Don’t run” is the theme of the movie, so Ed, Lorraine, and Judy stay put to face their demon, placing their hands on the mirror in unison. They then face twisted reflections of themselves – as well as the spirit itself – but ultimately win the war, and cast the evil out for good in a hail of glass.
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Then via words onscreen, we learn that the Smurls remained in the house for another three years, and that the haunting experience made them stronger as a family.
Saying goodbye to the Warrens
Warner Bros.
With the horror over, Last Rites ends by wrapping up the story of the Warrens. Ed and Lorraine take the mirror home, and lock it up in their terrifying trophy room. Ed gives Tommy the keys, says “welcome to the family,” and Tommy shuts and locks the door behind him.
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The film then cuts to Judy and Tommy’s wedding, where eagle-eyed fans should be able to spot characters that the Warrens helped in previous movies, as well as Conjuring mastermind James Wan.
During the reception, the Warrens dance to ‘Comfort You’ by Van Morrison, as Lorraine tells Ed about the vision she’s seen of their future, which involves becoming grandparents, writing a book to pass their knowledge onto future generations, having more adventures, and helping lots more people.
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It’s a future that’s filled with warmth and comfort and love, to which Ed responds “that sounds just about right.”
The movie concludes with more words onscreen, revealing that Ed had a stroke when he was 74, and Lorraine became his caregiver for the last five years of his life, while she herself died at the age of 92.
It also says that while their work was sometimes ridiculed, it nevertheless brought paranormal research into the mainstream. Over the end credits, we then see photos and footage of the real-life couple, appearing on chat shows and in the news, and helping those in paranormal need.
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The Conjuring: Last Rites is in cinemas now, while for more scary stuff, check out our list of the best horror movies ever.
