The cameo-laden finale of Last Rites came together [Exclusive]

This article contains spoilers for “The Conjuring: Last Rites”.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” may chronicle the disturbing case that gave rise to the cinematic incarnations of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), but it’s hard to see this series locking down the haunted artifact room anytime soon. After all, the fourth film in the Mothership franchise surpassed 2017’s “It” to become the highest-grossing worldwide opening for any horror film with 194 million dollars. But even with its inevitable future on the horizon, “Last Rites,” in some ways, feels like a culmination of what horror filmmaker James Wan started in 2013. /Film’s Chris Evangelista calls it a thrilling, sweet finale that serves as a worthy conclusion to his review. The finality of “Last Rites” is reinforced by the marriage between Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) and her fiancé Tony (Ben Hardy) who Also happens to be a reminder for all kinds of “Conjuring” alumni.

The happy gathering looks a lot like the funeral scene in “Avengers: Endgame,” when every corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe mourned the death of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). In an exclusive interview with /Film’s Jacob Hall, “Last Rites” director Michael Chaves talks about watching his team coordinate the meeting for a day of filming across the pond:

“It was amazing because there were so many people I was meeting for the first time. It was a huge, huge feat of coordination and I was just trying to get… Because we’re also filming in England and so it’s like flying over people just for a day, actually, which ended up being an afternoon to shoot this. It was a big feat. And I’m so happy that I didn’t have to keep track of everyone who was going to be there.”

Most of the guests at the Warrens’ wedding were characters involved in the previous three “Conjuring” films. You had Cindy Perron (Mackenzie Foy) and her formerly possessed mother Caroline (Lily Taylor) from the first “Conjuring,” as well as Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor) and her formerly possessed daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe) from “The Conjuring 2.” There is also an appearance by David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard) in “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”. However, the one that stands out the most among them is Wan, whose presence caused my inner horror nerd to do the Rick Dalton recognition point in my seat.

Considering that Chaves boarded the “Conjuring” train with “The Curse of La Llorona” (which really matters), he never got the opportunity to work with most of the actors above, with the exception of Glatzel. For him, it was like being invited to a family reunion (via /Film):

“It was really cool. It was also a family reunion that I feel like I was married to where I was, I don’t know everyone, but I definitely still have an emotional connection to it all. It was great.”

Chaves is also responsible for directing 2023’s “The Nun II,” but it appears most of the wedding guests were people the Warrens helped in previous films. You won’t find anyone in the “Nun” or “Annabelle” films, unless you count Wan who produced every “Conjuring” verse entry. “Last Rites” is so silly and over-the-top that it would have been pretty amazing if the different demons had their own section. I can imagine Annabelle trying not to cry, while Crooked Man (who absolutely deserves his own spin-off) catches the bouquet outside.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” is now available on most PVOD platforms.