The latest rites leave the real warrens in the shelter (and this is a major error)

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

Despite the uncertain story of real life attached to the franchise, I have always appreciated the films “The Conjuring” for their luscious charm. Of course, there is a time and a place for fiction to give way to the facts. The stories that we invent say as much about us, human beings as the real story to which we pay attention (or ignorons) along the way, after all. But James Wan’s horror frankness has found an common ground for this little dilemma. The real Ed and Lorraine Warren, the power torque of the paranormal investigators described respectively by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, were not exactly the bastions without controversy of light and goodness because they were represented through the various films. However, keeping the emphasis on the strength of their romantic link, the main films have managed to get around thorny problems and keep things as entertaining – and emotional – as possible.

Until “The Conjuring: Last Rites”, that is to say. As a large culminating (probable) point in the current series, this episode must inevitably face our metaxual relationship with these fictitious heroes. Over the years, we have watched them meet some of the most horrible manifestations of evil, raise a family together and finally accept their own mortality. When “Last Rites” begins, the inseparable pair gives presentations of projector of their past exploits, pushing the mockery fueled “Ghostbusters” and, otherwise, dealing with reality that they are simply not as relevant as it is. It is therefore natural that a large part of the plot revolves around bringing them out of almost retirement, impregnating them with a new meaning of the objective, and generally lifting them as the unequivocal that we know … right?

Unfortunately, this last film “The Conjuring” stumbles on the finish line and does not count with the inheritance of the Warrens – their real legacy. As the credits roll and the end title cards present them as two of the most important figures in history, pushing the actions of their real counterparts (which are now died) as vaguely “controversial”, this cannot help feeling a missed opportunity. Ultimately, the film finally lets them get down and, in doing so, leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Let us distant one thing first: films, especially successful films, did not have to hold hands and tell the public what is good and what is wrong. As adult filmmakers, it should be treated as part of the social contract that we remain ready to meet any work of art halfway and to take it according to its own conditions. It goes double for a horror frankness like “The Conjuring”, which draws a large part of its thrills in an increased tone where everything is really possible. Director Michael Chaves, apparently the obvious heir to the franchise “The Conjuring” now that James Wan has ruled out (although he is still involved as a producer), mainly deals with Ed and Lorraine Warren with the same level of reverence that the previous films have made. So, what makes his character management different this time?

Throughout history, which is based on a real (alleged) haunting in Pennsylvania of the years 1970-1980, the Warren clan finally goes to what they are linked by honor and ethics to save the family from failure victims as they can. Rather than the thrill of hunting or their own quest for notoriety and renowned or simple self-service, Ed and Lorraine are motivated by pure altruism. Their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is in serious danger, yes, but they could easily guarantee his security by leaving the Smurls house as they wanted and condemn them to their fate. It takes Judy’s call to his parents’ conscience to finally unravel and convince them to do what is good – simply because it is the right thing to do. From this moment, the Arc of Ed and Lorraine in “Last Rites” becomes based on their innate sense of goodness as people.

Of course, it recalls everything we know about their questionable Actions in real life, in which they have been accused of exploitation, manipulation, domestic violence and even sexual abuse and pedophilia (by The Hollywood Reporter in a 2017 article). Add to that the fact that real Lorraine Warren had been a consultant on the films before his death in 2019, and it is easy to see how things would start to slip into a tasteless territory. By changing the scales in hagiography, “last rites” makes it almost impossible to separate the facts from fiction.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” now plays in theaters.