'Conjuring: Last Rites' is nail in coffin

It's a sluggish farewell for the franchise and its protagonists, Ed and Lorraine Warren.

- KATIE WALSH

GILES KEYTE Warner Bros. Entertainment PATRICK WILSON and Vera Farmiga have anchored the franchise as fictionalized versions of the Warrens.

This fourth “The Conjuring” movie claims to be “Last Rites,” and let’s hope that’s a promise.

While it’s highly likely the wildly successful Conjuring Cinematic Universe will itself continue — whether via scary nun, creepy doll or some other cursed object — the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren has been thoroughly wrung dry at this point and there’s no juice left to squeeze, as demonstrated in the dirge that is this final movie.

Credit where it’s due: The horror franchise has turned in some spectacularly scary and entertaining entries, anchored by performances from Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the married paranormal investigators the Warrens, based on an infamous real-life couple. Thanks to their presence, these films have been the best of the Conjuring series, exploring themes of faith and seeing as believing when it comes to both God and the devil. These films have also offered portrayals of the Warrens that skirt any of their personal controversies, presenting them as blissfully married, heroic figures. Onscreen text might indicate that they were polarizing figures, but the films itself never engage with the scandals.