It’s now been 12 years since James Wan’s horror masterpiece, The Conjuring, first haunted audiences. Loosely based on the alleged paranormal haunting of the Perron family in Rhode Island, which was investigated by the renowned and controversial demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, respectively), the film rocked the industry when it became a surprise smash hit. The very next year, a prequel film, Annabelle, was released, and the now multi-billion-dollar Conjuring Universe franchise was born. Consisting of two spin-off series and three sequels to Wan’s original classic, the screen versions of Ed and Lorraine Warren have become true horror icons, as have the demons they’ve battled. But now, after eight films and a comic book, Warner Bros. is wrapping up their beloved series with the recently released The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Bringing a fan-favorite franchise, particularly one this large, to an end is no easy feat, but the final installment in the Warren’s adventures is up to the task, and in doing so, brought back a lot of familiar faces. However, while a lot of fans expected to see some of their favorite demons return for one last battle, the movie brought back some surprising heroes as well as some integral behind-the-scenes players. So, let’s dive in and explore the surprising returns that help make The Conjuring: Last Rites so special.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Brings Back Some of the Film’s Most Beloved Characters
When one thinks of the Conjuring Universe, images of Bonnie Aaron’s Demon Nun or the frightening Annabelle doll are likely among the first to come to mind, and it’s easy to understand why. Their endlessly creepy designs left quite the impression on audiences when they first appeared in the main franchise, before they were spun off into their own films. But, while Annabelle makes an appearance and the Nun is referenced via Ed’s painting, the true heart of these movies has always been its human characters. Ed and Lorraine Warren are a great example of this, but so are the families they have helped over the years. Audiences have rooted for and loved the fictional versions of their real-life counterparts, and many of them make surprise appearances throughout Last Rites.
The first exciting cameo comes in the way of Officer Brad Hamilton (John Brotherton). Though initially a skeptic in the first film, Brad reveals during his appearance that he has since worked with the Warrens a few times, has remained a good friend, and proudly flaunts the battle scar he received from Bathsheba Sherman (Joseph Bishara) while she possessed Carolyn Perron (Lily Taylor). Speaking of Carolyn, the beloved matriarch of the Conjuring Universe’s original family in distress appears alongside Cindy Perron (Mackenzie Foy). While we don’t want to spoil too much of the story, the Perrons appear at a particular event that also sees the return of Frances O’Connor’s Peggy Hodgson and Madison Wolfe’s Janet Hodgson from The Conjuring 2. Also in the mix is David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard), whom the Warrens help save in 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Bringing all the heroes back instead of the proposed Avengers-style finale that the filmmakers once proposed is an incredibly cathartic, beautiful, and even surprising way to close the series. But what’s even more exciting are the appearances of those who aren’t fictional recreations.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Features Exciting Real-Life Cameos
Though the Conjuring Universe is filled with unforgettable characters and demons, the films were truly made a success because of the talent behind the scenes, as well as the intrigue that comes from the Warren family. Though many talented filmmakers have been responsible for making the franchise a success, it was Wan’s guidance that took the series from a standard haunted house franchise to fan-favorite epic. As such, it wouldn’t feel right to send the series off without a cameo from the filmmaker himself. Alongside the likes of the Perron and Hodgson families, Wan is also present at the event. It’s special to see the master storytelling alongside the characters he helped create and serves as a fitting send-off.
Then, of course, there are the Warrens themselves. While controversial, the real Lorraine Warren was vital to helping get the original movie off the ground. She even had a cameo in the first film. Sadly, Warren passed away in 2019 shortly before the release of Annabelle Comes Home. Since then, however, there haven’t been any further appearances by those who were involved in the investigations that loosely inspired the series. Last Rites remedies this with a special appearance by the real Judy Warren and her husband, Tony Spera. The two are seen talking to Farmiga’s Lorraine early in the picture, when Lorraine holds a party for Ed’s birthday. Though the real Judy has been vocal about her avoidance of apparent supernatural activity, the movie does largely center on her fictional counterpart, played by Mia Tomlinson, as well as Tony (Ben Hardy). It also brings the film full circle in a special way by bookending her mother’s appearance in the original picture. While saying goodbye to a fan-favorite series is never easy, the film certainly paid tribute to longtime fans with so many wonderful appearances.
The Conjuring: Last Rites
- Release Date
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September 5, 2025
- Runtime
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135 Minutes
- Director
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Michael Chaves
- Writers
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David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Ian B. Goldberg, Richard Naing, Carey Hayes, Chad Hayes, James Wan
- Producers
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Peter Safran, James Wan
