I’ll be the first to admit that Hollywood has a franchise problem. It’s no secret that we are seeing fewer and fewer original releases, replaced by an endless string of sequels, spin-offs, and reboots. What’s more is that many of the most beloved and revered franchises, such as the MCU and Star Wars, have become tired, leaving fans jaded. Then, there’s the Conjuring Universe. Very loosely based on the supposed real-life cases of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), the franchise got off to a humble start with 2013’s surprise hit, The Conjuring. From there, director and producer James Wan and filmmakers like Gary Dauberman created a sprawling horror universe filled with some of modern film’s most iconic demons.
And, while yes, this is yet another example of a studio pursuing box office gold through sequels and spin-offs, I have always been a devoted fan of the series, so much so that I’ve even been to the house that inspired the first film. What sets the series apart is how largely consistent its structure has stayed with the main series focusing on Wilson and Farmiga’s fictional Warrens, putting a new and effective spin on the haunted house genre, while the spin-offs have then given interesting and terrifying backstories for the demonic entities the Warrens have faced. So, I was relieved to hear that director Michael Chaves had opted against an Avengers: Endgame finale for the upcoming final entry in the main string of films, The Conjuring: Last Rites.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Almost Featured an ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Moment
The Conjuring Universe has come a long way over the last 12 years. James Wan’s original masterpiece truly shocked the industry when it was released back in 2013, both financially and emotionally. Grossing $319 million off a humble budget of $20 million, the film’s success came from its effective scares (which are said to have extended behind the camera as well) and its well-written script. Following this success, Warner Bros. released the prequel, Annabelle, the first in its own trilogy, and The Conjuring 2. The sequel introduced audiences to Bonnie Aaron’s iconic demonic Nun, who, of course, became the star of her own series, as well as the larger villain for the film universe overall. While these aforementioned entities are the most prominent villains, they certainly aren’t the only adversaries the villains have faced, with other notable characters including Annabelle Comes Home’s the Ferryman (Alexander Ward) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’s the Beast (David Osborn).
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It’s the final chapter for the fictional Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Considering this film is going to be the culmination of the Warren’s arc, it’s understandable that there was temptation to bring many of these characters back, and, according to Entertainment Weekly, it almost happened in a surprising way. While speaking with EW, Chaves remarked:
“Even as we were developing it, we were throwing a bunch of ideas out: ‘How shamelessly big can we make it?’ ‘How epic can we make it?’ ‘Is this the culmination of all the demons coming to face them? […] Even though we entertained that idea for a minute, we stepped away. I felt strongly that the biggest, most emotional story we could tell was the most personal story.”
During a first look story published by Entertainment Weekly, Chaves even admitted that the team toyed with the idea of having “[…] a dozen Doctor Strange portals opening to reveal every Conjuring entity assembled together for an endgame of sorts.” What’s more, longtime Conjuring producer Peter Safran admitted that, behind the scenes, the team was calling the picture “Conjuring: Endgame.” Safran told EW: “When we were developing the movie, we always called it Conjuring: Endgame because it was a culmination of a great story that audiences had been with. But they quickly came to a different conclusion: “I felt strongly that the biggest, most emotional story we could tell was the most personal story. On paper, it may sound exciting, but the filmmaker’s focus on the Warren’s emotional arc was not only right for the film, but it also saved the integrity of the franchise overall.
‘The Conjuring’ Movies Have Always Been Best When They’re Personal Stories
For me, the heart and soul of this series has always been Ed and Lorraine Warren. Their grounded arcs beautifully balance out the more fantastical sequences. Even when these movies are at their most terrifying, there’s an intimacy that keeps the story earthbound, which ends up making the horror stronger and even more shocking. Smartly, the filmmakers have always reserved the more outlandish storytelling for the completely fictional spin-offs. While the main franchise is made up of incredibly loose adaptations of the events alleged by the Warrens, the offshoots have always embraced the fantastic. Most of the time, it’s worked, with Annabelle: Creation being a modern horror classic that is still haunting nearly a decade after its release, and The Nun II crafting a smart and exciting mythological entry.
Other times, it’s been a miss, such as 2014’s Annabelle, a movie that, while well shot, dipped too far into tired horror tropes. But the balance has been largely successful and, more importantly, has allowed the Conjuring movies to remain consistent. But when I try to imagine the main series having an Avengers: Endgame-style team-up for characters like the Crooked Man and Annabelle in one of the main series films, it’s far too outlandish, especially considering how supposedly dark the case that inspired the film is said to have been. The Conjuring has long avoided jumping the shark thanks to the grounded sensibilities and format of the movies, and a demonic team is truly harmful to the legacy of the films. Besides, the series has already had its Avengers moment.
‘Annabelle Comes Home’ Already Pulled Off the Perfect Avengers Moment
The Annabelle movies are interesting. The trilogy got off to a rough start with Annabelle, but was quickly turned around with Annabelle: Creation, a movie that is truly terrifying in every sense of the word. Annabelle Comes Home was a different beast entirely. Intersecting with the Conjuring timeline, the film brought many of the Warrens’ past haunts back front and center, such as the titular doll and (in a deleted scene) Rory (Emily Brobst), while also introducing new villains in an Avengers-style battle.
What made this movie work so well, though, is that it’s not a Conjuring movie. It’s part of a series that has been so brazenly different with each entry. And, in doing so, it created the perfect mashup of all of the universe’s best elements. It’s frightening, funny, and even romantic at times. In short, it’s able to be shameless and epic in ways that the flagship movies can’t. Attempting yet another Avengers moment for the final film doesn’t make sense and risks sending the beloved series the same route as many other tired horror franchises. Frankly, these movies deserve to end in the same style they began, even if that means we don’t get to see many of these characters again.
The Conjuring Universe has been truly special. Over the last 12 years, it has told stories that are both intimate and fantastical, but I’m relieved that Chaves decided to go a more traditional route for the finale. While Annabelle Comes Home gave the franchise its Avengers moment to great success, attempting to do the same with The Conjuring: Last Rites would have been a betrayal for the series. It will be hard to say goodbye to the films, but I’m glad they have a chance to go out with their dignity intact.
The Conjuring: Last Rites will start haunting theaters on September 5, 2025.
