The Warrens Return for One Last Scare in 'The Conjuring: Last Rites'

Are those creaking floorboards giving you goosebumps, or is it the return of our favorite supernatural hunting duo in 'The Conjuring: Last Rites'? This latest entry in the horror series sees paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, masterfully portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, battling spirits for one last showdown. And phew! They certainly look like they could use a break after the rollercoaster they've been on in the previous sequels. Remember Ed's heart attack in the last installment? Yeah, he's still in recovery mode.

As we hop in our time capsule to 1986, we find the Warrens stepping back and taking it easy from their ghost-busting days, content with giving talks to nearly-empty auditoriums filled with more 'Ghostbusters' fans than real paranormal enthusiasts.

But as fate would have it, our pair are pulled back in action by an unsettling case - the real-life haunting of the Smurls, a Pennsylvania family who experienced all kinds of eerie occurrences after buying a weird-looking, hand-carved mirror adorned with cherubs at the top.

Sadly, this ninth episode takes its sweet time to reach a climax - a discomforting 135 minutes, to be precise. Despite a rather unneeded prologue set in 1964 showing the birth of the Warrens' daughter Judy, things do look up when we fast-forward to the 80s, featuring grown-up Judy and her boyfriend Tony in a heartwarming family gathering, tons of comic chatter, a spirited ping-pong game, and Tony's jittery attempt to ask the Warrens' blessing for Judy's hand in marriage.

The plot thickens as it's revealed Judy inherited her mom's psychic gifts and gets wind of the Smurl family's predicament. A failed attempt by the Warrens' old buddy, Father Gordon, to gain assistance from a bishop gets our heroes back on the investigation path, sidekicks Judy and Tony in tow.

Their destination: Pennsylvania, where the haunted Smurls have become the talk of the town, setting the scene for some classic horror hi-jinks, complete with dolls, predictable jump scares, characters charging into dark rooms equipped only with flashlights, and terrifying storms.

'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' directed by Michael Chaves, feels reminiscent of the past with frequent flashes to the Warrens' storied history. As we follow these characters' trials and tribulations over 12 years, they start to feel like old buddies. And while Wilson and Farmiga maintain their captivating on-screen chemistry, the plot feels a bit worn out compared to fresher horror hits like Sinners, Weapons, and anything touched by the genius, Jordan Peele.

With its title and final moments giving us a sneak peek into the real-life Warrens' twilight years (including authentic photos and footage), we can't help but wonder if the torch might be passed to the next generation. Mia Tomlinson's heartfelt performance as the psychic Judy suggests she could be up for taking the lead in another Conjuring spin-off.