As of 3:15 PM +07 on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, anticipation is building for The Conjuring 4: Last Rites, the latest installment in one of horror cinema’s most enduring franchises. Set to conclude the main series featuring paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this film promises a chilling finale to a saga that began in 2013 with James Wan’s The Conjuring. With a release date just weeks away on September 5, 2025, and an official trailer already stirring excitement, fans are eager to uncover the details of this spine-chilling chapter. Here’s everything known about the plot, cast, production, and more, as the Warrens prepare to face their most daunting case yet.
The Plot: A Final Confrontation
The Conjuring 4: Last Rites is poised to deliver a climactic end to the Warrens’ cinematic journey, focusing on a case that has lingered in the shadows of their real-life investigations. The film draws inspiration from the infamous Smurl haunting, a disturbing episode that plagued the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, during the 1970s and 1980s. Jack and Janet Smurl claimed their home was tormented by a demon for over a decade, experiencing phenomena ranging from foul odors and disembodied voices to violent physical attacks, including an alleged sexual assault on Janet. The Warrens, renowned demonologists, intervened in 1986, attempting exorcisms that reportedly failed, marking this as one of their unsolved cases.
Set five years after The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), the story places Ed and Lorraine Warren, now semi-retired, back in action to confront this unresolved evil. The official synopsis teases a narrative where the couple faces “mysterious entities they must confront,” with director Michael Chaves describing it as “the darkest thing we’ve ever seen in the series.” The demon’s personal vendetta against the Warrens, hinted at in promotional materials, suggests a deeply emotional and terrifying ordeal, potentially tying into their past encounters. While the franchise often embellishes real events for dramatic effect, the Smurl case’s unresolved nature promises a haunting conclusion, possibly exploring the limits of the Warrens’ abilities.
Release Date and Theatrical Run
The Conjuring: Last Rites is scheduled to hit theaters on September 5, 2025, marking a departure from the franchise’s typical summer releases to align with the fall season, perfect for horror enthusiasts gearing up for Halloween. This date positions it as a potential box-office contender, facing light competition from Saw XI later in September and The Black Phone 2 in October. Filming wrapped in London by November 2024, ensuring a smooth path to its premiere. The film will enjoy an exclusive theatrical run, a tradition for the series, with an expected streaming debut on Max around December 2025 or January 2026, based on the franchise’s past patterns.
The Official Trailer
The first official teaser trailer dropped on May 8, 2025, courtesy of Warner Bros., offering a glimpse into the Warrens’ final battle. Clocking in at just over two minutes, the trailer opens with eerie silence in the Smurl family’s duplex, quickly escalating to unsettling visuals: flickering lights, shadowy figures, and a menacing presence lurking in the corners. Patrick Wilson’s Ed Warren is shown poring over case files, while Vera Farmiga’s Lorraine senses a malevolent force, her clairvoyant abilities pushed to the brink. The demon, partially revealed with distorted features and a guttural voice, hints at a personal grudge, aligning with Farmiga’s tease of a vendetta-driven entity.
A behind-the-scenes featurette released alongside the trailer features James Wan, the franchise’s creator, calling it “the end of an era,” while Chaves emphasizes the emotional weight of the Warrens’ last case. The trailer’s haunting score and quick cuts to supernatural attacks—doors slamming, objects flying—set a tone of unrelenting dread, building on the series’ signature jump-scare style. Fan reactions on platforms like Reddit and YouTube range from excitement over the darker tone to disappointment over the lack of a full demon reveal, with some hoping for a Avengers: Endgame-style portal battle that was reportedly scrapped.
Cast and Creative Team
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren, their chemistry a cornerstone of the franchise since 2013. Wilson, also known for Insidious, brings a seasoned gravitas to Ed, while Farmiga, an Oscar nominee from Up in the Air, infuses Lorraine with vulnerability and strength. Joining them are Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren, the Warrens’ daughter, and Ben Hardy as Tony Spera, Judy’s boyfriend and a real-life figure who later married her. The cast expands with Steve Coulter reprising Father Gordon, alongside Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, John Brotherton, and Shannon Kook in supporting roles, though their characters remain under wraps.
Michael Chaves directs, marking his third Conjuring outing after The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II. His experience with the universe’s tone ensures continuity, though some fans critique his past films for uneven execution. The screenplay, penned by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who wrote the second and third entries, promises a narrative that builds on the series’ lore. James Wan and Peter Safran produce, with Wan’s vision shaping the finale, though his hands-off directorial role has sparked debate about maintaining the original films’ intensity.
Production Insights
Filming took place in London from September to November 2024, a nod to The Conjuring 2’s setting, with interiors likely recreating the Smurl duplex’s oppressive atmosphere. The decision to wrap production early suggests confidence in meeting the September deadline, avoiding the delays that plagued earlier franchise entries. Chaves has hinted at practical effects over CGI, aiming to recapture the grounded horror of the first two films, though the trailer’s brief demon shots suggest some digital enhancement. The budget, estimated at $35-40 million based on prior installments, reflects a focus on storytelling over spectacle, a choice that could either elevate or limit its impact.
The Conjuring Universe Context
The Conjuring: Last Rites caps the main series, which has grossed over $2 billion globally across eight films, including spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun. The franchise’s strength lies in its blend of real-life inspiration and fictional flair, drawing from the Warrens’ documented cases. The Devil Made Me Do It shifted to a courtroom drama, expanding the universe’s scope, and Last Rites aims to return to the intimate, house-bound terror of the originals. Spin-offs may continue, with potential focus on Judy or the artifact room’s entities, but the Warrens’ story appears set to close, fulfilling Wan’s vision of a definitive end.
Fan Expectations and Critiques
Fans are divided on what Last Rites should deliver. Some hope for a return to the slow-burn horror of The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2, which hold 86% and 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively, compared to The Devil Made Me Do It’s 56%. Others want a grand finale, possibly uniting past demons like Valak, though scrapped plans for a portal battle suggest a more contained narrative. Skepticism surrounds Chaves’ direction, with some citing The Curse of La Llorona’s 27% score as a concern. Yet, the Smurl case’s unresolved nature offers fertile ground for a compelling close, if executed with care.
Cultural and Historical Significance
The Smurl haunting, documented in the 1991 TV movie The Haunted, adds a layer of intrigue, though its veracity remains debated. The Warrens’ involvement, marked by failed exorcisms and public scrutiny, mirrors their polarizing legacy—celebrated by some, dismissed as charlatans by others. Last Rites may explore this duality, offering a meta-commentary on belief and skepticism. The film’s fall release aligns with horror’s seasonal peak, potentially boosting its $200-300 million box-office potential, though competition and audience fatigue could temper results.
Looking Ahead
With The Conjuring: Last Rites set to premiere on September 5, 2025, the horror community awaits a fitting farewell to Ed and Lorraine Warren. The trailer’s promise of a personal, dark confrontation, combined with the cast’s dedication and the crew’s experience, suggests a powerful conclusion. Whether it recaptures the franchise’s early magic or stumbles under high expectations, it marks the end of an era for one of cinema’s most successful horror sagas. As the release nears, fans are left to ponder: will the Warrens finally triumph, or will this case prove their undoing?
