The Conjuring franchise is gearing up to deliver its grand finale with the highly anticipated fourth installment, entitled The Conjuring: Last Rites. Mark your calendars for a spine-tingling theatrical release on September 5, 2025. As excitement builds, the first teaser trailer has just hit the web, and you can watch it above!
Until recently, details about The Conjuring: Last Rites were shrouded in mystery. Fortunately, Entertainment Weekly has come forward with some thrilling insights from the filmmakers. Set in 1986, five years after the events of The Devil Made Me Do It, the film showcases the Warrens in a different light. After Ed suffers a heart attack amid the chaos of the last film, the famed paranormal investigators have taken a step back from the ghost-hunting scene. While they still engage with college audiences, those opportunities seem to be fading. However, a mysterious case propels them back into action one final time. This case revolves around the infamous Smurl family haunting—an unsettling chapter in the Warrens’ extensive history.
The true story of the Smurls unfolds in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, during the ’70s. As documented by the New England Society of Psychic Research, which is now led by Ed and Lorraine’s real-life daughter, Judy, and her husband Tony Spera, the haunting was anything but ordinary. Janet and Jack Smurl, along with their daughters and Jack’s parents, reported bizarre phenomena, from unexplained voices to even ghostly assaults. Their appearances on programs like Larry King Live and Entertainment Tonight thrust them into the spotlight—both elevating their story and sparking skepticism, as critics accused them of seeking fame. This haunting tale subsequently inspired the book The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare (1986) and even a 1991 television film featuring Sally Kirkland.
Returning to reprise their iconic roles are Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the beloved paranormal duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Joining them are newcomers Rebecca Calder (Wrath of Man) and Elliot Cowan (Foundation) portraying the Smurls, with the ensemble rounded out by Kíla Lord Cassidy (Heather), Beau Gadsdon (Dawn), Tilly Walker (Carin), Molly Cartwright (Shannon), Peter Wight (Grandpa Smurl), and Kate Fahy (Grandma Smurl). Mia Tomlinson (The Lost Pirate Kingdom) will also feature as an adult Judy Warren, with Ben Hardy (X-Men: Apocalypse) starring as her boyfriend, Tony. Flashbacks will introduce younger versions of Ed and Lorraine, played by Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor.
At the helm of this chilling chapter is Michael Chaves, who previously guided the eerie narratives in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II. The screenplay is crafted by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, known for his work on The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, alongside writers Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing from The Autopsy of Jane Doe. With veteran producers James Wan and Peter Safran on board, fans can expect a thrilling ride. Wan also collaborated with Johnson-McGoldrick to shape the story that awaits viewers.
What are your thoughts on the gripping teaser trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites? Click below and share your excitement in the comments!
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