The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The Conjuring 4: Last Rites delves into the theological plane of the conflict between good and evil, focusing on the reality of sin and demonic action upon human dignity. Based on the Smurl case, the narrative presents Ed and Lorraine Warren as paranormal investigators who invoke the authority of the Catholic Church to exorcise demonic entities, explicitly recognizing the existence of the demon as a personal being and adversary of man. This approach respects Christian anthropology: man, wounded by original sin, is vulnerable but redeemable by Grace and the Sacraments. There is no ideological smuggling; on the contrary, it affirms natural law by defending family affiliation (Judy and Tony as an extension of the Warren legacy) and transcendence against materialism. However, the tone of supernatural horror elevates violence to disturbing levels: possessions with graphic self-harm, violent levitations, and intense physical assaults, calibrated to an R rating for their sensory crudeness. Sex is minimal (slight romantic suggestions), the language moderate (coarse language in contexts of stress). The conflict is not merely technical or artistic, but theological: it illustrates the spiritual battle where the virtue of courage and faith prevail, evoking awe before the mystery of Redemption. Even so, its visual intensity can shrink the young soul, prioritizing the thrill over serene human flourishing.