If you’re a parent reading this, here’s the good news: you don’t have to worry about your 15-year-old being scarred for life. The film is intense, but it’s not going to give them nightmares about clowns in sewers. The bad news? You’ll still have to drive them to the cinema and pay for overpriced nachos. That’s the real horror. The film’s director, Michael Chaves, said in an interview that he wanted to make a movie that “respects the audience’s intelligence.” Translation: “We’re not showing you the gross bit; we’ll just let your imagination fill in the blanks.”
Watched The Conjuring: Last Rites? Now, Check These 7 Blood-Curdling
If you’re a die-hard horror fan, you might be a bit disappointed. Some critics are already moaning that Last Rites is a tad tame compared to the earlier films. One reviewer called it “The Conjuring for people who think loud noises are scary.” Rude, but fair. The film relies heavily on the creepy nun (Valak, to her friends) and the Annabelle doll cameo, which feels a bit like a reunion tour for aging rockstars. “We’ll play the hits, but please don’t ask us to do a new song.”
The Bottom Line: Should You Bother?
Honestly, if you are 15 or older and you fancy a good, old-fashioned scare without the PTSD, go for it. The Conjuring franchise is reliable like a bad pub karaoke night—you know what you’re getting, and it’s mostly fun. The 15 rating means you can also take a slightly younger sibling if you’re feeling brave (and if you don’t mind them clinging to your arm like a barnacle). Just don’t expect to be covering your eyes the whole time. You’ll probably just flinch a lot and then laugh at yourself.
So, to summarise: The Conjuring: Last Rites is a 15 in the UK, which is perfect for a date night with your fear-craving mate. It’s spooky, it’s intense, but it’s not going to make you sleep with the lights on for a week. Unless you’re a massive wimp. In that case, just watch SpongeBob and let the rest of us enjoy a demonic nun doing a jig. You’ve been warned. Now go buy your ticket—or hide behind the sofa.
