'The Conjuring: Last Rites' Finale Explained: Easter Eggs & Real-Life Prototype Cameos
The Conjuring franchise has come to an end, so it's time to figure out what happened in the final movie.
On September 5, The Conjuring: Last Rites, the fourth and final installment of the horror franchise, was finally released in theaters. The film has already grossed nearly $200 million, solidifying its place as one of the highest-grossing horror films in history.
Let's analyze the latest batch of demonic intrigues and reveal the Easter eggs and cameos, including, the franchise's creator, James Wan, in The Conjuring: Last Rites.
What Kind of Demon Terrorized Smurls?
In 1964, Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated a case involving a cursed mirror that was said to be inhabited by a demon. When Lorraine touched the mirror, she went into premature labor.
The demon appeared at the hospital, and the baby was stillborn. However, Lorraine's prayers brought the baby back to life. They named the girl Judy.
22 years later, in 1986, the mirror appeared in the Smurl family's home. The demon began manipulating local ghosts to terrorize new victims.
Its identity remained undisclosed, but it became known that looking into the mirror allowed the demon to control a person.
Why Did the Demon Need Ed and Lorraine’s Daughter?
The Smurl case became a media sensation. Although the Warrens were retired and no longer followed such cases, their daughter Judy felt herself being drawn to the Smurl house by the demon in the mirror.
Their invisible connection formed in 1964 when the demon tried to take her soul at birth.
The demon's activity in 1986 was no accident. The Smurl family threw away the mirror, but its destruction only strengthened the entity, which returned to the house.
As Lorraine explained, it is dangerous to destroy cursed artifacts – they must be isolated. Together, the Warrens and Judy overcame the demon with prayers and placed the mirror in their artifact storage, freeing the Smurl family.
Easter Eggs & Cameos in 'The Conjuring: Last Rites'
In The Conjuring: Last Rites, Judy and her lover Tony got married after defeating the demon.
The wedding featured cameo appearances by characters from previous movies in the franchise, including the Perron family from the first film, the Hodgson family from the second film, and David Glatzel from the third film. James Wan, the director of the first two movies, also appeared.
Annabelle, the doll that haunted Judy in her hallucinations, played an important role in the plot once again. This references the events of Annabelle Comes Home, in which young Judy encountered the doll.
Father Gordon, present in all the main movies in the series, also returned – however, he died at the hands of the demon in this chapter. Officer Brad Hamilton, from the first Conjuring film, also appeared at the celebration.
A notable aspect of The Conjuring: Last Rites was the presence of real-life counterparts: the real-life Judy Warren and Tony Spera also appeared in the movies, paying tribute to Ed and Lorraine Warren.
