LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The strength of the Conjuring films has always been the family dynamic at the heart of the scares. The Conjuring: Last Rites, in theaters Friday, furthers both the family and supernatural elements.
Last Rites opens with a flashback to 1964, when a young Ed (Orion Smith) and Lorraine Warren (Madison Lawlor) investigate a case that compromises Lorraine's pregnancy. The couple's daughter Judy has already appeared in past films, so it's not a spoiler that she pulls through.
By 1986, the Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are trying to retire. Their paranormal lectures are sparsely attended and they face snarky criticism in a post-Ghostbusters world. The Smurl family requests their help, but the Warrens really try to avoid taking on another case.
Ed and Lorraine ultimately help the Smurls; however, the circumstances that lead them to assist the family have more depth than the usual rinse and repeat sequel.
The Warrens are correct that they can't help every family. Presuming the real-life Ed and Lorraine investigated cases that were in fact paranormal, which the Conjuring movies enthusiastically presume, the pair would burn out if they didn't set boundaries.
