The Conjuring franchise is back with a new movie, “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” This film is directed by Michael Chaves and once again stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the Warrens. This film, like the others in the series, deals with the dark world of possession, exorcisms and haunted houses but is it as good as the other films?

Set in the 1990s, the movie follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they take on one of their most scary cases yet which is a strange series of deaths linked to an ancient curse. Like the other films, the plot leans into Catholic horror tropes while showing the emotional toll these dangerous investigations take on the Warren detectives themselves.

While the film keeps the franchise’s famous jump scares and spooky vibe, it also shows some signs that the film makers are running out of ideas. The vibes are there, but it’s noticeably more predictable than the original Conjuring films. That being said, Farmiga’s performance as Lorraine is better than ever, and the cinematography is very beautiful and does a good job of keeping the audience on the edge of their seat, even if some of the scares feel sort of recycled from past movies.

One of the good things about the movie is how it combines the supernatural with things people encounter everyday. There are moments that gave me goosebumps, especially in a few scenes that stood out to me involving a haunted church and a cursed artifact that might make you think before visiting a museum.

For the fans of the series, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” offers a decent continuation of the series and leaves the door open for potential future projects. For normal people, it’s spooky enough to enjoy but you definitely should watch all the films to truly understand everything going on.

Overall, I would rate this movie a 3 out of 5 stars. The film is definitely scary enough to keep you entertained, but comes off as predictable at times and isn’t a standout amongst the series.

*Editor’s note: Jackson O’Donnell is a student writer. All views expressed in the commentary are his own and are independent of the district, Rouse High School and the publication.