A Haunting Farewell for the Warrens
The Conjuring: Last Rites is officially here, marking the 10th entry in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe and what is being billed as the final chapter in the Warrens’ terrifying journey. Directed by Michael Chaves, the R-rated film reunites Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, blending supernatural horror with threads pulled directly from the couple’s real-life case files.
While the story itself spans decades — beginning in the 1960s before jumping to the mid-1980s — the chills don’t end when the movie does. Like previous installments, The Conjuring: Last Rites holds a few spine-tingling surprises during its end credits and post-credits sequences. Here’s what you need to know.
The Story So Far
The film opens in 1964, where younger versions of Ed and Lorraine (played by Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor) face their first brush with a demonic force, bound to a cursed mirror. The encounter pushes Lorraine — heavily pregnant at the time — into labor, leading to the birth of their daughter Judy.
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By 1986, the Warrens are semi-retired due to Ed’s health issues, but their quiet life doesn’t last. The same possessed mirror resurfaces in the home of the Smurl family in Pennsylvania, unleashing terrifying phenomena on eight unsuspecting residents. Judy (Mia Tomlinson), now grown, feels compelled to investigate, drawing her parents back into the fray. With the Smurls tormented by not only the mirror but also three sinister entities, the Warrens must confront evil once again — at great personal risk.
The cast also includes Ben Hardy as Judy’s boyfriend Tony Spera, Steve Coulter as Father Gordon, Elliot Cowan as Jack Smurl, and Rebecca Calder as Janet Smurl.
What Happens During the End Credits?
Unlike many modern blockbusters, The Conjuring: Last Rites doesn’t use its credits to tease future spin-offs or sequels. Instead, the film leans into its connection to reality.
The end credits showcase authentic photographs and video footage of Ed and Lorraine Warren, documenting their decades of paranormal investigations. Some clips echo recreated scenes from the film itself, while others reference earlier entries in the franchise, including nods to the infamous Annabelle case.
Between these archival moments, the credits slip in fleeting images of demonic figures — an unnerving reminder that the horrors of the film blur uncomfortably with real-world lore.
The Epilogue: Where the Warrens and Smurls Ended Up
The credits also serve a narrative purpose, providing viewers with an epilogue about what became of both the Warrens and the Smurl family after the events depicted on screen. This wrap-up grounds the supernatural spectacle in historical context, reminding audiences that the story is inspired by reported true events.
The Post-Credits Reveal: The Conjuring Mirror
Once the credits conclude, fans are treated to one final revelation. Instead of a traditional scene, the post-credits moment presents a chilling photograph of the real Ed Warren standing beside the very mirror featured in the movie.
Dubbed the “Conjuring Mirror,” this object reportedly remains housed in the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Connecticut, where the couple famously collected artifacts tied to their cases. In the film, Ed and Tony move the mirror into their room of cursed objects, tying fiction back to reality. The photo serves as a stark reminder that, at least for believers, the line between cinema and history is thinner than we’d like to imagine.
Why These Scenes Matter
The Conjuring films have always differentiated themselves by grounding horror in the Warrens’ extensive files. By ending Last Rites with real photos, found footage, and an unnerving look at the Conjuring Mirror, the franchise reinforces its unique brand of “based on true events” storytelling. It’s not just about building a cinematic universe — it’s about connecting the audience to the unsettling real-world cases that inspired it.
Final Thoughts
The Conjuring: Last Rites may mark the official close of the mainline series, but its end credits and post-credits footage ensure the Warrens’ legacy — and their lingering mysteries — live on. For longtime fans, the blend of fiction, fact, and fear is the perfect send-off to one of horror’s most successful sagas.
