Viewers went on another supernatural adventure courtesy of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in director Michael Chaves’ blockbuster horror creep-athon The Conjuring: Last Rites (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 135 minutes, $27.98), now available in the 4K disc format.
The fourth movie of “The Conjuring” main series, and ninth in the cinematic universe, starts in 1964 after the couple’s encounter with an antique mirror and the challenging birth of their daughter Judy.
Jump to 1986 and while the Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles) are enjoying watching their daughter (Mia Tomlinson) grow up and prepare for her wedding, they decide to tackle one more case and go to a small mining town in Pennsylvania.
Specifically, and inspired by the harrowing true story of the Smurl family haunting, the film’s plot centers around the same antique mirror, obviously possessed by a demon.
The mirror enters the loving household of the eight Smurls — parents Jack (Elliot Cowan) and Janet (Rebecca Calder), four daughters and Jack’s parents — as a confirmation gift to eldest Heather (Kíla Lord Cassidy), and strange poltergeist activity immediately begins with violent apparitions appearing.
However, even after the mirror is hauled away by garbage men, three evil entities — an ax murderer, an old woman and a younger woman — remain to terrorize the family.
It will take the Warrens’ strong religious faith and paranormal experience (with prompting and help from their daughter, now also seeing demonic visions) to save the Smurls and themselves.
A good old case of the goosebumps, with a few jumps and bouts of shivers added in, will greet viewers looking to appreciate this potent scary movie, balanced by a strong story about the importance of family in fighting off evil amid the gore.
The ending credits, as in previous films and well worth watching, showcase moments with the real Warrens in action, mixing in some news footage and clips as well as flashes of screens from the films.
4K in action: The ultra-high definition presentation uses a 4K digital intermediate built from cameras that featured Panavision-C lenses (the same lenses used on the movies “Poltergeist” and “Alien”) to offer a gritty, less sterile and vintage feel to scenes.
That lack of clarity works well when scanning the dimly lit rooms through muted color palettes while looking to spot an unsettling, just slightly blurred glimpse of the hidden demonic entities.
However, as one of my preferences when watching horror films, I could easily have watched the action in black and white with as much grain as possible to appreciate some of the more claustrophobic moments and the introduction of evil.
Also worth noting is the enveloping Dolby Atmos sound mix that delivers enough atmospheric aural nuggets in the rear speakers, such as a creak in a floor or an ominous whisper to keep viewers on edge, especially when paired with the jump scares.
Best extras: Viewers only get three featurettes that offer a look at the director, his belief in the paranormal and love of the horror genre (seven minutes); creating scares in “The Conjuring” franchise using tension and practical effects (nine minutes); and an overview of the portrayal of the Warrens in the franchise as explained by Mr. Wilson, Ms. Farmiga and producer James Wan.
Home theater aficionados and fans of the franchise will also want to grab the recently released 4K version of the first film, “The Conjuring” ($29.98), that features a pair of new retrospective featurettes.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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