The Conjuring: Last Rites' Cameo-Laden Finale: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Warner Bros.
This article contains spoilers for The Conjuring: Last Rites.
The Conjuring: Last Rites may be a chilling tale of the real-life case that inspired the cinematic adventures of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), but it's also a star-studded affair. The film's finale, in particular, is a testament to the series' enduring popularity, with a guest list that would make any horror fan envious.
The wedding of Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) and her fiancé Tony (Ben Hardy) is the centerpiece of the film's climax, bringing together a cast of familiar faces from the Conjuring universe. It's a scene reminiscent of the funeral in Avengers: Endgame, where the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe gathered to bid farewell to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).
In an exclusive interview with /Film's Jacob Hall, director Michael Chaves reveals the challenges and joys of coordinating this grand gathering.
"It was amazing because so many of those people I was meeting for the first time," Chaves says. "It was a massive, massive feat of coordination and just trying to get... Because we're shooting in England, it's like flying people over just for one day. What ended up being one afternoon of shooting was a big feat, and I'm glad I didn't have to keep track of everyone."
Chaves describes the experience as a family reunion, a sentiment echoed by his interactions with the Conjuring alumni.
Most of the wedding guests were characters from the previous three Conjuring films. Cindy Perron (Mackenzie Foy) and her possessed mother Caroline (Lily Taylor) from the first film, Peggy Hodgson (Frances O'Connor) and her possessed daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe) from The Conjuring 2, and David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard) from The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It all made appearances. The standout, however, was director James Wan, whose presence sparked a nostalgic reaction in Chaves.
Chaves, who joined the Conjuring franchise with The Curse of La Llorona, had never worked with most of these actors before. "It was really cool," he says, "like being invited to a family reunion I married into. I didn't know everyone, but I still felt an emotional connection to it all."
Chaves also directed The Nun II in 2023, but the wedding guests were primarily characters the Warrens had helped in previous movies. The film's silly and overblown nature led to a playful suggestion: what if each demon had their own section? Imagine Annabelle trying to hold back tears while the Crooked Man (deserving of his own spin-off) catches the bouquet outside.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is now available on most PVOD platforms, offering a thrilling and star-studded experience for horror fans everywhere.
