Do you like horror movies? Do you prefer films about killers who stalk and mutilate defenseless victims? Do you enjoy movies about monsters like zombies, vampires, or werewolves, considering they all live by eating others? Or do you prefer something more sophisticated like psychological horror? Well, in 2025, during the mid-year release season, horror has been predominant with films like FINAL DESTINATION: THE LEGACY, LOCKED, and BRING IT BACK. These works have defined audience preferences at a time when cinema seems to be gradually returning to the craftsmanship of the art, seeking an organic and less digital essence—that is, one that doesn't appear computerized. It is in this context that THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITES, also known as THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITE, depending on where you watch it, is released.

This installment of THE CONJURING belongs to a subgenre of horror known as "the supernatural," meaning that extraterrestrial forces are present but only become visible during the film's most tense moments, when the biggest scares are expected. For those unfamiliar with the saga that began in 2013, this CONJURING, the 2025 version, is a film like THE EXORCIST, in which the values of the Christian and Catholic world clash with the forces of the Devil. And then the question arises: But if THE EXORCIST, the 1973 film, had already taken this genre to its peak, what's the point of continuing to tell more stories about demonic possession? Are there so many ghosts out there that it justifies producing more works like THE CONJURING? What is it that frightens us so much that there's a need to make films like this?

Films like THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITES are made to prevent societal disintegration. In other words, to ensure that the traditional values that hold together the basic structure of society remain relevant. This very danger generates uncertainty and panic deep within the hearts of moviegoers and film lovers worldwide. In this case, in THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITES, what is battling against "evil," demons, or the Devil himself, is romantic love and the love of parents for their children. For his part, the Devil is the embodiment of negative values such as distrust, disunity, and insensitivity to the needs of others. These can manifest in any individual, and when they do, the Devil and his accomplices—the many negative values—take hold. Consequently, the family and society are destroyed, and this is the greatest panic that fuels these films. What motivates audiences to watch them is the need to feel understood in their fear, but not only that. Interestingly, a large part of the audience thinks they watch the film because they enjoy being scared, but in reality, they watch it because they harbor the hope of finding a solution to the fear that plagues them: the fear of being possessed by the Devil, or worse, that the people they trust will become unsupportive, insensitive, or lose faith in them. These "ghosts," the many negative values, are what keep them awake at night. But fortunately, cinema manages to bring peace to the tormented spirit of the most passionate cinephile, organizing the elements of life's drama and giving some solution, always spectacular, to what made no sense before going to see the movie.

But wait, if we can all be tempted by the Devil, how are we going to protect ourselves? That's where the Warrens come in—the couple who fight against supernatural invaders and manage to resonate with the viewer. The Warrens are the example, the model of the ideal family that would guarantee that society wouldn't collapse before the forces of terror. That's why it can be said that THE CONJURING: THE LAST RITES is, in itself, a ritual of refounding the family according to traditional parameters.

Now, building a family like the Warrens is a challenge that's hard to achieve, because in addition to their loving qualities, which I have no doubt we can cultivate, their role as vigilantes against ghosts, specters, and demons sets the bar incredibly high. But of course, for some, reaching those ideals to be better people is like shooting for the stars to reach heaven. A fool's consolation? A last-minute consolation prize? As Mauricio, my physics teacher, used to say: "Heaven begins two centimeters above the ground," so with just a little improvement, you'll probably be soaring. So for now, go watch horror movies; in the midst of the scares, you might find the answers to your most complex questions, and if you don't, at least with each scream of panic you let out, the bar on your stress meter will probably drop.