In 1986 paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) travel to Pennsylvania to vanquish a demon from a family’s home.

Picking up after the events of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Last Rites plunges the Warrens into what would become their most controversial and devastating case: the infamous Smurl Haunting. This case, rooted in the ordeal of a large, devout Pennsylvania family besieged by a violent demonic entity, proves to be both the Warrens’ ultimate trial and their undoing.

Director Michael Chaves, a veteran of the franchise, returns to helm this climactic chapter, and he doesn’t hold back. He cranks the fear factor to maximum, layering atmosphere, dread, and jolting scares into a film that feels both old-school in its gothic sensibilities and fresh in its visceral execution. Chaves makes it clear from the opening moments that Last Rites is not for the faint of heart.

One of the film’s most striking storytelling choices is its prologue, which takes audiences back to 1964. Here, a younger Ed and Lorraine come face-to-face with evil in a way that forever changes the course of their lives. Lorraine, pregnant with their daughter Judy, is forced into labor under horrifying, otherworldly circumstances that feel ripped straight from Rosemary’s Baby. The sequence is harrowing, blending body horror and demonic imagery in a way that sets the tone for what’s to come.

This haunting origin not only raises the stakes but also gives the film a thematic anchor: Lorraine’s enduring belief that light can overcome darkness. It’s a belief that guides her through the decades, and one that will be put to its ultimate test in the Smurl Case.

As always, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are the emotional heart of the film, and their performances here might be their finest in the series. Last Rites doesn’t just focus on their battle with the supernatural — it also addresses the passing of time, the toll of decades of fighting evil, and the sobering realisation that their mission may finally be over. Their chemistry has always been the bedrock of these films, and here it reaches a poignant, bittersweet climax.

Adding fresh tension to the narrative is Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren. Now grown, Judy is grappling with both her clairvoyant inheritance from her mother and the emotional burden of being raised in a house where demons were part of daily life. Tomlinson plays Judy with a mix of vulnerability and determination, and her on-screen dynamic with Farmiga adds layers of generational weight to the story. Judy’s romance subplot injects a flicker of hope into the darkness, but when the entity at the heart of the Smurl Haunting sets its sights on her, the film ratchets the terror to unbearable levels.

Horror fans will find plenty to feast on here. Chaves escalates the scares with relentless precision: oppressive atmospherics, skin-crawling jump scares, and nightmarish possession sequences. By the time the third act rolls around, the film goes full tilt into shocking territory, with a possession scene so violent and unhinged that it ranks among the franchise’s most disturbing set pieces.

What elevates Last Rites, however, is that it doesn’t settle for cheap thrills. Every scare carries weight, every scream comes tethered to character stakes. The horror is not just about survival; it’s about legacy, family, and the terrible price of standing against evil.

After over a decade of terrors, The Conjuring saga fittingly concludes where it began: with the Warrens. Last Rites honors their legacy, balancing its popcorn-horror thrills with a genuine emotional resonance that makes its final act both terrifying and heartbreakingly beautiful. This isn’t just another entry in the franchise: it’s a sendoff to the characters, the performers, and the fans who’ve followed this universe since that first eerie clap in the dark.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is a grand finale worthy of the Warrens’ legacy. Chaves delivers a film that is scary, shocking, and unflinchingly intense, but also deeply human at its core. Wilson and Farmiga shine in what may be their last outing as Ed and Lorraine, and newcomer Mia Tomlinson ensures that the Warren legacy feels alive for a new generation. Horror doesn’t get more satisfying than this.

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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Watch the brand new trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites below:

The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers another thrilling chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.

Franchise veteran Michael Chaves is at the helm for this final chapter of this sinister horror franchise, and the Warrens will have come to face-to-face with an evil that’s been waiting for them with pure hunger.

What is promises is an exploration of the darkest chapter in the lives of the Warrens, as in 1986 they face the horrifying and haunting tale of The Smurl Case, a real life haunting that completely takes them to pieces as they have to face down a terrifying demon who harbours its own vendetta against them…. and it’s very, very personal.

The trailer makes for utterly kinetic and unnerving watch, and promises peak horror cinema for fans, and you can expect the unexpected with The Conjuring: Last Rites. Chaves is merely teasing audiences with this trailer, but it’s certain that audiences will be in for a hell of a scare as Ed and Lorraine Warren are tested to their utter limits and are forced to contend with the choices and actions of their past.

 

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Discover why this was the last ever case of Ed and Lorraine Warren when The Conjuring: Last Rites arrives in cinemas on September 4.

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A mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler (Halle Berry) is convinced she has the key to saving us all – but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson), and conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley) believe her. The unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space only to find out that our moon is not what we think it is.

Filmmaker Roland Emmerich has a talent for the disaster movie and every time he steps behind the camera to end the world you know it’s gonna be crazy. But Moonfall is a whole different kind of movie. Outlandishly maddening in every way possible, this is Emmerich with the chain taken off and he delivers a big-budget world-ending spectacle that will make your head spin with just how insane it is. Mixing in ideas of the moon literally falling out of orbit, the end of the world, ancient aliens, artificial intelligence and plenty of out-there conspiracy theories, Moonfall is a crazy rush of a movie and it hits audiences completely from left field.

Moonfall is an exercise in sheer unfiltered creativity and in a cinema space that is so confined by genre and convention it makes for a wild watch. Is it extreme? Hell yes it is, but it’s kind of so extreme and so crazy that you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride! There are parts of Moonfall that are so mindbendingly stupid that you can’t fathom how they made it into this film, but other parts that are extremely intriguing. John Bradley is one such part as the rampant conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman who discovers that the moon is falling out of orbit and leads the charge to save the planet. Bradley brings considerable enthusiasm to the part and his inclusion and casting is one of the best parts of the film.

Praise must also be levelled at noted Hollywood star Patrick Wilson who stars as washed-up NASA astronaut Bryan Harper who is called upon to pilot the mission to save Earth. Wilson brings considerable machismo as Harper and is freaking jacked as he walks on screen. Best described as a mix of astronaut and fireman, Wilson fits the description of what you think a movie astronaut should look like and he’s impressive in the part. He has the classic movie hero role down cold as Harper and it’s clear he’s here to just have fun and he does a convincing job in his role as the film’s central hero.

The spectacle in Moonfall is just crazy and if you came here wanting some kind of intellectual film experience you’ll be sadly mistaken. Moonfall is just a straight-up popcorn movie, dialled all the way up to 2,000 on the crazy factor and its third act reveal will literally make your head spin. Yes, it’s mad and out there, but that’s part of the fun and it’s a film that does try something different in the blockbuster space, and you can tell that Emmerich was just throwing everything at the big screen with this one.

If you’re looking for something wild and crazy, Moonfall is the perfect watch. It’s a mental piece of science fiction and audiences seeking a buzz will be in for a wild ride that will literally take them into the stratosphere and back again.

Image: Roadshow Films

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The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga). One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

As the eighth entry in ongoing The Conjuring Universe, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It again follows the real-life investigative journey of demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren (Parick Wilson, Vera Farmiga), as they set out to destroy the evil that is holding an innocent young man hostage and which sets the stage for a horrific crime. Based on the actual case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, a young man who committed a murder, and claimed to be possessed by a demon while he did so, and which would lead to the first U.S. legal case where a defence of ‘demonic possession’ would be petitioned before the court. It’s in this creepy setting that director Michael Chaves leads audiences into the world of The Conjuring this time….and this entry is freakishly scary.

In presenting another true case file of the Warren’s, Chaves presents a story that plays out in the vein of a nail-biting detective story. And this one features many twists and turns that certainly keep you guessing as an audience member and plays into the creepy ambience that Chaves works to establish in the film. Chaves, who has proven to have a very capable hand for telling horror stories, understands his audience’s familiarity with the world of The Conjuring and he uses this to his advantage and pushes the shock factor and suspense to the limit. It’s really interesting to see The Warrens act as detectives here, and the legal angle of the subject matter keeps things very interesting as we see the law mixed in with the demonic.

In addition to the new genre leanings of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, this film also keeps things interesting by giving the Warren’s a brand new type of antagonist. While we’ve previously seen the Warren’s having to deal with the demonic consequences of possessed objects, this time around they come face-to-face with the forces of a Satanist coven and this dials the horror up to a whole new level of edginess. Within The Conjuring Universe we’ve never witnessed a human face of evil, and this totally adds to the edge of this film as we see the fight between faith and the devil play out.

As always Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are once again perfect in their portrayal of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and as we move into the early 1980s we see age beginning to catch up with the two of them, along with recollections of their past and how their love was formed many years before. The events of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It also cement their power as a couple, and with dark spirits surrounding them, it takes all of their faith, love and resolve to combat this satanic evil. And there are plenty of moments that will have you gripping your seat as these two desperately face the demons in front of them.

In terms of the scare factor, Chaves absolutely brings it with The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and in my mind this is the freakiest and scariest entry of the franchise yet. Having to face down a human evil keeps the suspense high, and there’s plenty of unpredictability that Ed and Lorraine have to face. Added to this is Arne (Ruairi O’Connor), who is also facing his own battles with this demon who is out to devour his soul. And this duel evil threat, and the Warren’s desperate mission to vanquish it, leads to plenty of tension on screen. The film’s mortuary scene is definitely the freakiest moment in the whole film, and Lorriane’s psychic battle with the film’s satanic antagonist’s leads to plenty of intense moments.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me De It deliver plenty of nightmares and horror fans will be very pleased with the scares that are on offer here. So say a prayer for your soul and watch this one if you dare…

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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The film follows the story of US Navy sailors and aviators who persevered through the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

When it comes to directors who have a handle on what’s needed at the blockbuster scale, Roland Emmerich is a filmmaker who has serious talent in this arena. And his work on Midway is packed full of bigger-than-life heroism and true filmmaking spectacle. Grounding his audience in historical fact, Emmerich charts out a full retelling of the Pacific Theater from the bombing of Pearl Harbour through to the Dolittle Raids, the Battle of the Corral Sea and finally the penultimate showdown between the naval forces of America and Japan at The Battle of Midway. It’s an expansive blockbuster that takes into account both the war rooms of Pearl Harbour and the cockpits of the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers that delivered the big hits, and all of this action puts you at the very forefront of this conflict.

Stepping up and accepting the call is Ed Skrein as Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Best, a brash, confident and cocky pilot who was at the forefront of the Battle of Midway and who leads the charge into this inferno that is fought over the Pacific. Skrein does right to both the legacy and spirit of Best with his portrayal and he honours this hero who was at the forefront of the Battle of Midway and who was responsible for sinking two enemy carriers on the day. I’ve long wanted to see Skrein take on a challenging role, and he finds it in Best as he has to balance his personal beliefs with those of his greater duty to his country and a need to get even. Alongside the heightened dramatic tension that he brings to the role, you also completely believe in Skrein’s ability to be this man of action who is willing to get the job done and he captures the can-do attitude of this very rare breed of man.

When it comes to thespians who are at the top of the class, Patrick Wilson ranks high among them and he takes on another very interesting character with his performance as Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton in Midway. As a noted Naval veteran and intelligence officer who has a full view of the situation involving the Japanese, Wilson’s Layton feels responsible for the deadly consequences of Peal Harbour and is adamant that he will not fail again. Wilson displays a fearless determination as Layton and jumps into action in order to give the Navy every advantage they can in the fight that is to come. As Layton, Wilson is both intellectual as well as being exceedingly practical and he really flourishes under the direction of Emmerich and his performance as Layton is a testament to the intelligence and immense will he showed to never give up and make things right.

Climbing aboard is hotshot Hollywood star Luke Evans as Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky, a stern and disciplined wing commander whose by-the-book approach doesn’t always sit well with Skrein’s Best and Evans once again gives another commanding performance in Midway. As one of Hollywood’s most diverse and talented performers, Evans is always a solid choice in whatever film he stars in and he brings a great presence in his performance as McClusky. While Skrein is the maverick as Best, it’s Evans’ McClusky who is holding up the ship and who has to focus on the bigger picture that is at hand. While he’s a warrior through and through he does have to contend with the larger forces at play and this places him at odds with Best, but when called upon he steps up to the fight. Evans was a great choice for the part of McClusky and he cuts a brave and determined figure in Midway.

While Midway does place most of its emphasis on its male military cast one of the most important characters is Dick Best’s wife Anne, played by Mandy Moore, and her performance is integral to the success of Midway. While Dick and his fellow Naval pilots might be off fighting the war, it’s Anne and the other wives who have to contend with the prospect that their husbands might never come home. Moore is incredibly realistic in the emotion that she gives Anne and she has great chemistry together with Skrein which allows the audience to invest in their relationship and the importance that Best’s family means to him. Mandy Moore as Anne Best gives Skrein’s Dick Best a reason to fight for, and her performance is equal parts glamorous and homely and she’s of incredible importance to the success of this film.

Finally giving Midway an incredible sense of gravitas is Woody Harrelson as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the man who is appointed commander of the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbour and who spearheads the Battle Of Midway. Harrelson is one of Hollywood’s most eclectic performers and he’s never played a character as straight as Nimitz before, and I must say that he does an astounding job here. As Nimitz, Harrelson bears the brunt of responsibility and it’s he who is very much carrying the flag and safeguarding the idea of freedom. It’s enjoyable to watch Harrelson mix it up with his portrayal of a man who is so squared ahead and unflinching in his purpose, but Harrelson does keep to the real history of Nimitz and a man who was adept at thinking outside of the box and looked to innovative ways to secure victory.

If you’re seeking an action rush then you’ll most definitely be pleased with Midway. WWII enthusiasts will be particularly pleased with this one as Emmerich and his team hold true to the facts of the battle and get the details right in relation to the film’s principal characters and the extensive array of vehicles and armaments that they use. In terms of its action scope, Emmerich puts his audience right at the very heart of the Battle of Midway and you’ll be holding onto your seat and absolutely white-knuckling it as Best and his dive bombers make their run on the colossal Japanese carriers that they have their sights on and the barrage of heavy gunfire that they have to fly through to claim victory. This is one blockbuster that absolutely goes for it with its action experience and audiences will feel the rush.

Alongside all of its heavy blockbuster moments, Midway is a tremendous calling card to the spirit and ethos of the men and women of the Greatest Generation. Having answered the call when their nation needed them they sacrificed all to ensure the promise of freedom and Emmerich, his cast and this film does everything they can to honour their memory and sacrifice. Emmerich also takes his time to tell both sides of the story of the Battle of Midway, from both those of the American and Japanese forces and he keeps to historical fact as a way to hold true to those who fought and died regardless of rank or creed.

Midway is a powerful film and honours the heroism of a group of brave men who refused to be beaten down and who stepped up when called upon to do so. It presents some full-on action moments and is bound by a terrific cast and solid historical detail and those who witness it are sure to be utterly moved by its narrative.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Watch the brand new trailer below:

Here’s the full synopsis:

The film follows the story of US Navy sailors and aviators who persevered through the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Chronicling the intense and full-on Battle of Midway which decided the ultimate fate of World War II, Emmerich captures the emotion and heroism of a group of soldiers who would not back down and who would do everything they could to let freedom endure.

Ed Skrein takes on the central role of fighter pilot Dick Best, and leads an impressive cast who include Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Mandy Moore, Nick Jonas, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson, and the stakes are set for one incredible story of absolute courage under fire here.

Get ready for a pure adrenaline rush when Midway arrives in cinemas on November 28.

The post The blockbuster action of ‘Midway’ arrives in brand new trailer appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) is a man born of two worlds but when his true home of Atlantis comes knocking he must accept his true self and venture deep below the ocean to combat the rising threat of an impending battle between the deep and the surface worlds, and claim his rightful position as King of the Seven Seas.

As the newest instalment into the DC Extended Universe, Aquaman is a film that charts the rise of a brand new hero and throws audiences into a completely original mythological epic. Ever since he was announced as portraying Aquaman we’ve been pumped for Jason Momoa’s appearance as Arthur Curry/Aquaman and while he helped fight the evil of Steppenwolf and saved the world in Justice League now this son of the land and prince of the sea must undertake a journey to prove he is worthy to wear the title of King and unite two different worlds.

Right from the beginning Momoa’s Aquaman was going to be something unique and here he continues to explore his heavy metal take on the character. As a hulking beast of a man, Momoa is an incredibly intimidating specimen and he definitely has the presence of an otherworldly god. But while we’re known for seeing heroes who are either exceedingly noble or savagely dark, Momoa’s Aquaman is all his own and is a man possessed of his own code of conduct and desire to protect the innocent, all while living it up at the same time. While he’s got the strength and superhuman abilities to save the world what he lacks is the responsibility and here in Aquaman, he must undertake a journey to discover it. Packed out with adventure at every turn, Aquaman is a tremendously fun ride and it’s all thanks to Momoa’s immense passion and enthusiasm for the story he’s bringing to the screen. More than any other superhero before we really see Momoa’s own personality shine through the character and he’s definitely proved himself worthy of the Kingdom of Atlantis.

Every king needs his queen and Momoa finds his in Amber Heard’s Mera. This ravishing underwater princess is a true warrior through and through and is our guide into the underwater Kingdom of Atlantis and its wonders that lay beneath the deep. Heard provides a deep sense of motivation for Momoa’s Arthur as she understands what he could be for both Earth and Atlantis and it’s her continual push and encouragement that leads him to accept his destiny. But make no mistake Mera is no damsel and this strong-willed warrior princess has command over the entire ocean and when the action does kick-off with the armies of Atlantis she proves her martial abilities with tremendous prowess. The two actors also share a great chemistry together that reminded me a lot of the classic oddball romantic hero characters such as Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and we see the same playfulness develop between Heard and Momoa here. Heard is an absolute aquatic goddess in Aquaman and her belief in our hero gives him the strength he needs to win out and save both the surface and the deep.

Every hero needs a truly great villain to test them and Momoa’s Aquaman finds his nemesis in the form of his half-brother King Orm who is played by a malicious Patrick Wilson. Wilson’s Orm reminds me of some kind of radical dictator and in his own mind, he has good reason for wanting to wage war on the Earth’s surface dwellers for their desecration of the ocean floor. Wilson has a great presence as the character and his quest for the coveted title of Ocean Master makes him a very dangerous and unpredictable adversary for Arthur. The actor also put in some serious time at the gym to match up to Momoa’s intimidating size and his ferocious appetite for war makes him a lethal antagonist that will truly test Aquaman’s steel.

Introduced in the film is also a bloodthirsty pirate and high seas’ mercenary David Kane / Black Manta who is played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and he gives one hell of a committed performance here. Abdul-Mateen II matches Wilson’s villainous ruthlessness up on the screen and he provides the seeds for the start of another great villain in the DCEU. Like Momoa, Abdul-Mateen II is also a hulking beast of a man and his performance here marks him out as a very dangerous enemy for the King of Atlantis and we’re excited to see more of this savage villain in the future.

Finally, Nicole Kidman and Temuera Morrison provide a great backstory to Aquaman as the parents to the young Arthur Curry in the form of Queen Atlanna, the exiled queen of Atlantis and Thomas Curry, a noble lighthouse keeper. Kidman and Morrison are of great importance to the film and provide Momoa’s Arthur with the moral compass that he will need to guide him between two worlds and to always do the right thing. Like Arthur and Mera you completely buy into the relationship and love shared between Kidman and Morrison thanks to their great chemistry together. Plus in a throwback to his performance in Once Were Warriors, Morrison delivers the best line of the whole film and it will absolutely have you in stitches.

With Aquaman, we’re dealing with an all-new superhero mythology and director James Wan gets the chance to create something utterly extraordinary here. As a truly visionary director, Wan takes his audience to the bottom of the ocean and showcases a breathtakingly beautiful undersea paradise filled with colour, light and extraordinary visuals. Everything has been custom made here and the attention to detail on imagining the underwater kingdom of Atlantis is a beautiful sight for your eyes. Everything we think about Atlantis and Aquaman has been re-interpreted on a grander scale for us, and Wan’s vision of an immense, culturally advanced civilisation that has learned to live in balance with the creatures of the ocean is a marvel to behold up on screen. You simply get lost in the images that are presented to you and from what you witness you’ll be wishing you could breathe underwater.

Wan has really thought through every single part of this underwater universe and he really works to distinguish each of the seven kingdoms. From the technology advanced city of Atlantis, to the regal culture of Xebel to the beauty of the Kingdom of the Fisherman to the savage nightmares that await in The Trench, Wan constructs a complete 360 degree underwater universe and all of it builds up a thoroughly engaging mythology that contains the raw strands of the Monomythic Heroes Journey of Joseph Campbell and is a great setting for the rise of a hero to gain his crown.

Such an epic tale like Aquaman also demands an extraordinary sense of action and Wan delivers on this big time. The scope is immense and the underwater sea battles that wage within the deep are terrifically exciting to watch. Wan’s imagination topples that of Jules Verne with an enormous spectacle that he unleashes here which showcases the likes of ferocious Sea-Horse Dragons, ocean powered laser cannons, massive warships and tooth and nail trident battles between two men who each desire to be King. I found myself really wrapped up in the underwater trident battles between Arthur and Orm and liken it to the thrill of underwater MMA as they go at each other in the Colosseum of Atlantis and this heavy-hitting combat will seriously elevate your heart rate.

Everyone involved in Aquaman gives 200% on this incredible cinematic feat and this effort absolutely shows up on screen. The endeavour to realize this grand story and build a breathtaking underwater universe is a mission in pure passion and is what lies at the very heart of the art of cinema. Aquaman’s journey to the throne is one that tests him to his core and thanks to an amazing group of artists working in unison together we get to see it in all of its glory.

Adventures don’t get much grander than Aquaman and this film delivers on its spectacle with extraordinary size and blockbuster energy. The King has returned and long may he reign!

Image: Roadshow Films

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