All have heard the saying that while one door closes, another opens with new opportunities. But, does this saying apply for more than just opportunities? Or, could it also perhaps be for movies, as well?
A Final “Haunting”: The Conjuring: Last Rites
A 2025 newly released American supernatural horror film titled The Conjuring: Last Rites just released to theaters Sept. 5, 2025. The movie is directed by Michael Chaves and produced by Peter Safran. The Conjuring: Last Rites, which is said to be the last film to the Conjuring universe, came in big–ranking as the highest-grossing film throughout the franchise. 
Based on a real-life investigation–the “Smurl Haunting Case”–back in 1986, this investigation takes place in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, and is led by the Warrens: Ed Warren and his wife Lorraine Warren, who have previous experiences in demonic hauntings and possession cases. Together, they take on the Smurl Haunting Case as their last show down. The investigation escalates when a cursed mirror from the Warrens’ past soon becomes a focusing threat to their family, as well as the Smurls. Not all movies get a happy ending. But luckily, in this case, the Warrens save the day once again and get another hooray to the last and final case!
With this door closing, a new one in the movie industry opens: Releasing in theaters Oct 17, 2025, is Black Phone 2!
Back to the “Basic Black”: Black Phone
As many horror lovers may know, the original Black Phone was the first film in this movie franchise, released in 2021. A supernatural horror film directed by Scott Dickerson and collaborator C. Robert Cargill, the movie takes place in 1978 in a Denver, Colorado, suburb.
The protagonist–Finney Blake–is a 13-year-old boy who was abducted by a serial child killer referred to as The Grabber. While a distressed Finney is held captive in a sound proof basement, he discovers a disconnected black rotary phone. Finney later uses the rotary phone to talk to past spirits who have also been abducted by The Grabber, obtaining critical information from them, such as clues or advice that can later help him escape this captivity. Moreover, Finney gains the strength and knowledge to plot his own attack on The Grabber. However, this is not the end to Finney’s story…as he (and the audience) had thought.
Hitting the “Re-Dial”: Black Phone 2
Enter onto the Screen: Black Phone 2.
Protagonists Finney Blake and his sister Gwen Blake are back after four, grueling years! It is now the year 1982; Finney and Gwen are now 17 and 15 and still recovering from the first kidnapping experience. But, this is not the end, as he and his sister had hoped. Will Finney and Gwen be able to end such monstrosity once and for all? Will Gwen’s visions aid in that quest? Or, will The Grabber continue his evil schemes? Find out Oct. 17 in theaters!
