News
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Ends a Horror Era With a Chilling Finale
No one knew that when The Conjuring came out in 2013, it would become the ghost story of the decade, altering how the genre would function both in the mainstream and indie world in the 2010s. While Insidious arguably marked the true beginning of the “2010s Paranormal Boom”, The Conjuring became the defining film to pave the way for inspired flicks, sequels, spin-offs, and an entire MCU-style Universe. The movie and its direct sequels are fantastic, highlighting how a solid atmosphere can be as effective at being scary as blood and guts.
As the release date for The Conjuring: Last Rites rapidly approaches, and promises to be the final film in the franchise, it is highly important to note these movies’ impact. They changed the horror genre and were the undeniable kings of the supernatural-thriller subgenre. This bittersweet end for the franchise does not just mark a finale for the extended Universe, but the ending for an entire era of horror, signifying a definite change that has been coming for a long time.
The Conjuring: Redefining 2010s Horror
When thinking about 2010s horror films, what imagery might come to mind? Probably bleak, grey color palettes, violin music, exorcisms, and old lady demons with big, satanic CGI smiles. Oh, and a PLETHORA of jump scares. When going to the movies on a Friday night to see a horror movie, it was almost guaranteed that you would see these elements throughout this decade. While films like The Woman in Black and Insidious helped to generate public popularity and interest in these types of stories, it really is The Conjuring Universe that dominated. And it was generally the best of its kind in quality as well.
How The Conjuring Sparked a Paranormal Trend
What is so strikingly original about The Conjuring franchise is how it works more akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe than any other horror franchise. This is exactly how it became royalty for this type of movie. While the spin-offs varied more in quality, the actual films functioned beautifully on their own as epic supernatural horror flicks, with smaller movie series like The Nun and Annabelle helping to craft a bigger fictional world. This Universe helped sway the genre towards a moody atmosphere and beautiful set pieces.
Additionally, the movies have carried a sort of charm and heart that is hard to find in modern horror. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have always shined as Ed and Lorraine Warren, creating a modern Mulder and Scully. With every movie centering on a different case, it feels almost like a monster-of-the-week-type TV show, harkening back to shows like Buffy or The X-Files. Hell, with no word of Ash Williams since Ash VS. Evil Dead ended in 2018, Ed and Lorraine are probably modern horror’s most iconic current heroes.
The Conjuring films helped define this era of horror, ruled the subgenre, and provided much-needed heart and original characters.
A Finale for The Warrens and The Subgenre
While it felt like horror might stay within this realm forever, things began to change rapidly. With so many “Exorcism of” or “Haunting of” movies coming out on the weekly, a change was almost 100% necessary. Hereditary and The Witch led arthouse, introspective-yet-nasty horror into the mainstream. Since those two films in particular had enough of the popular elements, they were almost able to work their way in from the inside, creating more experimental alternatives for The Conjuring and Insidious films. Now, the box office is dominated by these creepy think pieces, as well as a new slasher revival (Scream, Thanksgiving, Happy Death Day, etc). However, supernatural movies have been slowing down a lot, and The Conjuring: Last Rites may be the nail in the coffin. But it seems to be going out with a bang.
This film centers on the real-life investigation of the Smurl family in the mid-80s. Supposedly, couple Jack and Janet Smurl were violently haunted by a series of ghosts and demons; the brutal specifics of their claimed attacks are absolutely bone-chilling. With the trailer as bleak as it is, setting the tone for such a disturbing tale, Last Rites may not be for the faint of heart.
The Conjuring: Last Rites – A Bittersweet Franchise Finale
It is a difficult thing to examine because, while horror desperately needed this shift, there is so much heart, love, and care put into these movies-and a sense of community that comes along with them. Sure, everyone complained everyone’s ears off about jump scares in the 2010s, but let’s be real. On a crowded Friday night premiere screening, you want everyone packed together, screaming at every jump. The Conjuring films worked because they delivered this alongside their character-driven, atmosphere-based horror movies.
Ed and Lorraine Warren’s heart and investigations are the root of this Universe, extending outward into all the spin-offs. With the franchise coming to a close on what might be one of the most terrifying real-life cases in paranormal history, audiences should expect Last Rites to be not just scary as Hell, but emotionally satisfying as well.
Wake up, babe—the first announcements for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 just dropped, and they’ve got us hyped! This year marks the 35th installment of the premiere Halloween season event, and to celebrate the anniversary, HHN is bringing back not one but two of its biggest icons: Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow!
Universal Creative made the announcement at this weekend’s MEGACON Orlando “Behind the Screams: Crafting 35 Years of Fear at Universal Halloween Horror Nights” panel, followed by an X post clarifying that “the forces of horror are BACK. Jack The Clown and Dr. Oddfellow return to wreak havoc together at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights” The team also revealed the name of the first house: Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control.
What does the return of these two icons—historically bitter rivals—mean for guests, and what can we expect to see in the house? Read on for everything we know about HHN 35 so far, and a quick primer on the lore for the uninitiated!
Credit: Universal Halloween Horror Nights / Inside The Magic
Who is Jack the Clown?
Debuting at Halloween Horror Nights X in the year 2000, Jack the Clown was HHN’s first original icon. In the real world, he’s the result of a series of surveys conducted by the Universal team that consistently revealed clowns to be visitors’ biggest fear. But his lore within the universe of HHN is much more complicated—and sinister.
Born in the late 1800s, Jack “the Clown” Schmidt started life as a performing clown, eventually finding his way to Dr. Oddfellow’s Carnival of Thrills in the early 1900s. When local authorities realized that the traveling carnival was leaving a trail of missing children in its wake and began closing in, Jack confided his crimes to his boss, who didn’t take the news well. Not wanting the police at his door, Oddfellow murdered Jack and stuffed his body into a box, hiding him (and the dead kids’ corpses) inside a sideshow attraction.
Who is Dr. Oddfellow?
Dr. Rich Oddfellow is a fascinating character even outside of his connection with Jack. Long before getting entangled with the kiddie killer, Oddfellow was obsessed with the Zodiac, believing it held the potential to grant him power and immortality—and he wasn’t afraid to commit some twisted, ritualistic murders of his own to unlock its secrets. His quest led him deep into the jungle, where he uncovered a crystal skull that he used to create his Cane of Souls.
During their struggle, Jack managed to gouge a chunk out of his boss’s face, leaving Oddfellow with a distinctive scar on his cheek. Oddfellow would later attempt to shapeshift to hide his identity, but that scar always remained, serving as a clue for eagle-eyed park visitors. More importantly, the scuffle spilled some of Oddfellow’s immortal blood on Jack’s face, imbuing him with some of Oddfellow’s powers. This led to Jack’s resurrection when, in the 1980s, a BBC production crew unwittingly released Jack from the music box holding his spirit captive, allowing Jack to pursue a bloody path of carnage and revenge.
Halloween Horror Nights Most Long Awaited Showdown
There’s a lot more to the backstory than that, and you can find some of it on the Discover Universal Blog if you want to bone up before the event. What’s important is that Jack has appeared frequently at HHN events, often on anniversary years, with Oddfellow finally getting his lore explored in depth at HHN 32 in 2023. But the two icons have never gone head to head—until now!
What Is the “Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control” House at HHN 35?
We’re still in the early days of HHN 35 announcements, but here’s what we know right now about a clash of titans 25 years in the making!
According to the official announcement from HHN, “Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control” will allow guests to “witness Jack the Clown’s unholy origins, then enter Dr. Oddfellow’s wickedly twisted universe where two of the most powerful forces in horror will face off in a deathmatch of chaos versus control.” The original house will be just one part of the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares (or I.C.O.N. for short, get it?) that visitors will experience once they step through the front gates of the park.
“The haunted house is going to be wild because … basically you’re going into the box,” said Mike Aiello, Universal Orlando Resort’s senior director of Entertainment Creative Development, in an interview with USA TODAY. “You’re experiencing what Jack experienced when he got killed and shoved in there, and essentially you’re going into a realm that we call the Oddverse. And it’s in this realm that Jack and Oddfellow have this immense, epic battle.”
Will the Icons Unite? What Their Twisted Team-Up Could Mean
What starts as a feverish fight will ultimately culminate in Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow teaming up to, presumably, terrorize a common enemy: us. “You’ve got a cerebral end of the spectrum [Oddfellow] and you’ve got a visceral end [Jack]—two great ideologies there in how they can affect a guest,” Aiello added. “And that is a lot of the content that we’ll be presenting this year, is under that infernal banner.”
Will Jack and Oddfellow kiss and make up at Halloween Horror Nights 35? Only time will tell.
Photo courtesy of Samantha McLaren.
When is Halloween Horror Nights 2026, when do tickets go on sale, and how much will it cost?
HHN 35 will run on select nights from August 28 to November 1, 2026. The full event calendar has yet to be released, but if previous years are anything to go by, you should expect HHN to fall Wednesday through Sunday most weeks during its run. So, if you’re planning to spend a full week at Universal Orlando or Universal Hollywood for Halloween Horror Nights, consider using Monday and Tuesday as a rest day. After all, all those late-night hikes through the Scare Zones can be hard on the old tootsies!
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Tickets, Add-Ons, and Planning Tips
Tickets for HHN 35 have not yet been released. Based on last year’s event, we anticipate that single-night tickets and add-ons will drop sometime in late May or early June, with multi-night tickets following a few weeks later, so keep an eye on the official Halloween Horror Nights social accounts and your credit card at the ready. While exact pricing is not yet available, single-night tickets for the 2025 event at Universal Orlando Resort started at $82.99 per person, with multi-night passes starting at $199.99.
Remember: Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event, so your daily park admission or annual pass does not grant entry. You also have the option to purchase extras like Express Passes, RIP Tours, and Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror tours, all of which can enhance your experience if you’re willing to part with the benjamins. Check out our ultimate Halloween Horror Nights guide to help you start planning your 2026 trip.
HHN 35 Rumors: Potential Houses and Scare Zones for 2026
As for the other houses and Scare Zones, we can only speculate. Perhaps we’ll get another Stranger Things house to celebrate the series’ official conclusion. And with Insidious 6 scheduled to hit theaters this August, another trip into The Further may be in the cards. Watch this space, and be sure to check back for our super-scientific house rankings once the event gets underway.
We’ll see you in the fog this fall!
The World’s Largest Halloween and Horror Convention, Midsummer Scream is back this August, and this year it’s all singing, all slashing. That’s right, the iconic horror con is returning August 7-9, 2026, at the Long Beach Convention Center, with a brand new theme: horror musicals. Rocky Horror, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Phantom of the Paradise, and more will be at the center of the convention’s first-ever, musical-themed weekend.
Midsummer Scream 2026 Announces Horror Musical Theme
According to David Markland, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Midsummer Scream, “The year’s theme is for all of the theatre kids that are a huge part of the haunt and horror community…we will be honoring horror musicals of all kinds with a variety of panels, presentations, and performances all weekend.”
Matthew Lillard and Other Horror Icons Headline the Convention
The events and guests list is still being announced, but what we do know is absolutely killer. Horror legend Matthew Lillard (Scream, FNAF) will be headlining the convention, alongside Rocky Horror’s legendary Barry Bostwick and Yellowjackets’ Jasmin Savoy Brown. In addition to these guests, Repo! Director and creator (and Saw alum) Darren Lynn Bouseman will be joining Bill Mosely and Lionsgate for a 20th anniversary celebration of the iconic emo musical masterpiece.
Vendors, Haunts, and Attractions Set to Return
As usual, the convention will still host its usual 350+ incredible vendors, including Trick R’ Treat Studios, Sin City Props, Terror Films, and more. It will include the Hall of Shadows, in addition to a variety of haunt displays and attractions. Eulogy Collective, Fear Farm, and Decayed Brigade are some of the many haunts that will be there. Family friendly pumpkin patch and art exhibits, as well as The Screaming Room Film Festival, are also set to return.
Below is the full list of currently announced Haunts and vendors.
Full List of Currently Announced Haunts at Midsummer Scream 2026
- Eulogy Collective,
- Fear Farm,
- Straite to Hale Productions,
- H&L’s Realm of Horror
- The Dreich Society
- CalHauntS
- The Haunt With No Name…Yet
- Decayed Brigade
- Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights
- Knott’s Scary Farm
- Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group (Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Delusion, Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns, and Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House)
- Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest
Vendors Appearing at Midsummer Scream 2026
- The Halloween Shirt Company
- Trick or Treat Studios
- Backstitch Bruja
- Sin City Props
- Terror Films
- Small Town Weirdo
- Froggy’s Fog.
Passes are available now at midsummerscream.org
