At first glance, The Conjuring may appear as just another entry in the haunted-house film genre. But don’t let the initial feeling of familiarity fool you; this film offers scares aplenty, and most surprisingly, nails them almost perfectly to frightening effect.
This tale is based on the real-life exploits of paranormal specialists Ed Warren—the only Vatican-recognized demonologist—and his clairvoyant wife, Lorraine. The pair made famous by their work on the renowned and much-disputed Amityville Horror case.
As the film begins, we see Mr. Warren (Patrick Wilson) and Mrs. Warren (Vera Farmiga) investigating the possession of an insanely creepy doll in the late 1960s. This opening scene sets the tone of the movie and paves the way for the events ahead.
Fast forward to 1970, and we’re introduced to the Roger and Carolyn Perron (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor) and their five daughters. The family has just moved into an old Rhode Island farmhouse that holds, unbeknownst to them, some dark secrets within its walls. Before they can even put out the welcome mat, mysterious events begin to plague the family—all the clocks in the house stop at the same time, mysterious knocking sounds echo throughout the house, sleeping girls are awaken in the middle of the night by a tug at their leg, etc.
These events prompt the Perrons to seek out the Warrens in hopes of finding an explanation for the strange occurrences.
Director James Wan (of torture porn film Saw) borrows many elements from classic horror films of yesteryear—Poltergeist, The Haunting, and of course The Exorcist. The setting and the score of the film really help illustrate the increasing tension throughout the film. At times, scenes go by with very little sound to no sound at all. This ramped up the fear factor, and often had me slinking down into my seat in anticipation of what was going to happen next.
Despite the majority of the film taking place in one location—the Perrons' home—I never bored of the setting. In fact, I think it was one of the strongest elements of the film. The house gives you the feeling that you’re in a place you know you shouldn’t be, but you go forward anyway because it’s hard to resist the old-world charm and mystery of the place.
All of the actors involved gave resounding and believable performances. Yes, I’m saying that about actors in a horror film! Taylor and Farmiga come off as the most compelling characters in the film. Their respective performances beg the audience to sympathize with them and root for them as they each battle their own demons—literally and figuratively.
The Conjuring is not going to win any awards for originality. It relies on a formula that has been used time and time again—most often unsuccessfully—throughout the horror film genre. What makes this a must see for fans of the supernatural is the way Wan delivers such a chilling tale while utilizing many of the same techniques that fail to deliver the thrills and chills in other scary movies. This movie shows that treading in familiar territory can feel like a new and refreshing experience.
--Derrick Mitcham
This tale is based on the real-life exploits of paranormal specialists Ed Warren—the only Vatican-recognized demonologist—and his clairvoyant wife, Lorraine. The pair made famous by their work on the renowned and much-disputed Amityville Horror case.
As the film begins, we see Mr. Warren (Patrick Wilson) and Mrs. Warren (Vera Farmiga) investigating the possession of an insanely creepy doll in the late 1960s. This opening scene sets the tone of the movie and paves the way for the events ahead.
Fast forward to 1970, and we’re introduced to the Roger and Carolyn Perron (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor) and their five daughters. The family has just moved into an old Rhode Island farmhouse that holds, unbeknownst to them, some dark secrets within its walls. Before they can even put out the welcome mat, mysterious events begin to plague the family—all the clocks in the house stop at the same time, mysterious knocking sounds echo throughout the house, sleeping girls are awaken in the middle of the night by a tug at their leg, etc.
These events prompt the Perrons to seek out the Warrens in hopes of finding an explanation for the strange occurrences.
Director James Wan (of torture porn film Saw) borrows many elements from classic horror films of yesteryear—Poltergeist, The Haunting, and of course The Exorcist. The setting and the score of the film really help illustrate the increasing tension throughout the film. At times, scenes go by with very little sound to no sound at all. This ramped up the fear factor, and often had me slinking down into my seat in anticipation of what was going to happen next.
Despite the majority of the film taking place in one location—the Perrons' home—I never bored of the setting. In fact, I think it was one of the strongest elements of the film. The house gives you the feeling that you’re in a place you know you shouldn’t be, but you go forward anyway because it’s hard to resist the old-world charm and mystery of the place.
All of the actors involved gave resounding and believable performances. Yes, I’m saying that about actors in a horror film! Taylor and Farmiga come off as the most compelling characters in the film. Their respective performances beg the audience to sympathize with them and root for them as they each battle their own demons—literally and figuratively.
The Conjuring is not going to win any awards for originality. It relies on a formula that has been used time and time again—most often unsuccessfully—throughout the horror film genre. What makes this a must see for fans of the supernatural is the way Wan delivers such a chilling tale while utilizing many of the same techniques that fail to deliver the thrills and chills in other scary movies. This movie shows that treading in familiar territory can feel like a new and refreshing experience.
--Derrick Mitcham
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