THE CONJURING (2013)

Directed By: James Wan 
Written By: Chad Hayes & Carey Hayes 
Cinematography By: John R. Leonetti 
Editor: Kirk M. Morri 

 Cast: Vera Farminga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor,Ron Livingston, Joey King

Lorraine Warren and 'Andrea Perron' served as consultants to director James Wan and the screenwriters. They both claim the movie is accurate to the real story of what happened to the Perrons during the 10-years they lived in the farmhouse.

In 1971, Carolyn and Roger Perron move their family into a dilapidated Rhode Island farm house and soon strange things start happening around it with escalating nightmarish terror. In desperation, Carolyn contacts the noted paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, to examine the house. What the Warrens discover is a whole area steeped in a satanic haunting that is now targeting the Perron family wherever they go. To stop this evil, the Warrens will have to call upon all their skills and spiritual strength to defeat this spectral menace at its source that threatens to destroy everyone involved.

I will admit though I am a fan of horror. One of the genres trapping I am not a huge fan of are ghost stories and stories of possession.

So going into this film it had an unofficial strike against it. I have to say it overcame that with relative ease.

The film feels like a film from time period it takes place in. It feels like a classic old school horror film that relies on atmosphere and mood more than gore and quick cuts.

I believe one of the reasons it took awhile for the film to come alive for me is that it takes it time to tell it's story and introduce the characters I believe like some I have been conditioned when t comes to horror so that I expect quick cuts and instant gratification. Rather than letting it take it's time and build up to it's glory.

It might be that I have seen a bunch of films do that it's scares feel like cop outs or pale imitations. They feel cheap, but they do help set the tone. So while this film has plenty of them that are built up with score and mood. Hey have playoffs not so much for me as I could predict then but perfect for an audience.

This is the first film by James Wan that did not involve Leigh Whannell in any way.

The real Annabelle doll was a rag doll not a broken porcelain doll as the movie depicts

It's a film that I best viewed in a group. As it is more fun that way.

One of the enjoyments of horror films Is experiencing situations you will hopefully never experience normally in your life. Like a roller coaster it gives you a rug of adrenaline that lasts Long enough to course through your body. That is why when after we are scared we laugh or laugh instead of scream since as our minds begin to realize what is actually happening and bring us to reality At least rational thinking we realize how ridiculous we acted about is kind of a relapse to ease ourselves back to normal.

Watching it with an audience is that after the scares you feel sad as you experienced I together and can laugh and take comfort from others more extreme reactions.

I enjoyed the film as it didn't seem forced and never felt too outrageous enough to take me out of the film. The chargers all felt essential and believable. In It's own way it's a crowd pleaser.

Not as scary, but it reminded me of poltergeist or at least how it felt to watch it for the first time as a kid. That creepiness of what could happen and a general sense of unease that stays hanging through it. It doesn't try to bite off more the. It can chew.

The film is certainly better then director James Wan's previous film INSIDIOUS.

Director James Wan modeled the film's cinematography and atmosphere after vintage 1970's horror films.

Eight generations of families lived and died in the house before the Perrons moved in. Andrea Perron suggests that some of the spirits from the families never left. Deaths include two documented suicides, a poisoning death, the rape and murder of an 11-year old girl, two drownings, and the passing of four men who froze to death. Most deaths occurred within the Arnold family from which Bathsheba Sherman was descended.

The film works as it uses recognizable but normal looking character actors instead of stars as we can see the actors and believe them more in their roles as everyday people instead of suck and such playing at playing a role.

Don't get me wrong I am not a huge fan of this film. It does what it is supposed to and entertains while you are watching it, though it's not a film I believe I would ever want to watch again.

 Grade: B –