The Conjuring 2

I won't begin this review by reminding you that the horror genre is probably the one that I'm least proficient in.

I won't begin this review by reminding you that I don't see very many of them within a given year.

And I also won't begin this review by reminding you that I haven't seen many of the classics, nor or are they very high up on my ever-growing "catch-up" list.

Instead I'll begin by saying, after doing this for several years, I'd like to think I know a good movie when I see one. One that's well staged, acted, written, and has a story that progresses logically. Also, being me, I know when I'm scared.

The original Conjuring, released a few years ago now, was both a good film that was also scary. Over the past few years I think it's emerged as one of the top tier horror films because of its quality and the time that it took to give its characters actual personalities and traits. The fact that it's also based on a true story, or so it claims, of Ed and Lorraine Warren's case files is even more disturbing. Personally, I hold the film in high regard as it's probably in my Top 5 Favorite/Best Horror films that I've seen. Keep in mind that list is sparsely populated for the most part, but even still The Conjuring was great.

But with horror sequels, there's usually big issues and they rarely turn out good. Just take a look at the pair of Sinister films. The original is also another potential Top 5 candidate for me, but the sequel (which I thankfully did not see) was ripped apart as being one of the worst films of 2015. That's not uncommon in really any genre, but the dips in quality seem to be steeper within horror. Luckily though, James Wan, a director who has proven himself several times over by now, is back behind the helm for The Conjuring 2.

As I stated earlier, I know a good film when I see it and I know when I'm scared. The Conjuring 2 accomplishes both and I'd even admit that it rivals the original film in my eyes.

"Oh hi honey! Don't mind me -- just painting a super creepy picture here..."

The demon tells very captivating stories.

The Conjuring 2 tells the story of the Enfield hauntings, which the Warren's participated in. It's apparently the case that haunted them the most once their career was all said and done and once things gets started, it's easy to see why. A little girl becomes possessed by a demon here and the Warren's come to help out, even though Lorraine seems to be fighting her own demons from previous encounters. There is something that haunts her, but they agree that they have to help this little girl. On paper, and even in practice, it's all a bit clichéd by now and there's not much that The Conjuring 2 does that breaks new ground on the horror genre. I thought the "twist" was pretty smart and made the ultimate foe all that more terrifying, other than the fact that they're scary as s**t on screen. It's enough to say that, much like the first, the story is nothing to write home about in terms of originality. But also like the first, this film gives everything, including the characters, time to breath to where we become attached to them and also worry for their safety. The family being haunted is well represented by several child actors/actresses and there are some touching moments among them. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, respectively, are back in their roles and again, both are strong leads. They both have good range and as we get to see touching moments of their lives, we also begin to care for them, which becomes dangerous as the film makes its way toward the finale. It may take too long to get there at 2 hours and 14 minutes, but I quite enjoyed the slower pace and I think that some of the reasons The Conjuring 2 succeeds is because it took the time to.

Actually not that scary of a scene.
This is simply an old man tripping, trying to catch his balance.

The scares are more plentiful in The Conjuring 2 than they were in the original, which is why I may like this one slightly more. There are some truly terrifying moments throughout this film and some scares that are incredibly well earned. It's no secret that Wan is a gifted visionary behind the camera and he plays with his audience like a cat would a dead mouse at times. Cameras pan to avert your eyes, audio cues make you anticipate something, or shadows cover something you think may be there. There are times where what you think is going to happen actually does, but there are several times where Wan gets you. Again, it's nothing you've not seen before, but Wan is so good at the craft of it, that it feels fresh and terrifying. A particular scene in an office study with a painting was not only one of the best scenes I've seen this year, but one of the more stressful I've seen in recent memory. I don't often hide my eyes in the theater, but this scene specifically had me nearing that point (my hands were upward on the side of my head, prepared to close shut at a moments notice). It's a scene that will stick with me for a long time and it's because it was so well thought out.

Elsewhere, The Conjuring 2 is similarly well made. The time period and setting are well captured by costumes and props, the soundtrack injects some fun into the mix, and the cinematography is often top notch. Only when The Conjuring 2 follows the rule book a little too closely is it when it falls below anything less than great. For this horror n00b however, The Conjuring 2 is not only a well made film, but one that scared him on more than one occasion. I'd also nominate this film for my Top 5 as it justly earns its place among the greats, similar to its director who's becoming quite the shining star in the horror industry, particularly when he's the one in the chair.

CONS:

• Over 2 hours is a lot to ask for a horror film. I'd say it was worth it for The Conjuring 2, but there are areas where it could have been streamlined
• Happens earlier in the film, but the cuts back from the Warrens to the Hodgson's are somewhat sporadic
• A handful of the scares are fairly cliché to the point of being ineffective
• Some odd reactions by characters to things. For example, Ed Warren just casually painting an absolutely terrifying portrait
• Lacks originality

PROS:

• Wan's direction. He believes in these characters, both the Warrens and the Hodgsons and wants us to get to know them better. By doing this, it makes the film more impactful
• Good soundtrack and original score
• Great horror cinematography
• I found the story, even without being original, to be well executed and explained. The "twist" near the end makes the villain terrifying
• The Conjuring 2 packs in some scares for sure. Most are very well earned and they take their time so whether it be a "jump" scare or merely some creepy image, there's a sense of dread everywhere
• The office/hanging picture scene. Dear God. May not be able to sleep tonight
• There's a sense of quality here that isn't present in most other horror films. Similar to the first, this is just a well made movie
• Ummmm...soooo...the real life recordings during the credits were not cool. So messed up

Rath's Review Score: 8.5/10