Spooky Season 2022: The Conjuring Review

For another review of The Conjuring, click here.

With the vast roster of great horror movies, there are few who capture the magic or more so the horror as brilliantly as The Conjuring. James Wan adds an unequivocal timeless feel which is unlike anything in recent memory, making it not just one of the best horror films to come out of the 2010s, but one of the best horror films period.

Based on a true case from paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring centers around the Perron family who move into a new rather creepy farmhouse in Rhode Island. From there, it isn’t long until they are hounded by some very spooky happenings. This causes Carolyn Perron (Taylor) to approach paranormal investigators Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Farmiga) to investigate. Soon the Warrens discover that a malevolent entity has put a curse on the house and the surrounding land, forcing them to battle it and save the Perrons before it is too late.

The premise of The Conjuring may not be new or original by any means as films based on a true story have become a little cliché over the years. However, with this being based on the real life reported case from Ed and Lorraine Warren, it instantly becomes more believable and much more terrifying. Typically, the gimmick is used as a cheap way to scare most audiences but Wan treats the source material with the utmost care and respect. From the film’s creepy but beautiful cinematography, haunting score, and authentic production design along with its genius scares culminate in an amazing horror experience.

Each big scare will have even the most hardened fans on the edge of their seats. Wan is the modern master of horror and The Conjuring is a perfect example of why with a masterclass of tension and suspense. In the end, the film’s most successful scares are based on misdirections. Where most films tend to opt for a cheap scare, Wan appears to occasionally build up to a cheap scare but instead subverts audiences expectations resulting in scaring the pants off every audience member.

Whilst the scares are so brilliantly executed, the film simultaneously possesses a lot of heart and the credit for that goes to its characters. Ed and Lorraine are so well-written that one can’t help but adore the cutest, coolest and not to mention deadliest couple in horror history. As much as The Conjuring is a horror, at its heart is the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren which it pulls off beautifully.

In the end, The Conjuring is a horror film for the ages. Wan delivers a timeless and unparalleled horror film with such finesse thus cementing him as one of the best modern horror filmmakers working today. The scares are haunting and unpredictable and the Warrens are two of the best-written characters in horror history, making for an overall impeccable horror film.

*still courtesy of Warner Bros.*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.