'The Conjuring 2' Review

Image via comingsoon.net

Let me begin by saying that I rarely see horror movies in the theater. I think the last film I saw in the theater  that can be classified as such was a film titled The Fourth Kind, centered on alien abduction (don't see it, it's not good). For one, I'm the type of person who watches horror films with my head resting on the palm of my hand, elbow on the armrest, so in the event of a tense scene, I can quickly cover my ears to ease the effect of those damn jump scares. On the other hand, horror films haven't had a great track record in the last 10-15 years. But, when The Conjuring was released back in July of 2013, I knew I had to check it out, just not in theaters. So, I watched it on demand and loved the film. Now, with the release of The Conjuring 2, I made the decision to bite the bullet and go see it the way its meant to be seen: alone, in a pitch black auditorium, while you hear the sounds of thunder and rain outside the building.

The Conjuring 2 sees the return of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate the Enfield Haunting, following their involvement in the Amityville Horror case. After their investigation of the former, Lorraine Warren thinks that it is necessary for the couple to take a break from these cases for a while, citing a vision she has concerning her husband. But, as fate would have it, a family of five in Enfield, London begin to experience hauntings in their own home through 11-year old Janet Hodgson. What begins as explainable happenings quickly become sinister. As we see in the trailer, Janet becomes possessed by a demonic entity, which prompts a war of convictions between believers and non-believers.

This film is, without a doubt, terrifying. Sitting in that theater alone, I began to trick myself into hearing certain noises or feeling like things were a bit off. That is how you know you're engrossed in a film and when the story is compelling, although seeing the words "based on a true story," always helps. One thing I did notice about this film as opposed to the previous one is that there was much more disturbing imagery, from the appearances of the demonic entities to the actual events that occur in the film. In a way, this film feels much more supernatural as far as believability goes. Some of the things that happen to those involved just don't seem possible, while the events in the first film do. However, that's not to say that I don't believe the Hodgson family and they're accounts of what happened to them. The writers, director and Lorraine Warren herself have made it very clear that there is truth to this film.

Behind the camera, James Wan and the Hayes brothers knock it out of the park once again. You can tell that they really concentrate on getting these films right. On many occasions, horror movies rely on the "based on a true story" tagline just to get people in the seats, but those involved with these films have had such a personal connection to these cases now that they have to do them justice, especially for Lorraine Warren. James Wan, in my opinion, is a master of suspense. The slow, methodical camera work and tracking of these characters throughout the movie just builds so much tension that the scares become much more effective and I think that's a big part of why this film succeeds.

Madison Wolfe (left), Vera Farmiga (right)

Image via rogerebert.com

On screen, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson deliver another great performance as the famed paranormal investigators. While this is a horror film, there is a love story involved and you really see that they have an unbreakable bond. No matter what the Warren's may face, you know they're going to face it together. But, I think Madison Wolfe (Janet Hodgson) completely steals this movie. Her ability to portray a normal 11-year old girl, and then totally transform into a terrifying, demonic presence is something to marvel at. So far, both of these films have been able to cast incredible child actors, something that seldom happens in this genre. There's one scene involving Wolfe and Farmiga as they sit on a swing set that is both chilling and a tear jerker. Watch out for that one.

Overall, I thought The Conjuring 2 was an excellent horror film. It utilizes jump scares in the right way, has a compelling story that is all the more terrifying since these are based on firsthand accounts, and boasts tremendous talent. The film also succeeds in injecting some lighthearted moments in the midst of all the turmoil and it totally worked for me. So, if you're in the mood for a great horror movie and were a fan of the first film, definitely go check this out. If not, you can always go see Now You See Me 2. I mean, it does have Daniel Radcliffe, but I'd rather see him play a farting corpse in Swiss Army Man than be wasted in that unnecessary sequel. Spend your money wisely, fellow movie goers.