The Conjuring – A Movie Review

by | Aug 6, 2013 | Reviews

Paranormal investigators and demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren virtually lived within a horror movie daily during their decades-long career.  Renowned for their involvement with the Amityville Horror, founding the New England Society for Psychic Research, and penning several books related to their experiences, The Conjuring gives viewers an opportunity to see what the couple endured on one of their lesser known investigations.  The film delves into the dilemma of the Perron family and their five daughters who purchase a remote farmhouse in Rhode Island only to find that the house and land are supposedly cursed by a witch named Bathsheba.  Over the years, the witch’s curse had resulted in the deaths of many who lived in the surrounding area and therefore, the farmhouse is said to be haunted by several spirits.  Bathsheba, however, is the most dangerous as she is intent on causing mothers to murder their children as she had sacrificed her own child to the Devil.  You can use your imagination as to how the rest of the plot may unfold, but I suggest watching the film as soon as you get a chance.

Set in 1971 and directed by James Wan (best known for Saw) The Conjuring is akin to a genuine old-fashioned horror movie.  Like Wan’s Insidious (a personal favorite of this reviewer), there are several genuine jump-out-of-your-seat scares as well unsettling subtle ones that will make you wince the next time you have to walk into a darkened basement—and this reaction holds true even for the most cynical horror fan who thinks he/she has seen it all. The film is well acted all around with especially engaging performances from the leads:  indie favorite Lilli Taylor playing against type as the motherly Carolyn Perron and Ron Livingston (Office Space) as her husband Roger, as well as Patrick Wilson (also from Insidious) and Vera Farmiga (Orphan) as Ed and Lorraine Warren.  If there is any flaw at all with this film, at least in the opinion of this reviewer, it would be that on occasion the director goes for the “cheap” scare; however, I am not so sure that can even be considered an actual “flaw.” Others many complain that parts of the plot seem clichéd, and to a certain extent, that may be an accurate statement, but again, at least to me, this strangely does not take away from the quality of the film or the story.  Overall, the bottom line is that The Conjuring is one of the best horror movies that I have seen in a long while (and I see a lot of them!)