The Conjuring (2013)

Excellent but underrated film

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I will say when a spoiler is about to appear.I have a rule that I never watch a horror movie with a gerund for a title.But I made an exception for this movie because it was so high profile and people were just raving about it.I didn't notice this first time round but yeah I guess it does have minimal sex or violence but the problem is that it didn't replace it with anything.I actually tried to begin it once before I knew it was so popular and just turned off after 20 minutes. Trying to watch it seriously recently I just got bored toward the end and it's taken me a while to actually finish it, one bit at a time. I've watched a lot of horror movies which is really the worst thing you can do if you want to be frightened by them so I guess I have become a bit picky.But I just don't get the hype. It's not that it's just OK, for me it is simply a through-away film that isn't worth remembering even for critical interest. Other horror movies I think are over-rated like Alien, The Exorcist or Child's Play, I at least sort of see the appeal because they're kind of different and have an individual.But this is just a generic horror movie riddled with clichés: demons smell bad, demons are cold, demons have deep voices, the dog knows, "something bad happened here"... I found the characters generic which is forgivable in a horror movie admittedly but when they try to make me feel pathos for them it just feels trite.We get all the familiar horror schtick: the gruesome which, the Roman Catholic angle...I struggle to take a movie that expects me to just role with the idea that things that mock the trinity are bad guys and the Christians are the Saviours. Many Christians are wonderful people but I think we're at a point in human development where simply having the Christian god equal good just feels like simplistic propaganda. Maybe if it were an irreligious persons discovery that Abrahamic forces were after them...then maybe it could be frightening.That we get some professionals on the scene to describe everything and give them names also kills any mystery or atmosphere and makes everything just feel under control so the remainder of the movie just feels like going through the motions.(soft spoiler in this paragraph) To knit pick a particular moment: they have this game called "hide and clap". The mother is in a room and the door of the wardrobe opens by itself (pretty creepy) and then hands emerge from it and clap. They should have kept the camera on the mother so we only heard the clapping.(No spoilers after this point)I also don't like the Annabelle Doll. It might be the more frightening design in real life but when contextualized within a horror movie, the more innocuous looking thing is always creepier. They should have stuck with Annabelle's real life design.Ultimately, although it isn't a trashy movie, I still feel kind of insulted by it and even with the positive feedback it has received, people who are like me should not feel bad for missing it.My 1/10 grade reflects that it sort of feels like it could get a good atmosphere at times but there's really nothing original here at all. The worst movie I have seen this year.

They did a really good job! You really start to care for the family. The staging was really good. Absolutely loved Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson's performance they nail it as paranormal investigators. I think the child actors we're one of the best on the set they did a really good job screaming and being beyond scared. We must not forget the camera angels that make you look (or look away) out instead of the charactors watching out for themselves, i think it was really effective. James Wan did a really good job in this movie! I recommend this movie if you want to get a good spook. It's also great to see with friends if you don't dare to see this alone.

Seeing it again after 5 years, I realize how important this piece of gem is. This movie defines the horror genre and brought back what the horror lost in our 21 century. It is revolutionizing in every way possible, finally a perfectly written and logical horror story with a decent plot, awesome characters and acting, amazing visuals and an amazing build up play. The movie is so great, that even those less than a few jump scares are crazy good unlike that classical cringy approach to jump scare scenes.

James Wan successfully made a compelling demonic possession film loosely based on true accounts. Written by Chad Hayes, the technical detail here is praiseworthy and the acting all around is convincing and competent.There are so many layers here to peel. Firstly is the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren - played with great prowess by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, are the paranormal investigators finds as well as debunks activities of the unknown. Chad Hayes was very clever in including moments were the Warrens are skeptical and actively try to find more rational explanations of things going bump in the night, which gives credence to the what happens to the Porren family in the story. The Porrens are the family being haunted; I won't say by since part of the fun is to discover the motivation behind the possession. Special commendation must be given to Lili Taylor for her performance as you'll discover in the end, while Ron Livingstone is believable as the bewildered father. However, the star of the show is definitely, James Wan; whose direction, clever use of light and shadow, silence and sound as well as tight camera angles, gives you a thoroughly psychologically eerie atmosphere that keeps you in a state of suspense for most of the film. This is old school horror film with refined technical finesse. If I had any criticism of the film, it's the demon that is doing the haunting, could have been more sinister, such as devil in The Exorcist (1973). A really good ghost story. Recommended.