Wednesday 31 July 2013

The Conjuring (2013) directed by James Wan, 31st July

Plot 

Based on a real case of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The pair going to the aid of the Perron family who are terrorized by a presence in their new family home.

Review

Well is has been a little while since I wrote my last review. Usually I am not a real fan of horror films. Usually I find them gory, slasher, predictable and not particularly suspenseful. The last horror genre film I enjoyed was " Cabin in the Woods" which was not really a horror film. This film has bucked the usual trend of the horror films being good and quite intelligent.

This is partly thanks to Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga playing the titular characters giving an earnest, measured and sincere performance. Additionally what gives the characters credibility is their work with the Roman Catholic church. In some way this film has similarities to "The Exorcist" where the investigators try to dispel demonic possessions with reasoned and scientific answers to most cases. The film also touches or just barely scratches the surface the stages/proof and philosophical questions of demonic possession. How true the couple worked with the Church I am not sure but this association gives the characters more credibility and sincerity rather than just being independent investigators of paranormal activity.

James Wan keeps the suspense going and it simmers gently, cranking it up evenly during the film. Nothing new and using tried and tested techniques/tricks for this genre but they are used well hitting the right notes at the right time.

Aimed at a teen audience it certainly shocked the audience and got the right response from them.

The film has the right amount of introduction and introduces the main protagonists as humane, fragile and damaged characters after all their previous investigations.

The film does slightly run out of steam at the end but this is a good competent..... dare I say great horror film of recent times. Like most horror films, at the end it leaves it open for a sequel. After the success in the US I am sure there will be a sequel. I just hope that it will be just as good as this film and the start of a good franchise rather than a successful cash cow. There should be enough good material from the Warren case files.

For a change an intelligent and thoughtful horror and not a gore/slasher.

8.5/10

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