Personally, I am not one to seek out films in the horror genre because I value my sleep. However, when you bring together a team like James Wan, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson back for another, arguably, artistic kind of horror film, I couldn't help but go and see it.
The Warrens are back, and they are still out there doing what they do best: hunting demons. Now, I decided to take a bullet by bullet approach to this film review and recount the film as it retold the "based on a true story" events that took place in England's most notorious haunting known as the Enfield haunting.
Here's my take on the sequel to the successful original "The Conjuring" in a lighthearted approach:
- Ed and Lorraine own my entire life, and there’s nothing more I’d rather do than continue watching films of my favorite demon hunting duo.
- Declarations of love in the pouring rain while demonic forces played the hand of fate is my new aesthetic apparently.
- “I married him” I cried for 10 years
- I’m no expert in the renowned field of demonology but … shouldn’t either Ed or Lorraine keep their Bibles close to them, maybe in a hip satchel whenever they go investigate demon related cases? Lorraine spends every Conjuring film looking for her Bible at the peak of the plot.
- “I need my bible!” - Lorraine Warren, aka the most iconic line of this film.
- “I prefer Ed.” - Ed Warren is 110 percent done with this particular demonic presence who mocked him.
- demon: “Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill!”
- me: “Bill Nye, the Science Gguy! Bill, Bill, Bill!“
- The dog made it out alive! *thanks God wholeheartedly and James Wan*
- The entire “religious symbolism and rhetoric in direct rivalry with demonic presences” aesthetic this film was giving off warmed my cold, dead, God-fearing, renounced Catholic heart.
- The demon dressed as a nun and named “Valak”
- Religious church choir music every time the demon decided to make an appearance
- Crosses, cross necklaces, rosaries, crosses turned upside down announcing the presence of evil (good times)
- All films should end with their leads dancing tenderly to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” I sobbed the entire time.
- Also, having Patrick Wilson do a rendition of this song was everything I never knew I needed.
- Every time James Wan did a tight, close-up shot of Vera Farmiga’s face, I gained 10 years of life.
- Cinematography!
- The music score to this film, or should I say the theme to the opening sequence, eerily reminded me that of the one from the opening sequence of “The Shinning” which upped the creepy factor.
- Here’s to stopping Ed Warren from drawing demons that later on come to life 2K16.
- Vera Ann Farmiga: 10/10 would recommend, follow, subscribe, accept, like
- Patrick Wilson: those side burns deserve their own opening sequence and cinematographic shot.
- All in all, as someone who does not search out for horror films and avoids that genre in general, I would be more than happy to see another “Conjuring” film.
- Also, the camera work on this film was brilliant but it left me exhausted.
- All in all, did not get possessed, which was great. *sprays self with holy water*
To completely honest, I did not envision myself being a fan for a horror franchise, but when the director of the film sticks to the narrative and useful camera movement as a technique in making you jump than the simple need to make a pile of dead bodies, I appreciate it. This kind of film making pays true homage to original horror and makes you care for the both the narrative and characters. Overall, I found it to be a great sequel to the original.
