Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor
Director: James Wan
Rated: R
Ed and Lorraine Warren work to rid a farmhouse of an evil presence that is terrorizing the Perron family.
Ed and Lorraine are most famous for being the team that investigated the Amityville haunting. Prior to that the Warrens took on what is said to be their most disturbing case ever. This is the basis for The Conjuring.
The poor Perron family they buy what they think will be the House of their dreams, the entire tribe relocates and moves in only to quickly realize that they might be in over their heads, both financially and demonically. The Perrons are in a tough spot. Leveraged far too much on their new home and with no place to go, Not many people are looking to offer free housing to a family with five daughters who purport their current home to be haunted. Their only hope is the assistance of the Warrens to remove the evil entity.
Director James Wan has garnered a reputation as being quite an adept director of horror films with both the original Saw as well as Insidious under his belt. While insidious was good and Saw an instant classic, Wan has really stepped into his own and created one of the scariest movies ever made. Wan shines in not just what he does but what he doesn’t do. There are plenty of opportunities for a cheap scare that Wan wisely passes on. It’s the long drawn out scene that allows you to lower your defenses, ultimately rewarding the viewer with a much stronger pay off. The other thing of note is the great use of sound. A rusty hinge, a creaky floor, a pounding on the wall is all played to maximum effect. The sound is almost an additional character. If someone gave the Perron family a can of W-40 the tension would be reduced by an easy 75%.
I personally find horror films that involve a human killer entertaining particularly in the creativity utilized during each kill. The opportunity for gore and dismemberment is extremely prevalent if never all together frightening. I find a truly terrifying film to be one of two things, either based on a true story or involving religion, Satan, demons, spirits or possession. You can always envision a way to escape a killer, yet there is a helplessness that rises to the surface when you start involving that which you can’t see.
Wan brings to light a combination of both being based on a true story and one that involves a haunting.
Set in the 70′s during a technologically deficient time, the Warrens come prepared with the latest and greatest in bleeding edge paranormal equipment such as voice and video recording equipment and a black light. The real weapon in their fight against dark forces is Lorraine’s clairvoyant gift, being able to see spirits that others can’t see.
Vira Farmiga is brilliant as the clairvoyant who loses a small piece of her each time she witnesses something from the other side. The emotional core however falls on the shoulders of Lili Taylor who has never been better, as the mother who just wants her family safe it’s a strong performance, her dressed down attire and sullen voice are a perfect match. James Wan ‘ s go to guy Patrick Wilson is extremely convincing as the demonologist half of the Warrens, but this is a film that is truly powered by the female leads
Never overly graphic, The Conjuring is all mood, sound, and atmosphere. Each one utilized to full effect, creating a terrifying experience. This is the direction Horror was going in the 70’s before it was hijacked by a psycho with a Hockey Mask, and a burn victims bad one liners.* This is in line with the Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby.
One of the best horror films of all time, redefining terror for the current generation.
Grade-94
*I know the first Friday the 13th the mom was the killer and the first Elm Street was scary. I am referring to the sequels.
