The Conjuring Review
By: MattInRC
The intensely creepy The Conjuring is old school scare-fest at its best.
Last year, we were gifted with only one really good horror flick, Sinister. The rest was pretty much a wasteland filled with the subpar ParanormalActivity 4, The Possession, and Silent Hill Revelation 3D. Yep, it was that bad. In 2013, we've seen the pretty good (Mama) and the pretty awful (Evil Dead). Luckily, The Conjuring fits nicely into the previous, establishing itself as a well-constructed old-school horror flick.
Ed (Patrick Wilson, Watchmen) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air) are top-flight paranormal investigators who’ve journeyed across the country cleansing America of the spirit world and talking about their experiences. Lorraine is a clairvoyant who’s recovering from a particularly devastating investigation, while Ed is the scientist who maintains a bizarre collection of ‘investigation memorabilia’ in his basement. Meanwhile, the newly-moved Perron family has bought a Rhode Island fixer-upper, unaware of its dangerous past. Almost as soon as they move in, tragedy overtakes the family, and it becomes clear to the mother Carolyn (Lili Taylor, High Fidelity) and Roger (Ron Livingston, Office Space) that their family is in eminent danger. Picture frames are knocked down, all clocks in the home stop every evening at an ominous 3:07, and shadowy figures routinely open the basement door. After falling down those same basement stairs, Carolyn comes face to face with a particularly dangerous spirit who has taken on the children’s love for hide and seek way too far. Soon, it attaches itself to two of the five children, making its appearance apparent only to them. Lorraine immediately senses the deep and murderous spirit and its intentions, leaving Ed to wonder if his wife too will fall under its power. This sets the stage for a deadly showdown between practiced science and forces that not even the Warrens understand.
Director James Wan paints one of the prettiest retro pictures in recent memory, wrapping us in 70’s browns and oranges, while outfitting the Warrens with classic scientific instruments including motion cameras and UV lights. These are utilized to great effect as they attempt to document the spirits which permeate the home, including the plotting of where one of them is entering the premises. The large armoire seen in the trailers plays a central role in Conjuring, and its constant appearance becomes a powerful symbol of the evil that returns just often enough for you to fear it.
But The Conjuring is much more than haunted armoires and rehearsed jump-out-of-your seat moments: it’s slickly written by Chad and Carey Hayes (The Reaping), who begin the film by demonstrating the Warren’s acumen in another investigation involving a grumpy and obstinent doll. They get the idea that great horror films need characters which audiences can relate, but also utilize earlier elements in later scenes to keep the big scares coming. With this unique opening, the Hayes ratchet up the tension before we even get comfortable, and Wen delivers with the direction, establishing their game plan early: creep them out, make us love the characters, then hit us over the head with that well-placed shock. Wilson and Farmiga are terrific, crafting their roles with both precision and just enough emotional edge to keep reality intact, but able to bring the dramatics when needed. Ditto for the Perrons, including the arrival of Joey Fisher (Oz: The Great and Powerful) as one of the demon’s unfortunate victims. Its solid cast and great performances endear us to the both the Perrons and Warrens, making the fright even more pronounced. We want these characters to survive, but it’s also true for the ghosts, who in a sort of strange way endear themselves with their need for closure. Even though it’s exactly what the Warrens are trying to provide, the spirits’ unwillingness to go creates great theater.
Another strength is the lack of gore, minus a good scene near film's end. It's not the splat-bath we've been forced to endure with lesser films, but a symbol of the intelligence of our creative team. Again, the key lies in effective storytelling that keeps the CGI to a minimum and the shock/tension an active player. There are well-placed classic horror jumpers, lead by a powerful soundtrack from Joseph Bishara. If you’ve read my previous reviews, you know the importance I place upon a good score, and The Conjuring delivers on this level as well.
And while it's a great experience, Conjuring does suffer from minor editing issues that ignore certain breadcrumbs established in Act 1. Also, it doesn't leave a lasting impression upon exit, although you will talk about it immediately in terms of its totality. There’s too many ‘don’t go there’ moments that the genre just can’t seem to get away from, and I wish we could just see people learn to stay away from obvious danger. Again, these minor issues shouldn’t keep you from seeing it, as it more than makes up for any clichés.
In the end, The Conjuring is scare-fest done right. Its deep cast, effective storytelling, and direction mix well with its lived-in 70’s look and instantly establishes itself as a candidate among the Top 10 horror flicks of all time. In a time when splatter-shock is all the rage – while ignoring the most basic things that can fear us – The Conjuring happens to put it all together for our enjoyment. The Conjuring is rated R and has a runtime of 112 minutes.
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