We go to the movies to be entertained and it's a bonus if it's from a true story, well made and you learn something. new. Based on a little known incident in Rhode Island during the early 70's, The Conjuring has all those qualities that I mentioned and it's quite a surprise that it comes from the guy who directed the now infamous first\ Saw movie: James Wan.
Set in the early seventies with some flashblacks, The Conjuring featured noted New England husband and wife demonologists who first gained prominence in the Amityville New York incident Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) who after a talk in some university were asked by Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) to check out her house she and her family moved in Rhode Island after some restless spirit continues to bother her family there. Together with Carolyn's husband Roger (Ron Livingston) and their five daughters, what they have encountered is something extraordinarily demonic.
Without the use of special effects, The Conjuring is a throwback to the classic horror movies that rely on sound, motion and the use of camera angles. It all worked well. The use of the gadgets in those era to capture an image of the spirits inside the house is well thought off and the soundtrack, production design and soundtrack does evoke that era. The bureaucracy of the Roman Catholic Church on exorcism cases which is a hassle for it takes so long before a priest can perform on a possessed being is also mentioned in the film. The ensemble cast also have excellent rapport with Oscar nominee Farmiga as the standout. Her Lorraine is restrained yet she shows dignified strength in moments she sees which we most fear. It is arguably an award worthy performance.
This is James Wan's best film so far and it's very gratifying for us avid moviegoers that from Saw to Insidious (which some people I know say that it's the scariest movie that they have ever seen) , he was able to evolve as a filmmaker and now The Conjuring, his masterpiece. He has found his niche in the horror genre and I hope that award giving bodies will notice his talent. It is one of 2013's best movies and it joins the ranks of The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror and The Sixth Sense as the greatest horror/suspense films released during the US summer season.
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