The Conjuring

THE CONJURING

Director : James Wan
Year : 2013
Genre : Horror
Rating : ****

Taking the scary movie right back to it's basic roots and traditions, 'The Conjuring' is a hugely effective and creepy horror film from director James Wan. Reminiscent of the early works of such innovative and influential filmmakers such as John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, 'The Conjuring' back to the days when horror wasn't about gore or shock violence but atmosphere and thanks to the utilisation of nifty and effective camera work, a brooding score from Joseph Bishara and the talents of a great cast, Wan manages to create an air of unbelievable tension and impending doom and catastrophe. While 'The Conjuring' isn't as a scary as I would have liked it to have been, it certainly made me very uneasy throughout and while not in any way gory, it is not suitable for young or impressionable children who will be very frightened by the creepy imagery and engulfing atmosphere. Yes, it uses the basic horror conventions such as the long build ups to the inevitable loud jump scare, but 'The Conjuring' does them with such skill that it can be easily forgiven for falling into the same tropes that have made the genre so dull. Turning the traditional haunted house movie into something much more terrifying, 'The Conjuring' should enthrall horror enthusiasts and film fans alike who first for the next scary cinematic experience. It is has been to long since we have been scared out of our wits in the multiplex and for me, James Wan has finally broken the unwanted and prolonged fast.

Ron Livingstone and Lili Taylor play Carolyn and Roger Perron, a couple who move into an old mansion on the outskirts of town with their five daughters. Despite seeming perfectly normal at first, the house starts to betray it's dark past and over the first few nights, the youngest child experiences strange movements and an unfounded dread which soon transfers itself to the rest of the family. As the manifestations become stronger and more violent, Carolyn and Roger recruit the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), 2 paranormal investigators who endeavour to destroy the evil prescences in the house and allow the family to live in peace. However, as the investigations continue and the extent of the spirit's evil is unveiled, the Perron's realise that they may have to take extreme measures to rid their home of the malevolent forces that have taken a hold of their lives.

Director James Wan is probably most famous for creating the torture porn sub - genre that begin with the hugely successful and influential 'Saw', a good but flawed film that sadly kickstarted a seemingly endless run of increasingly gory and boring shockers that endeavoured to disgust rather than scare. A self- admittedly squeamish person, it appears that Wan has now abandoned the heritage that had made his name and is now insistent on making less gory, more creepy fare that relies more on dread and atmosphere rather than blood and guts.2 years ago he made 'Insidious', a shocker that terrified audiences worldwide with it's intensely creepy imagery and it's heart stopping jump scares and now Wan returns with 'The Conjuring', a film which follows the same formula to great effect. While I thought that 'Insidious' was effective but hugely flawed, I found every part of 'The Conjuring' to be brilliantly paced and perfectly directed. Clearly a fan of the horror movies of the 1970's, Wan envokes the ghosts of 'Halloween', 'Poltergeist' and even 'The Exorcist' without ever seeming parodic or even referential. Rather than taking scenes from these movies verbatim, Wan utilises the elements that made these films so terrifying and blends them all together in a big melting pot of dread.  By doing this, Wan is able to recreate the fears that we all have; the dark, death, enclosed spaces and the loss of a loved one and realises them in ways which never seem pandering or exploitative. Not afraid to clutch at the heartstrings, Wan and his cast create a huge amount of emotion with vulnerable situations and the thought of children in danger. 

It is difficult to categorise 'The Conjuring' because it is made up of so many different sub genres and every one is used to great effect. Part haunted house film, part ghost film and part exorcism film, 'The Conjuring' is a pick and mix bag of the creepiest and most atmospheric horrors. While the scenes of paranormal activity and manifestations are creepy, it is the exorcism scenes that are truly terrifying and turn out to be the most memorable parts of the entire movie. Very cleverly, the trailer for 'The Conjuring' didn't give any hint about this element of the film. so it is a great shock and surprise to discover what direction the film has taken.. Horrifically violent, screechingly loud and heartbreakingly emotional, the exorcism scenes are the probably most intense that I have probably seen since 'The Exorcism Of The Emily Rose' which also managed to create an atmosphere of pure evil with innovative camera work and expert direction. While 'The Conjuring' isn't as emotionally driven as 'The Exorcism Of Emily Rose', it still evokes an astonishing amount of sympathy thanks to the talents of it's cast who all give good performances, especially the young children who convey terror and fear in very convincing ways. 

As the anchors of the film, both Lili Taylor and Ron Livingstone are both very convincing as a husband and wife who are pushed to the point of breaking by forces beyond their control. If I have one gripe with the film it is that while good, Taylor is really cast as the main victim who can do nothing but become the metaphorical punching bag for the demons own amusement. We very rarely see her smile and for most of the film she is seen either cowering, scared or actually being affected by the ghosts in the house. It would have been nice to see her interact with her family and being a mother so we can have more emotional attachment to her when the demons unleash their full evil intent.As mentioned earlier while not given much to do, the children are very well cast and each manage to portray the fears of a youngster and the terror of the experiences in a totally convincing way. 

Patrick Wilson is of course no stranger to the horror genre; having worked with James Wan before in 'Insidious' as well as starring in other shockers, most notably the brilliantly horrific 'Hard Candy'.  He is well cast as the paranormal investigator who is willing to sacrifice his own safety to help a family who is experiencing these terrible events. Having dealt with possessions and hauntings before, his character believes that he has seen everything, so it is fascinating to see a man who has to come face to face with something way beyond his imagination. Vera Farmiga plays his wife who is also a paranormal investigator who is also cursed with the gift of being able to see the ghosts that haunt the world. She is excellent as a person who has to live with a terrible talent and whose life is dominated by a gift she doesn't want. Carrying the emotional baggage of being a paranormal investigator as well as being a mother, she is clearly hurt and damaged by the stress she has has to overcome and through her eyes and body langauge, we see the pressure and toll that a life of searching for the dead carries has on a person.

Taking it's horror deadly seriously, 'The Conjuring' cements itself in a world of pure realism. The acting is never played as farce or parody and every single person on screen gives their all in the face of what could be ridiculously silly material. Shot beautifully by regular Wan collaborator John R. Leonetti and directed with a swift proficiency and determination, 'The Conjuring' is one of the best looking horror movies of the year. It blew the roof off the New York Comic Con and has made as of today $167 million, a fantastic profit for a $20 million production. It is by no means a classic, but I have a feeling that we may be talk about 'The Conjuring' as one of the best horrors of the decade in a few years time. Creepy, emotional and incredibly tense, it is a cinematic experience you will not want to miss; one that is best shared with a partner or friend who is willing to hold you as you jump in your seats and shield your eyes with your hands.