Director – James Wan
Starring – Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston
Runtime – 112 minutes
Release date – 2nd August 2013
Plot – Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorised by a dark presence in their farmhouse.
REVIEW:
Welcome to the stage, James Wan! When you think of great horror directors, names like John Carpenter and Wes Craven come to mind, but Wan undeniably deserves his place on that list. This is the man who directed Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring—modern horror classics that have terrified audiences worldwide. With The Conjuring, Wan solidified his reputation as a master of the genre, delivering a chilling supernatural experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
James Wan is a master at crafting jump scares. Sure, they can be called a cheap trick by some, but when executed with precision, they are undeniably effective. The Conjuring is packed with moments that will have you jumping out of your skin. From sudden ghostly apparitions to eerie silences broken by loud bangs, Wan knows how to build tension and then release it in terrifying bursts. His expertise in this area is evident, and he uses it to great effect throughout the film.
Two horror genres that have always been my favourite are “based on true stories” and exorcisms, and The Conjuring delivers both. What sets the Conjuring universe apart is its claim of being rooted in reality, based on the recorded case studies of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the knowledge that this story is based on actual events adds to the film’s fear factor. The combination of supernatural elements and real-life historical context amplifies the sense of dread that permeates the movie.
Watching The Conjuring again after so long was like experiencing it for the first time. Many of the scares took me by surprise, and the film’s intense atmosphere held me captive throughout. One of the most horrendous scenes is when they attempt to remove Carolyn (played by Lili Taylor) from the house, and burns and bruises begin to appear on her skin. It’s terrifying and visceral, one of those moments that makes you hold your breath and feel the fear with the characters.
Another scene that left me on edge was when Judy Warren’s necklace started reacting, and you realise that Lorraine’s necklace is still in the basement of the Perron home. It’s one of those quiet but deeply unsettling moments that Wan excels at. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are brilliant as Ed and Lorraine Warren, delivering performances that are grounded in both compassion and conviction, making the supernatural elements of the story even more believable.
The success of The Conjuring at the box office sparked an entire franchise, which has grown to include sequels and spin-offs like Annabelle, who made her creepy debut in this film. The Conjuring universe has become a horror powerhouse, but there’s something special about the original. It balances fear, faith, and family in a way that many modern horror films fail to achieve, which is why it still holds up years after its release.
Finally, as much as I enjoy watching movies in the cinema, horror movies are the only genre I prefer watching at home. I need complete silence and all the lights off to truly immerse myself in the fear, and any noise around me breaks that immersion. What about you? Do you prefer watching horror at home or in the cinema? For me, nothing beats the eerie atmosphere of a quiet, dark room when it comes to horror.