Director: James Wan
Notable Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farminga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, Joey King
While James Wan has definitely dabbled in quite a few genres, the thirty six year old director has made his mark in horror the most. "The Conjuring" is no exception. An even better effort than the previous "Insidious" and "Dead Silence," "The Conjuring" is a horror film to look out for this year but not without some flaws. Based on paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film focuses on a particular case in a family farmhouse, noted to be the most severe case in the history of their profession.
No doubt movie goers will find themselves comparing this to Wan’s "Insidious," but "The Conjuring" is a film that is more effective. As a film involving a haunting, which is one of the few sub-genres quite popular at the moment, it is bound to be criticized for likeness to other films. The visuals and scares are well shot, yet it treads very familiar territory. People might find themselves comparing it to "The Amityville Horror," which oddly enough is a case that Ed and Lorraine Warren really investigated. Yet "The Conjuring" is enough of a powerhouse of a film to feel somewhat fresh and entertaining compared to the many similar films that miss the mark.
Overall, "The Conjuring" makes up with its great cinematography, style and effectiveness as a horror film versus the slight overuse of humor and retreaded material. Fantasia movie-goers took this film very well, garnering a couple of applauses throughout the run-time. The film seems to also have good re-watch value. If Wan can continue this success with minor problems as well as this one then he can definitely remain a force to be reckoned with. Bring on "Insidious 2!"
Nice review Elise. Had a nice time with this flick, even if I don't care for the horror genre all that much. That's just what happens though when they're done right.
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