Present day horror movies are often created as simple box office fodder – working to succeed only in the atmosphere of a dark theater with surround sound speakers and a crowd of moviegoers who want nothing more than the fun of a good scare. I saw the 2013 James Wan movie “The Conjuring” in the theater, though have to admit my mind was preoccupied (wink wink) luckily, it also succeeds as a solid horror movie on any media playback, with a haunting theme and original vehicles of fright.
“The Conjuring” follows the real life story of paranormal pioneers Ed and Lorraine Warren. The pair of investigating demonologists are played quite well by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farminga. We see a brief backstory of the Warrens as the film opens in 1968, presenting to us their chilling encounter with the grisly haunted doll Annabelle (who would later get her own spin-off series).
In present day (1971) the Perron family is in the process of moving into their new house in Rhode Island – a mansion by a tranquil but chilling lake – it sets as a perfect backdrop for a haunted house story that unfolds. The Perron family begins to experience a series of terrifying occurrences at their new home, and eventually turn to the Warrens for assistance.
Unlike his “Saw” series, filmmaker James Wan keeps gore and gristle off the screen, and for the better. “The Conjuring” starts with slowly built up tension, initializing with the family dogs refusal to enter the new home. Wan includes other genius methods of scares like the Warren children playing a blindfolded clapping game amidst the giant halls and shadowy rooms in the house, the constant sleepwalking of daughter Cindy (in near zombie like state) or youngest child April and her imaginary friend.
Ron Livingston plays the Perron clan father Roger. Livingston is so recognizable from his comical role in “Office Space” that hes often overlooked as a solid actor. As Roger, he is the only male in a family of women, and as such serves as a typical arch protector. We see him taking a lower paying job as a truck driver and doing whatever it takes to look after and protect his wife and kids.
Opposite Livingston is Lili Taylor as the wife and mother Carolyn. She is equally effective in the role. A caring mother that begins experiencing unexplained events in the home and of course is left by herself to handle while her husband is away making a living. Her first encounter with the unexplained happens when she awakens with ambiguous bruises all over her body. She is also the first to notice that every clock in the house freezes at the exact same time every morning.
The viewer knows the house is haunted (that’s the point of the movie) but how or when the scares are going to come remains to be seen. After moving into the house, Roger finds a boarded up cellar. The pitch black room can be partially lit via a match, another great tactic of terror with the flickering flame only illuminating a small range of space, and you know the fire only has a few seconds before it goes out. “Why is it boarded up?” Lili asks upon finding the cellar. “I don’t know.” Roger replies, further setting the tone for terror.
I thought the weakest area of the film is the final act. Too often horror movies attempt to explain more than they need to, and the rest of the movie can suffer. Upon investigating, the Warrens conclude the Perron family is not dealing with a ghost, but rather a demonic inhuman spirit.
I really like the interactions with the Warrens and the Perron family (with comical relief offered by helpers Shannon Kook and John Brotherton) but the insertion of a religious exorcism-like theme isn’t needed. The house is haunted. The Annabelle doll is scary as is. We don’t need further backstory to explain everything.
“The Conjuring” is a great present day horror movie, and proves James Wan has what it takes to put together a frightening tale without the addition of severed limbs and gratuitous torture.
by – Matt Christopher
