The Horror Show
The Conjuring 2
by James Wan
Three years after the smashing film The Conjuring, James Wan’s sequel is a worthy follow-up of the original proving that the talented filmmaker can successfully play with styles of the 70s and 80s and tie together classic stories of the paranormal in a seriously haunting way.
The Conjuring 2 is set in 1977, six years after the happenings in the isolated Rhode Island farmhouse, where we were first introduced to the Warrens. Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), the real-life supernatural investigators, built their career on the Amityville case, which we get to see a short yet eerie glimpse of. But the main story revolves around the horrific goings-on in Enfield, North London, where the Hodgson family is viciously tormented by an evil entity, and if that’s not enough, a malicious demon. Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe), a kind-hearted teenager, seems to be having the hardest time of all, as the sinister poltergeist of Bill Wilkins, the 72-year-old past owner of the house haunts her dreams and then her entire life. Her beleaguered divorced mother (Frances O’Connor) and three other siblings soon realize that Janet’s disturbing sleepwalking is more than what meets the eye, and it won’t be long until they get to witness themselves the ultimate horror that their house holds. Enter Ed and Lorraine Warren.
As in the first film it’s not clear whether it’s a real haunting case or just another hoax, the Church sends the Warrens to London in order to investigate the incidents and report back. And that’s when all the action starts and we begin to grasp the connection between the Amityville murders and the Enfield hell house.
James Wan knows well that just a few jump scares and generic tropes will not do the trick and they are certainly not what make his movies extraordinary. What’s spectacularly pleasing about The Conjuring 2 is the variety of haunting spectres of the paranormal realm and also the fact that it’s an incredible treat for the eyes and ears. A hellish nun, the grim spirit of an old man, and a ghastly Crooked Man are only a few of Wan’s aces up his sleeve. These unearthly beings combined with the drab atmosphere of a generic British house and a spine-chilling possession only accentuate the horror.
There’s no denying that it’s a powerful piece of filmmaking on a technical level as well, and that alone is a big asset. We are lucky enough to witness several standout moments, but Wan’s brilliant work offers them in the simplest manner, and sometimes this simplicity can be the most unnerving.
If there’s something draining about The Conjuring 2, it’s the run time. We get to see all the stages of Janet’s torment one by one, resulting an in amazingly long movie. But as Wan never resorts to stereotypical, dull hallmarks of paranormal horror, he knows how to keep the fire burning by interlocking several backstories and throwing horrific creatures into the mix. Wilson and Farmiga’s performances are astounding as a married couple completely devoted to each other. In fact, their relationship plays a significant role in the story and it’s the movie’s emotional anchor, proving that a little bit of drama can frame horror to maximum effect.
After all, we watch horror movies like The Conjuring and the likes not to see the wheel reinvented, but just to see it spin well. And this movie certainly spins!
Maria Kriva, HMS
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