Based on a true story, The Conjuring tells the chilling and horrifying tale of how Ed and Lorraine Warren, world renowned paranormal investigators, are asked to help a family who are being terrorized by a dark and eerie presence in their new farmhouse. The case brings the couple face to face with a bone chilling demonic presence, one that has them wrapped up in the most terrifying and complex case of their lives.
Director James Wan re-teams with Insidious star Patrick Wilson for this new, frightening take on the haunted-house genre. Vera Famiga, Lili Taylor, and Ron Livingston round out the highly impressive cast, bringing the 1970s story to life with an old-school intensity that relies more on the characters and the unseen than anything else.
From the onset, things are unsettling as the family's dog refuses to venture into the new house on moving day (a clear sign that something is wrong). But things only progress from there as Livingston's Roger Perron uncovers the mutilated body of the dog the following morning, and Taylor's Carolyn begins to notice unusual bruises all over the body. Follow that up with the discovery of a boarded up basement that is rich in the house's history, and there appears to be more to this quiet and quaint farmhouse than initially meets the eye.
Both a unique style and keen eye help The Conjuring reach its full potential. Wan puts a heavy emphasis on the details, bringing the audience in at the very beginning and allowing them to experience this devilish nightmare with the Perron family. Never is there a dull moment as the film features a slow build up. It isn't until nearly halfway through that we realize the story's true backbone, and once it begins to come together, you can't help but cringe at the dark path that surely lies ahead.
The ending, though a bit drawn out, comes just in time. And as viewers exit the theater, it is hard to ignore the raw authenticity of the film as it refuses to give into temptation and never succumbs to the mindless genre gimmicks that have plagued many films before it. Sure, there are some plot holes and a few unneeded scenes, but overall, there is no denying that The Conjuring will raise the hairs on the back of your neck, a feat that is sacredly accomplished with ease.
