THE CONJURING Review

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Release Date: July 19th, 2013
Director: James Wan
MPAA Rating: R
Film Pulse Score: 7.5/10

Before James Wan’s The Conjuring had even one press screening, the hype was already building thanks to the MPAA.  This is the first film to ever achieve an R rating based on the fact that it’s simply too scary to warrant a PG-13.  There’s no nudity, no gratuitous violence, no foul language, just pure terror.  Though it can’t be called the scariest film ever made, there’s still plenty here to make you jump out of your seat and make you sleep with the light on tonight.  More than that, it’s an expertly shot ghost story that doesn’t sacrifice plot and character for cheap thrills.

The film takes place in 1971 and follows the true story of paranormal detective couple Ed and Loraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) who are hired by the Perrons (Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor) after they start witnessing strange things in their new home. 

While there isn’t anything new here regarding the plot or the scares, what sets The Conjuring apart from the rest is the quality in its presentation.  Yes, there is an abundance of jump scares, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t effective or conveyed in creative ways.  It doesn’t rely solely on these moments either, providing plenty of atmospheric thrills as well.

It starts off slow and slowly crescendos into an intense and chaotic ride, which is captured using some great cinematography and camera work.  The way the camera floats through the rooms of the house, frequently flips upside down, and occasionally tracks family members throughout, adds a nice bit of style to the visuals that benefits the film greatly.

The sound design also went a long way to help accentuate the film’s creepiness and heighten the fear.  We’ve seen much of this before, with creaking floors, children whispering, and the dead silence before something loud occurs, but it all worked.  The well-crafted sound stood out in one particular scene which involved Patrick Wilson’s character using a sound recorder and adjusting the volume levels.

It’s clear that James Wan is beginning to hit his directing stride.  This is his most well thought out, well-crafted film to date, and although Insidious was a solid effort, The Conjuring trumps it in nearly every way.  While some may find certain elements in Insidious a bit hokey, The Conjuring remains more grounded and feels more like The Exorcist than Poltergeist.

This is hands down the scariest film of 2013 and a must-see for horror fans.  Though the “true” elements of the film may be questionable, it’s still a great throwback to classic horror.  It’s atmospheric, intense, and a very entertaining ride.