The Conjuring 2 Review

     I'd like to start off by stating that I am not a big horror fan. I am a coward and I jump at nearly everything thrown at the audience. Also, I find most of the genre to be very lazy and repetitive at times. You hardly ever get good horror films with big theatrical releases. However when The Conjuring came out in 2013, it was a bit of a shocker. Warner Brothers took a risk with this summer horror film and boy did it pay off. Not only was the film received very well from the fans but critics very much enjoyed the movie as well. I had a chance to see it once it came out on Blu-Ray and although I nearly wet my pants multiple times while watching, as a whole the film is very good. The director, James Wan, writes very well fleshed out characters. When the audiences sees them being haunted, you are actually invested and concerned for them. So when the news was released James Wan was returning to direct the sequel, I was very ecstatic and I finally got a chance to see the film. Although this film is not better then the first one, it still has plenty of scares, a very compelling story, and beautifully developed characters.
     The Conjuring 2 is supposedly based off the true story of the famous Enfield Poltergeist in north London during 1977. Paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) travel to London to help a single mother and her four children from a mysterious spirit that lingers within the house.

     There are two aspects of the film that stand out in a glorious fashion. The first is the direction. James Wan is one of the best horror directors out there and this is evident in this film. Wan uses long tracking shots and visual misdirections to really tantalize the audience. Wan also gives some terrifying moments with a demon nun. The second standout is the characters of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have such spectacular chemistry and play off each other so well. You really buy into this relationship. Although this is primarily a horror film, there's also a love story at its core. Wan blends the two genres in a delightful manner. It very much enhances the story.
     Some other standouts is Madison Wolfe who plays Janet Hodgson. Janet is the daughter who has the most interactions with the demon in their house and Wan, much like the first Conjuring, does a stellar job of working with younger actors. Wan uses the family dynamic to help the audience be more invested in the characters and it works fantastically.
     There are very little complaints with this movie. One of them is the pacing. They probably could have cut a good chunk out of the second act. Another complaint is this film uses a little too much jump scares. What I loved about the first movie is the building tension and how to toys with your head. This one uses some jump scares which seems like a little bit of a cop out. However the jump scares are really terrifying.
     Although this film is not as good as the first when it comes to the film as a whole, it might be the scarier of the two. There are some really great scenes that I believe can really get a scare out of you. I highly suggest going to it the theaters with a big audience.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10