MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Genre:

Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Suspense

Rating:

R

Run Time:

2 Hr 14 Min.

Release Date:

June 10, 2016
Distributor:
Warner Bros. Pictures
New Line Cinema

Directed by:

James Wan

Social Media:

   

Plot Summary:

New Line Cinema's supernatural thriller The Conjuring 2, with James Wan once again at the helm following the record-breaking success of The Conjuring, brings to the screen another real case from the files of renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Reprising their roles, Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, star as Lorraine and Ed Warren who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.

source

Cast:

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Lauren Esposito, Benjamin Haigh, Patrick McAley, Simon McBurney, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Simon Delaney

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

*My Thoughts*

Considering The Conjuring 2 and its predecessor were “based on true stories,” what makes these movies thrilling is “What if this happened to me or someone I knew?” Creative liberties and a bit more fictionalized in comparison to its real life counterpart, The Conjuring 2 was a fairly enjoyable movie. Like many other horror films, the soundtrack is an important feature. The eerie visuals were matched by music that gives the audience anxiety until the face of the antagonist appears. Well timed but sometimes overdramatic, I would say this movie relied on jump scares and properly lit rooms. Despite these clichés, The Conjuring 2 was a fascinating horror flick as long as you remember, just remember the background is also important.

A topic that I would like to bring up is the debate between believers and cynics in this movie. This is seen as an ongoing struggle in the movie through the media, talk shows, and university professors. As an ongoing scuffle between the two, the Warrens (depicted by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, respectively) particularly Lorraine find difficulty in trying to educate others in the possibility in the existence of the supernatural. Any hint of man-made paranormal activity, had turned the church away and increased cynic belief. When it comes to helping a family in need, the Warrens couldn’t possibly say “No.” It doesn’t matter if it would end up as bad reputation or a hoax, The Conjuring 2 put the lives of those involved with the malicious spirit before any of that. As a horror flick, I think that message could easily be overlooked.

The cinematography was overall fluid with the exception for cut scenes between the Warrens in America and the Hodgsons in London. The director James Wan was clever in his use of the setting, placing the antagonistic demon’s name in the background of various shots until it was canonically revealed. It took a good 5 minutes of staring to figure it out. What looks like a normal family room hides important elements in plain sight.

The Conjuring 2 doesn’t focus on chilling the audience with a variety bloody or psychological scenes. It was a story and a family in need. It relied on cheesy jump scares but the director was clever in building the story and in tying the first one into this one. The Conjuring 2 was fairly suspenseful but tastefully done.

My rating: