"The Conjuring 2" Movie Review
The scariest stories are the ones that attack your heart, not just your mind. The Conjuring 2 lives up to that fact, being thoroughly scary and definitely one film that audiences won't forget any time soon.
Whereas the first Conjuring focused on a family that Ed and Lorraine Warren helped, this film had stories about both a family and about the Warrens, which is one thing in particular that I loved about it. The two stories that are both terrifying and heartrending mold into one horrific tale, never losing a beat, and never losing the audience's attention.
The film begins with the Warrens investigating the Amityville haunting. There, Lorraine has a terrible vision which causes her to want to stop taking cases. Ed, of course, wants to continue taking cases because they had "never turned down a family in need". Little did they know, there was a family on the other side of the world in England that would soon desperately need help. This family was seemingly being haunted by a spirit that couldn't find peace. Soon, the haunting gets worse, and the family turns to the Church, which elects Ed and Lorraine to investigate.
The acting is spectacular. Even the kids are professional in their roles, bringing a true sense of horror to the film. Frances O'Connor was splendid, doing a complete 180 from her "submissive wife" role in Mr. Selfridge. One person that I was especially delighted to see back on the big screen and better than ever was Franka Potente, who played the role of the skeptic, out to prove that the family was making it all up.
James Wan returned to direct and he did not disappoint. Wan certainly has come a long way as a director, starting with Saw and Dead Silence all the way to the Conjuring films. His knack for the horror genre makes each one creepier than the last, Conjuring 2 being the best one yet.
in conclusion, The Conjuring 2 surpassed the first in every way. The emotional stress was stronger in this one, as was the rising tension leading to the climax. Nothing was disappointing and no one will leave the theater unshaken.
© 2016 Nathan Jasper