The top all time scariest scene in a movie is in the original ‘Exorcist’ when the little girl comes downstairs during the party, looks her mother in the eye, and pees on the rug without saying a word. The subtlety in that scene is what makes it so creepy and unnerving. Honestly, most scary movies these days I feel try way too hard. Too many jump scares, not enough subtlety. Subtlety is why the original ‘Exorcist’ is so influential to horror movies nowadays. The film is almost half over before the girl becomes fully possessed. We almost never see the little girl, but when we do she is doing something horrendous.
The Conjuring 2 is almost too influenced by the original ‘Exorcist.’ Two girls play with a Ouija board just before things start to go bump in the night. But what ‘Exorcist’ never explains is what becomes the focal point of the ‘Conjuring’ film series: the two mediums. Director James Wan takes no time throwing us into the first horror sequence re-introducing us to Ed and Lorraine Warren (reprised by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they struggle with the personal demons they have brought home after their many adventures abroad, so to speak. Lorraine wants to retire the ghostbusting business after she experiences a vision like one she had seven years ago: during their time in Amityville. The ghost that haunts her, I can only describe as a demonic nun that looks eerily similar to Marilyn Manson. I’m actually curious to know if he could sue them for using his likeness.
Without the two mediums, the film really has nothing much more than what we have seen before. The first ‘Conjuring’ had less jump scares and carried with it some genuinely unnerving things. The scene towards the end of the film where the woman was about to be dropped on her head comes to mind. But when a girl starts talking like she’s smoked cigarettes her entire life, and the next shot is her entire family running across the street to stay with the neighbors; it can get a bit hammy. Not to say that it didn’t have scary moments, there were those, but many of them came very cheaply. Jump cuts for almost two hours is exhausting, and you could see the audience physically changing over the course of the film as their reactions got less and less enthusiastic.
One of the films this year that I felt did horror much better was ‘The Witch.’ The horror was subtler and the movie hung with you. Not because it was terribly scary, but more because it was haunting. The characters would have hallucinations and then wake up to discover horror that they had either done to themselves or others. The Conjuring 2 had a little bit of that genuine-ness. A scene that comes to mind is early in the film where two little girls are sleeping, and one just sits up in bed and starts talking to the corner. It’s way creepier than when furniture starts flying or when the ghost of Marilyn Manson makes an appearance. Some really cool things did happen in the movie though, I enjoyed how the demons inflicted visions on it’s victims. That was a definite boost as you really felt the anxiety the character was going through in those moments. There was also a really neat sequence revolving around this little girl while she is home sick from school and trying to watch television. A thing I noticed this time, and maybe it’s in other horror movies involving exorcisms, but the film almost gave tips as to avoid this kind of thing in your own life. Phrases like: “they feed on negativity and fear” were used, also the idea of family togetherness and being warm to each other seemed to be an overall theme to ward off the unwanted, like playing an Elvis record. (Side Note: a well-timed “Elvis has left the building” joke would have been amazing. Maybe the demon could say it as it was being kicked out of the house?)
Overall, The Conjuring 2 was entertaining and scary. That’s what I wanted and that’s what I got. The first one is much better, and this one definitely watches like a sequel that had a bigger budget. There is a definitive difference between the cinematic horror experience like ‘The Witch’ and the popcorn flick horror movie experience like ‘The Conjuring 2.’ The first one didn’t feel calculated and formulaic. This one did and they can make a movie off of literally anything in the Warren’s creepy trophy room. I do have to say that James Wan is the master of the jump scare, but he is also the master of building tension. If you like horror movies you’ll enjoy this.
The Conjuring 2 is almost too influenced by the original ‘Exorcist.’ Two girls play with a Ouija board just before things start to go bump in the night. But what ‘Exorcist’ never explains is what becomes the focal point of the ‘Conjuring’ film series: the two mediums. Director James Wan takes no time throwing us into the first horror sequence re-introducing us to Ed and Lorraine Warren (reprised by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they struggle with the personal demons they have brought home after their many adventures abroad, so to speak. Lorraine wants to retire the ghostbusting business after she experiences a vision like one she had seven years ago: during their time in Amityville. The ghost that haunts her, I can only describe as a demonic nun that looks eerily similar to Marilyn Manson. I’m actually curious to know if he could sue them for using his likeness.
Without the two mediums, the film really has nothing much more than what we have seen before. The first ‘Conjuring’ had less jump scares and carried with it some genuinely unnerving things. The scene towards the end of the film where the woman was about to be dropped on her head comes to mind. But when a girl starts talking like she’s smoked cigarettes her entire life, and the next shot is her entire family running across the street to stay with the neighbors; it can get a bit hammy. Not to say that it didn’t have scary moments, there were those, but many of them came very cheaply. Jump cuts for almost two hours is exhausting, and you could see the audience physically changing over the course of the film as their reactions got less and less enthusiastic.
One of the films this year that I felt did horror much better was ‘The Witch.’ The horror was subtler and the movie hung with you. Not because it was terribly scary, but more because it was haunting. The characters would have hallucinations and then wake up to discover horror that they had either done to themselves or others. The Conjuring 2 had a little bit of that genuine-ness. A scene that comes to mind is early in the film where two little girls are sleeping, and one just sits up in bed and starts talking to the corner. It’s way creepier than when furniture starts flying or when the ghost of Marilyn Manson makes an appearance. Some really cool things did happen in the movie though, I enjoyed how the demons inflicted visions on it’s victims. That was a definite boost as you really felt the anxiety the character was going through in those moments. There was also a really neat sequence revolving around this little girl while she is home sick from school and trying to watch television. A thing I noticed this time, and maybe it’s in other horror movies involving exorcisms, but the film almost gave tips as to avoid this kind of thing in your own life. Phrases like: “they feed on negativity and fear” were used, also the idea of family togetherness and being warm to each other seemed to be an overall theme to ward off the unwanted, like playing an Elvis record. (Side Note: a well-timed “Elvis has left the building” joke would have been amazing. Maybe the demon could say it as it was being kicked out of the house?)
Overall, The Conjuring 2 was entertaining and scary. That’s what I wanted and that’s what I got. The first one is much better, and this one definitely watches like a sequel that had a bigger budget. There is a definitive difference between the cinematic horror experience like ‘The Witch’ and the popcorn flick horror movie experience like ‘The Conjuring 2.’ The first one didn’t feel calculated and formulaic. This one did and they can make a movie off of literally anything in the Warren’s creepy trophy room. I do have to say that James Wan is the master of the jump scare, but he is also the master of building tension. If you like horror movies you’ll enjoy this.
