Director James Wan
Genre Horror
Cast Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Franka Potente
Rating R
Release Date June 10th, 2016
“Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.”
The Conjuring 2 is the sequel to 2013’s successful horror film The Conjuring, which was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. The film chronicles the events that took place in Enfield, England from 1977-1979, known as the “Enfield Poltergeist.” James Wan returns to direct the sequel, and it is said that he turned down a formidable amount of money to direct Fast 8 so that he could direct this film instead. Wan himself said he was excited for the opportunity to direct another horror film (I guess he enjoys making people pee their pants). The film stars Patrick Stewart, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, and Franka Potente
The Conjuring 2 is yet another work of art from horror master James Wan, terrifying it’s viewers with an engaging story, a chilling atmosphere, jolting jump scares, and top-tier acting. Rarely is a sequel able to stand on its own after a very successful first film but this is a perfect example of exactly that. From the opening scene right up until the end credits, a sense of inescapable dread attaches itself to the audience and refuses to let go. The film includes a unique mix of everything horror fans want without overdoing it. With horror you either get it or you don’t, and James Wan gets it. As a director he seems to have an eye for horror in every respect, and the level of skill and ability he brings to a project seems to rub off on all involved. I felt like Wan stepped his game up with some unique camera work which provided a genuinely unique feel for viewers.
As I mentioned previously, the acting in The Conjuring 2 is absolutely fantastic. Patrick Stewart and Vera Farmiga reclaim the lead roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real-life couple that spent years going face to face with ghosts and demonic entities. They both play their respective roles perfectly, and it certainly helps that Stewart and Farmiga are both very talented actors. Stewart is coming off a stellar performance in the second season of the FX series Fargo, and Farmiga continues to shine in the successful A&E series, Bates Motel. The supporting cast delivered a commendable performance as well, specifically Frances O’Connor who played the mother of the possessed little girl. Unfortunately I felt like they could have done better when casting the little girl, played by Madison Wolfe. Wolfe has built up quite the resume appearing in HBO’s True Detective, alongside Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, as well as the Bryan Cranston film Trumbo, but at the end of the day she simply wasn’t creepy enough. I’m not sure who I personally would have chosen, but the reincarnation of one of The Shining twins would be a great place to start.
The Conjuring 2 is a genuinely horrifying film brought to life by a talented director who quite frankly knows his sh*t. Regardless of whether you prefer jump scares or sheer terror, this film delivers on all fronts and for that reason will satisfy the most diverse group of horror fans. Even though I feel the final product could have been better with a few changes, The Conjuring 2 is a sequel more than worthy of its name and should not be missed.
