The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is a 2021 horror thriller directed by Michael Chaves, with a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick from a story by Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan. It serves as the 3rd film after The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016), and as the eighth installment in the Conjuring Universe.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as paranormal investigators and authors Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the cast also includes Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard also (The Haunting of Hill House). Wan and Peter Safran return to produce the film, which is based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, a murder trial that took place in 1981 Connecticut.
The plot picks up in 1981 when demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren document the exorcism of 8-year-old David Glatzel, attended by his family, his sister Debbie, and her boyfriend Arne Johnson, and Father Gordon in the town of Brookfield, Connecticut. The exorcism was supposed to end the torment for the family but it is just the beginning for Arne, leading us to the first time in U.S. history where demonic possession is claimed as a defense in a highly publicized murder case.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It hit theaters and HBO Max on June 4th, courtesy of Warner Bros.
THE GOOD
I am a horror movie fanatic, simple is that. Regardless of whether it is big budget or indie, if it seems worthwhile I will watch it. The Conjuring films have been a breath of fresh air since the first film hit theaters in 2013, and I have been hooked ever since. The fact that then films are based on cases worked by real paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren is just icing on the cake for me.
I had high expectations as I always do with these films, and I really enjoyed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. It included everything this franchise is known for which is stellar acting, great storytelling, and top-notch production value. The storyline was extremely interesting and kept my attention throughout, right up until the films final scenes. I liked how this time around we ventured into the justice system as far as claiming demonic possession as a defense for a murder charge, which is a wild concept. Another great thing about this film is it ties directly back to the Annabelle films within the Conjuring Universe. I won’t give anything away, but just be sure to pay attention otherwise you might miss the direct link which is actually a big part of this films backstory.
As I mentioned the acting is exceptional, lead by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as per usual. At this point Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Farmiga and Wilson, have become a fixture in my cinematic journey. I feel like I have watched their relationship develop through these films and this is by far my favorite portrayal of their bond as both paranormal investigators and partners of 30+ years. I really liked how we were treated with a glimpse of how their relationship came to be, and also saw up close and personal just how much they meant to each other. They were a power couple when it came to the game of evil, that is for damn sure. The addition of Julian Hilliard from The Haunting of Hill House was a great casting decision. Horror movies often struggle to find solid child actors, but the 9-year old Dallas native is the real deal.
I really enjoyed Ruairi O'Connor’s portrayal of Arne Johnson, he played a crucial role in the film I thought he was fantastic. He reminded me of Bill Skarsgård in many ways, especially as his character progressed. They share some similar physical characteristics, but O’Connor also has that same ability to become a character that is a genuinely tortured soul. I’m not saying he is on Skarsgård’s level, but he is showing promise. The transformation was impressive considering the Arne Johnson we are introduced to at the beginning of the film. Eugenie Bondurant was incredible as the films primary antagonist. Just seeing her face made my skin crawl and that is exactly what you want from a role like this. She had a very “The Woman in Black” vibe going and I mean that in the best way possible. With Steve Coulton returning as Father Gordon, Shannon Kook playing the role of The Warren’s right hand man, and John Noble stepping in as a way to connect the film to others in the Conjuring Universe, the supporting cast was all around great.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It may not be the scariest of the 3 films, that would be the original of course, but it is easily the most balanced. It includes exorcism/demonic possession, witchcraft/cult elements, and a great balance of a quality crime thriller. I’m not saying it isn’t scary because that would be a lie, it just depends on your tolerance. As the introduction points out the film is centered on the most polarizing case the Warren’s took on in their illustrious careers, and it took quite a tole on them personally and professionally. We are treated with a variety of horror elements including the classic jump scares, as well as my personal favorite when viewers are shown something extremely creepy and are left waiting for the inevitable. I loved the addition of the gluttony guy from Se7en, you’ll get it once you see the movie.
The writing is great with everything coming to light slowly and at the right time, I actually watched the movie a second time and was able to appreciate the writing that much more so pay close attention when watching. Director Michael Chavez does a really nice job behind the camera, making sure this entry maintains the same feel of the others. I am impressed with the fact that this is only his 2nd feature film, after his 2019 debut with The Curse of la Llorona, a horror film that received it’s fair share of criticism. I also thought the cinematography was top notch, and loved how integral of a role the score and soundtrack played in the film.
THE BAD
I think I have made it fairly clear so far that I don’t have many issues with The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. It gave me everything I was hoping for, and then some. I feel like a broken record because I say this when I review pretty much any horror movie, but for my high tolerance it could have been scarier. But the fact is, these films are built around great acting and a quality storyline, so the amount of actual substance is beyond what you get from most horror films. And it really was plenty scary trust me, and just like the reminder during the credits when you hear the actual recordings, it is based on true events after all. That is terrifying any way you slice it.
Now with that being said, expectations are always high with these films for obvious reasons and the first viewing is always left open for criticism. We all have an idea of what we expect it will be, and more often than not the film takes a few backroads we didn’t expect. During my second viewing I was able to better appreciate the backstory and how the film tied into the rest of the Conjuring Universe, and I think that helped. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is not perfect, it won’t keep you up for weeks and have you covering your eyes every few minutes, but that’s okay. If you can find me a better all-around horror movie from this year with a better cast, backstory, and overall production value, then we can talk. I’ll wait.
THE VERDICT
The most fascinating case yet and a powerful portrayal of the bond shared by the late Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is a well-rounded horror film offering something for everyone. The Warrens are the couple that we horror and paranormal fans just can’t get enough of, especially when you add in the 80’s soundtrack and fantastic costume design. The Conjuring films hold weight in title alone, and we will be lucky to see another horror franchise even close to the level of these films. I just hope we get to see more of Ed and Lorraine Warren. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our review for The Conjuring 2 here. The Conjuring 1 & 2 are now streaming on Netflix.
TED TAKES RATING - 8/10
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Check out the trailer below.