BrendanW 
Sequels are so risky. Whenever a film studio sees an opportunity to make more money from a film based on the success of the original, they can sometimes rush into a sequel haphazardly without much of an end goal in sight and dollar signs in their eyes. However, sometimes it can work out quite well and the creative team is given time to develop their story and make a film that they will at least feel good about amidst the cries of “Boo! Sell-out!” In this case, this film definitely falls into the latter group. While it has been garnering some very strong reviews, I was still a bit trepidacious about the film with it being not only a horror film but a horror sequel. What I got was not only a good film but a terrific one.
The Conjuring 2 follows the continued exploits of Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they investigate their latest case: a ghostly presence in a small English apartment, which seems to be inhabiting the body of young Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe) and causing her to do some pretty insane things to her own family. After her mother Peggy (Frances O’Connor) contacts the Warrens, we see that Lorraine is skeptical about taking on another case while Ed promises her that they will flee if it seems threatening or suggests any violence that may come upon them.
Patrick Wilson is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. Here’s a guy who’s been in four films by director James Wan at this point and yet I would imagine that there aren’t a lot of people who know who he is outside of maybe The Conjuring and his performance in Watchmen (and even with Watchmen, I doubt there are people who could name him rather than saying “that guy that played Nite Owl”). Here he exudes a charm and a real fatherly instinct that certainly helps with this case but you also really feel some genuine affection between him and Lorraine played by Vera Farmiga. These two have some great chemistry. Vera is another underrated performer and her acting, especially in scenes with Patrick or ones in which she is frightened beyond belief are so believable that you occasionally forget that you are watching a movie. There are some very strong supporting performers too; Madison Wolfe is an excellent child actress (first time I’m seeing her) and again is very genuine. That seems to be the overarching theme of all the acting. It’s all very genuine. I found myself sympathizing with Frances O’Connor as the mother as well and her constant frustration and sadness really comes across.
Now let’s talk about the really strong positives in the film. First of all, this is the first good horror movie of the year (10 Cloverfield Lane was more of a thriller)… and it’s June. Think about that. The biggest thing holding back the few horror movies that have been released this year was the formula. It’s so cliche by this point with all the jump scares and the fake-outs that I didn’t even react to them with movies like The Boy or The Forest. With this film, however, everything felt earned. As the opening scene grabs you even with just the title of the film creepily appearing you know you’re in for something different. This is not a very formulaic horror film at all. Yes there are some “boo” scares, we do get scenes of the Warrens trying to “bring out” the ghost that occasionally takes hold of the young girl and yes we do get a big action-packed climax with human vs. entities. The way in which all this stuff is done though is unique, the camera shots, the editing, the pacing… it’s all incredibly well-done and it feels original. Another big thing too is that the film never feels like it’s dragging which, at 134 minutes, is quite an accomplishment.
Aside from it being a horror movie, the film is also about the strong relationships between characters and no scene is more evident of that than one in which Patrick Wilson serenades the tortured family by playing guitar and singing Fools Rush In by Elvis Presley. Not only does Wilson nail the voice and cadence of Elvis but it’s a very sweet moment in which he makes eye contact with Farmiga and they kind of have a moment in which they silently recount their lives and all they’ve been through together. The song is revisited later and it is such a sweet, beautiful moment in a film filled with intense violence and insanity that it sticks out even more and is really one of the better little sequences and pay-off I’ve seen in a good while.
I know most people are here to see if the film is scary or gory though so here it is: yes and not really. Surprisingly, the film is R-rated, which I’m guessing is due to the intense nature of the film because there is hardly any blood or gore. There are multiple scenes where you will be clenching your teeth or looking away though because some of the build-up is very uncomfortable and I felt emotionally drained every time one of those scenes would come to an end. Some of the ghosts in particular are very frightening in just their appearance. There is one particular ghostly nun who appears several times that rattled me every single time as did an appearance by a ghost taking on the persona of a storybook character called the Crooked Man. I won’t go into too much detail out of fear of ruining the motivations or any of the twists and turns.
The production design, cinematography and special effects are also pretty incredible. The film takes place in the late-1970s so everything has that retro look but not in a manner that is incredibly over-the-top or out of place. The costumes in particular are very accurate to the time period and there is one particularly funny remark when Wilson exclaims at how astonished he is at the lightness of a big, bulky video camera. The cinematography is also appropriately dark and gloomy and conveys every scene in a thick layer of dread and unsettling images. I also admire James Wan’s ability to direct horror. He knows how to pull all the elements together to create a very worthwhile experience that never feels cheap or CGI-heavy. The effects are mostly practical and that certainly helps make everything seem more genuine and, in turn, a lot more terrifying.
An excellent film and great sequel, The Conjuring 2 is highly recommended viewing for horror movie fans and just movie fans in general.
**** ½
Rating System:
* (Brutal; the worst rating)
** (Some elements keep it from being awful but still not very good)
*** (Completely watchable; a rental as old-timers might say)
**** (Great film with a few things here and there keeping it from being perfect)
***** (Flawless; a true achievement)
