'The Conjuring 2' Review

Three years ago director James Wan gave us what was arguably his scariest film to date, The Conjuring. That same year he also gave us Insidious 2, the rather lackluster sequel to his chilling supernatural horror Insidious, so when it was announced that he would be bringing us a sequel to The Conjuring, horror fans were rightly skeptical. Thankfully however, Wan does not disappoint as The Conjuring 2 manages to surpass its predecessor in both scares and emotional depth making for a really chilling film that also has heart. The Conjuring 2 continues the story of real life demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively) and takes the action from New England to, well, England, as the duo combat the dark forces that reside within a North London council house. Mild spoilers ahead.

Like its predecessor, The Conjuring 2 is not exactly something we haven't seen before and harks back to those classic supernatural horrors like Poltergeist and The Exorcist. The subject matter and its many tropes are all too familiar at this stage, however this film somehow manages to retain a certain sense originality and unpredictability mainly due to Wan's direction (no, not the boy band). Once again, the director utilises his signature tracking shots that sweep through the halls of the gloomy council house, leaving viewers in anticipation of what will be around the next corner. He uses his swift camerawork and sometimes lingering shots and combines them with Joseph Bishara's chilling score (or lack thereof) to build a nailbiting sense of suspense that often climaxes in clever little jumpscares. While there are a fair few jumpscares, it is evident that Wan puts a great effort into building suspense before delivering them, and when he does he often throws a curveball. Just when you think he's going to turn left, he turns right, using every dark corner and every shadowy hall to help scare the audience stiff. Wan only provides explicit scares when necessary, making sure they're effective when he does, and I think this is one reason why they are often so unpredictable.

Along with the soundtrack and direction, the film has a number of ghoulish spirits that deliver some really solid scares throughout. The Enfield poltergeist himself (Bob Adrian) is merely the tip of the iceberg as the real star of the show is that demonic nun plastered all over the promotional material. The nuns physical appearance is so unsettling that her mere onscreen presence is enough to scare one stiff, it is her that brings some of the films most frightening moments such as an eerie scene in the Warren's home. She is portrayed by Bonnie Aarons who some will recognise as the dumpster bum from David Lynches Mulholland Drive, is you thought that was scary then you're in for a real treat here. Another sinister creation from this film is the spindly crooked man played wonderfully by Javier Botet of Mama fame. Botet's lanky appearance and jittery movements give the Crooked Man an almost animated appearance, however it is all too real which makes it even more unsettling to watch him.

Returning from the original film are Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, not only do the two excel in their respective roles yet again but they have a great onscreen chemistry that feels so sincere. The two work incredibly well together onscreen and their sheer compassion for eachother adds a layer of emotional depth to the film. Maison Wolfe who plays the young Janet Hodgson shows off some immense talent in this film, managing to play both possessed Janet and regular Janet perfectly. There are echoes of Regan MacNeil in her performance which is very entertaining at times, however she also succeeds in portraying the scared child beneath it all and like the two leads she too forms a convincing bond, only with her onscreen mother Peggy (Frances O'Connor). I can see a promising career for the young actress. Even the films comic relief Maurice Gross (Simon McBurney) has a sense of emotional depth to him and I think that's what makes these characters feel so relatable and real (along with them actually being real people). Like I said, it is a horror film with heart and the real heart in The Conjuring 2 lies within the idea of family, it is a strong theme in this film even moreso than the first.

Topping its predecessor in more ways than one, The Conjuring 2 is a breath of fresh air into a seemingly dying subgenre. James Wan proves yet again that he has mastered the genre and provides some truly unsettling sequences that will undoubtedly stick with you long after you've left the cinema. The cast all exhibit immense talent, bringing to life these characters and providing them with a profound sense of depth that makes the audience care for them dearly. While it does suffer from a sense of familiarity, The Conjuring 2  has both a talented director and cast by its side, making for a memorable and truly horrifying film, Wan's greatest work so far.