Contains a few missteps that its predecessor avoided, but still a genuinely terrifying film

Rating: 9/10 (12 December 2016)

Contains Spoilers
James Wan's 2013 film, The Conjuring, was one of the best horror films I have ever seen. To this day, there are still scenes that I struggle to watch because they are so terrifying. The film was one of those rare modern horror films that generated scares without excessive gore and cheap "boo" moments. When I heard Wan was creating a sequel I was skeptical because The Conjuring simply did not need one. When I saw the trailer I was underwhelmed and not looking forward to the film, but because I loved the first film so much and respect Wan's skill as filmmaker I would give it a chance. The Conjuring 2 is one of those films where you absolutely cannot judge it by its trailer.
When it comes to genuine terror, The Conjuring 2 is a slight step below its predecessor but it is ever so slight. I've watched this film twice since I saw it in the theater and, like its predecessor, I still struggle to watch certain scenes. The opening scene where the Demon is first revealed, countless scenes in the Hodgson household, and the absolutely terrifying scene with Lorraine and the Demon in the Warren's house. Wan knows how to generate atmosphere and chills, that skill is on full display in the Conjuring 2.
One of the most interesting aspects of this sequel is there is an added element of skepticism. I never knew anything about this haunting before but it seems like there was a great deal of skepticism surrounding it. That skepticism is addressed in the film. Unlike its predecessor, where the Warrens believed the Perron family from the outset, the Warrens have their doubts about the events occurring in the Hodgson household. The evidence they are presented with isn't convincing to them and Lorraine never can sense an evil presence until the very end. The fact that there is another character who is skeptical of the claims and remains unconvinced only makes this element more intriguing.
The Conjuring 2 does fall short in a couple areas compared to its predecessor. For instance, regardless of whether or not the events that happened with the Perron family were true or not, The Conjuring presented them to the audience in a way where they seemed believable. Aside from the using paranormal activities (the daughter being thrown across the room), there was nothing so outrageous that I wouldn't believe that what I saw couldn't have happened. The Conjuring 2 does not capture that as well when it introduces "The Crooked Man." Not only is the CGI cheesy here, there's nothing remotely creepy about this "ghost." It is lame and bordering on mildly humorous, and just doesn't fit in with the tone of the film.
Also, there is the issue of how the demon is defeated at the end. The demon is disposed of in exactly the same way as Bathsheeba was at the end of The Conjuring. However, there is a big difference between the two films; Bathsheeba never told the Warrens her name! If a demon can be sent back to hell simply by saying its name then why did it tell Lorraine its name! It doesn't make any sense and it does somewhat diminish the ending.
Nevertheless, The Conjuring 2 is still an excellent horror film and if it weren't for those two flaws, this would be a flawless horror film. As it stands, Wan has created a worthy sequel and an incredible one-two punch in modern horror. I don't know if there will be a Conjuring 3, but with Wan at the helm, I'd certainly be excited for I!