A gem that is subtle and has gradual suspense

Rating: 8/10 (2 September 2013)

For a movie about haunted house, a style that's been nearly beaten to death since the 1970's with films like: Amity ville Horror, Haunting, Paranormal Activity,etc.(I could be here all night) The Conjuring not only manages to stick out from the crowd but exceeds expectations.
I think this has a lot to do with James Wan's growth as a horror director. Having directed the already classic first Saw film and others such as Dead Silence and Insidious you can really tell there's a lot of experimenting in different ways to an old genre. Plus it helps create his style, which makes people become distinct(like his use of dolls and Patrick Wilson)
But what can really be appreciated in this movie compared to Wan's other films; lets say Insidious,(where a boy becomes linked to demons and effects his home and family)is this film is treating it's audience completely differently. What that means is The Conjuring relies on not only the acting, but the atmosphere like the music, the feeling of being watched, and gradual build up making you wait for that big moment or reveal. Which honestly is what makes it so exciting.
The conjuring isn't a movie that aims for creepy costumes and jump scares, it wants to stick in your head and fester there. It wants to scare adults, where as for me personally felt Insidious was trying to scare children.
What's also to appreciate is you become invested in the Perron family being attacked and also the Warren's in the danger they face too. There's a very small amount a second-banana characters to put up with, so the movie never slows down in it's pacing or get's distracted. Another thing to know about the movie is there is no big reveal, and it doesn't end on some cheap cliff hanger like most horror movies this day and age do. What you see is what you get.
Some peoples have gripes that a haunted house film is an overused idea, it recycles movies, and maybe even shoves religious overtones down peoples throats a little bit. But keep in mind this story is, "based" on "true events". And complaining that a movie about a haunted house is similar to other haunted house films, is like complaining porn always having boobs in it--it's ridiculous.
I think it's not only a great new horror movie but it beats out a lot of it's older competition.Check it out if your into suspense and creepy or if you're getting sick of slasher films and need a break.