There is something evil in this house in The Conjuring

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2013)

When director James Wan burst onto the scene with SAW he clearly had a unique vision for horror, but who would have thought he would be the one to step out of the torture porn genre to some truly effective haunting films with Insidious. Now he is taking on the subject again with his latest The Conjuring featuring a great cast including Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, and Ron Livingston, but can he hit the mark again or will it be a haunting in itself?
The Conjuring follows paranormal investigators in the 1970s who work to help a family that's terrorized by an evil presence in their home. What starts out as a simple investigation turns into the most terrifying case of their lives. This is not only Wan's best horror film to date, but one of the better of the haunting genre to come along in years. The story is crafted perfectly with a slow build but is well-paced delivering an excellent horror film. The look and vibe screams the 70s and there is something about these stories taking place during this time that just enhances the overall experience. The performances are all great with Lili Taylor stealing the show later in the movie delivering some creepy memorable moments. The directions they take showing the escalation of the haunting are a true pay off as they escalate brilliantly. There are some moments here that have been seen in other films of it's kind, but Wan handles them some perfectly they almost feel like new territory giving this film the perfect classic nostalgic tone while also giving fans something that feels fresh.
This is one of those horror films that may not terrify the hardcore horror fan, but is sure to entertain anyone that understands and respects the genre. The average movie goer is sure to leave the theater creeped out at the least and is sure to carry some aspect of this film with them to haunt their dreams. There is already talk of a sequel and these characters are perfect for a franchise as long as they continue to pay close attention to the details and format used here to create a perfect horror film that is sure to become a classic.