Best horror film in a LONG time!

Rating: 10/10 (12 November 2013)

For whatever reason, I had this feeling that THE CONJURING (2013) would be a great horror film! I had heard the hype (which usually means nothing), but in seeing some of the previews, it just felt like the real deal. After having recently gotten around to seeing it, my feeling has been confirmed! The Conjuring is a masterful addition to the horror genre, cleverly combining elements and ideas from many previous famous horror films, including The Exorcist, The Evil Dead, The Shining, Poltergeist, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. But The Conjuring still feels like it's own entity, thanks to great acting, genuine dialogue from a solid script, and moments of true and sheer shock and terror.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga head a superb cast. Wilson and Farmiga convincingly play Ed and Lorraine Warren, a married couple who specialize in dealing with demonic spirits and possession. The start of the film is 1968, when they help a couple of nurse roommates deal with a possessed doll that was terrorizing them. Flashforward to 1971, the setting of this "true" story, where we are introduced to the Perron family, who have recently moved to a country home in the upper Northeastern U.S. The large family consists of the parents Carolyn and Roger (excellently played by Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston) and their 5 girls Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April (convincingly played by Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, and Kyla Deaver). I was IMMENSELY impressed by ALL the young actresses playing the daughters! They were all so in-sync with their roles, that none of them came across as the typical, annoying, unrealistic kids that are showcased in film. Their shock, awe, and terror seemed truly genuine.
The Perrons find that their new home is occupied by several ghosts that appear in different portions of the house (the basement, their bedrooms, etc.) Early on, one of the ghosts manages to kill their dog, then as things get eerier, they enlist the help of The Warrens to exorcise the demons from their home. The Warrens research reveal that the home was owned back in the 19th century by Bathsheba, the descendant of a witch. Bathsheba, possessed by her ancestor, kills her newborn, then hung herself on a tree in front of the house, but not before cursing ANYONE who bought and resided on her land in the future.
With the aid of their assistant Drew (solidly played by Shannon Kook) and a local deputy (scene-stealer John Brotherton), the Warrens then set up shop in the Perrons house with a bunch of technical equipment (recorders, cameras, booby traps) to try to capture the spirits, as well as to protect the family from mortal danger.
The acting by all involved is exceptional, very naturalistic, without being underplayed or too monotone. The reactions seem believable and the emotions ring true. The cinematography and camera angles really accentuate the horror moments, which are perfectly timed and placed.
I can't remember the last time that a horror film actually SCARED me as much as this one! There are many chilling, spine-tingling moments that made me literally shake and jump out of my seat. This is not easy to do, after having seen what seems like a MILLION horror films! Director James Wan (who previously directed the masterful and original horror film Saw 10 years prior to this film, essentially creating a new genre of horror film) went old-school with The Conjuring and fashioned a throwback, invigorating, scary horror masterpiece!