A decent supernatural thriller, despite the sub-par demonic spirits

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2013)

The Conjuring is decent, especially for the very-difficult-to-do-it-well horror subgenre "Supernatural Thriller."
The acting was good. But also the script: Early on we are told that this story is based on actual accounts of a haunted house as described by the notorious Roman-Catholic paranormal investigators Ed & Lorraine Warren. (Who also investigated the haunted house Amityville Horror is based on.)
Then there is the semi-skeptical Ed Warren, who is quick to acknowledge actual demonic activity is rare, and tries at first to shrug it off as drafts and swelling and old pipes.
Reminders that the Catholic Church recognizes demonic spirits and exorcisms in their doctrine also created some plays ability. (Coming from a country where XX % of people identify as Christian, this is important.)
Patrick Wilson had a standout performance as Ed Warren; this character was the most interesting & believable. His eyes and demeanor portrayed the internal conflict of a paranormal investigator on the defensive against a world of skeptics, weighing his personal beliefs that he and his wife were chosen by God to fight demons against his instinct to protect her against the evil forces of the universe.
You can tell a lot of love went into this movie. The Wilson's demonology room is AWESOME I wish I could poke around in there with all the creepy dolls & toys & supernatural conduits. The old wooden farmhouse was fantastic, especially the hidden passages and exposed copper pipes. The movie is set in 1971, Ed & Lorraine Warren's wardrobe is enviable.
My only gripe with The Conjuring were the sub-par malevolent spirits: First of all, the demon possessed doll Anabelle. The whole 5 year old starved for attention, I'm going to write on the walls with a red crayon didn't do it for me.
And then there's Bathsheeba, who is supposed to be one bad bitch. I was hoping for something a little more dynamic and psychologically terrifying than the ghost of some 18th century farm wife who is mean only because 'she loves Satan.' Her character was kind of stale.
Overall this is a good movie. Solid storytelling, solid acting, and great suspense from the director. The evil spirits, however, were forgettable.