Conjuring Evil

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2014)

Haunted House stories most of the time play on our fear of what is unfamiliar or unknown, whether it's a new enviorment or just a mere noise that might be more than it sounds. For a while I felt the paranormal/ghost subgenere in horror was starting to run low on steam, but this film proved that there is still plenty of steam left and suppringly turned out to be one of my favorites in the horror subgenere.
This of course is loosely based on one of the cases of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Loraine Warren. Which is cool since I'm into unexplained phenomena show's like "Unsolved Mysteries" and "A Haunting". Whether you really believe any of it really happened or not I leave up to you.
What I really like about this film is in it's execution; it goes an old school route because most to all of the film uses practical effects. I really like the production value from the house but down to the cars, wardrobe, and anything else to help recreate the early seventies making the film a bit of a period peace. The music score is solid, it really creates an unsettling moodiness, a feeling of dread. Though what gets me is really the moments when it's just absolute quiet, I just know in those moments something will happen.
I really like the effects and the cinematography. Most of the effects are simple ones like doors opening or even certain sound cues, nothing too special but effective all the same, seeing a door swing open or close knowing I'm not the one that did it always creeps me out. You do see the ghosts but not much which I'm fine with, the make up effects are solid their creepy as usual. Cinematography is great, the one that impressed me the most was when it sometimes goes to a point of view shot of either of the characters, which I think is great because it gives you that feeling that your the other character in the film.
There are a lot of memorable moments that generated a lot of jump scares and a certain amount of excitement. One which to me is probably one of the scariest scenes in horror I've ever seen was when the mom was trapped in the cellar and it was just pitch black you couldn't see crap, except for the matches she had which are of little help; I'll admit just the mere thought of this just gives me the creeps. But of course after things a quiet for a moment we hear a voice knowing there's a presence close but not an exact location, until we see some hands from behind her clap. I remember actually jumping along with most of the other audience in that moment, even heard a few screams in the theater; it was a great experience that I don't get often.
But the cast/characters were also really good and actually well rounded. Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) and Vera Farmiga(TV's Bate's Motel) were solid as Ed and Loraine Warren. They had a little charisma and most of all a good back and forth. Even the family was just as good. Ron Livingston (Office Space) as the concerned dad Roger and Lili Taylor (TV's Almost Human) as the afflicted mom Carolyn. Along with the kids whom have moments themselves; couple of them I recognize, Joey King from "Oz the Great a Powerful" and Mackenzie Foy from the "Twilight" series (for the record have a niece that's a fan of it not me.) What's interesting is the fact you actually care even feel a sense of pathos for them, which is something I don't do enough in the horror genre; but also made me want the good guys all the more to win.
You could also say the film is almost a Christian film since it has not just Christan intervention, but the theme on family. Wanting to be with your family and doing anything for them even protect them.
Overall if your a fan of the paranormal subgenere "The Conjuring" is worth conjuring up. What you don't see truly is the most scary.
Rating: 4 stars