Though it's been done to death, it's done too well.

Rating: 9/10 (10 August 2013)

The majority of the reviews for The Conjuring are calling it one of the scariest movies ever. Now, after many weeks, I have finally seen it, and I must jump into the conversation. I think people tend to get "scary" and "creepy" confused. My definition of "Scary" is when a movie makes you jump, a lot, while at the same time, causing nightmares. "Creepy" is when a movie stays with you, and sends chills up your spine. The Conjuring will make you jump, guaranteed, but it is more successful at creeping the hell out of you.
The Conjuring, which is directed by James Wan (Saw, Insidious), is one of the most effective scary movie since, well, Insidious. I'm sure glad that Wan didn't continue with the Saw series. The Conjuring is a well made, good old fashioned haunted house movie that doesn't use blood and guts (thank God!), and it actually better than any movie of its kind since... I don't remember.
The film tells the true story of the Perron family (the parents played by Ron Livingston and Lilly Taylor) who move into a house, and guess what? They got scary business going on. So, they seek the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who are dynamite as always), a married who are paranormal investigators.
Well, it's obvious that if actors as good as these are in a movie like this, it isn't bad. And it's far from it. This is Wan's best work yet, and I found Insidious compellingly creepy. What works best about this one is the way it all comes together. It doesn't just jump into the terror. The movie delivers its terror slowly.
I was entertained by nearly every second of it. This is one of those rare "Based on a true story" scary movies that works. It's a movie that will leave you talking and thinking about it long after its over. It's a movie that is R-rated for its scares alone. When that happens (and keep in mind this is from the guy that did Saw), then it's obviously good. I never thought that a movie done to death could ever be done this well again. This is a great story that needed to be told, and I'm glad it was.
A-