A rare decent modern horror film

Rating: 7/10 (31 July 2013)

Over the past 10-15 years, cinema-goers have been subjected to an endless parade of bland, watered-down and just in general uninspired horror films, with pathetic remakes of previous classics being a common occurrence. Therefore it's a pleasant surprise when a contemporary horror film pops up that actually provides decent scares, as well as a convincing plot and commendable cast.
The Conjuring tells the apparently-true story of the Perron family, who are terrorised by various malevolent spirits after purchasing a new house. Gradually these experiences become more intense, so much so that they employ the services of two paranormal investigators, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, to help diffuse the problem.
The film is excellent in terms of pacing, with there being a heavy reliance on the building of suspense, as opposed to resorting to cheap jump-scares every five minutes, a vice that most other modern horrors bear almost like a badge of honor. Small bumps in the middle of the night steadily mold into much more terrifying occurrences. I would liken the experience to the pacing in other evil spirit-related films such as the original Amityville Horror and The Exorcist.
The characters themselves are surprisingly more than just sex-crazed, teenage chainsaw-fodder. The various members of the Perron family all have unique personalities and traits, making them believable, and therefore relatively easy to relate to. Likewise, dialogue between the two demonologists, as opposed to just providing plot information, gives the impression of a genuine, loving couple.
The cinematography and mise-en-scene is perfectly suited for the film's creepy atmosphere, with dark, misty lakes and uncomfortable wide-angles and close-ups contributing to an overall, over-bearing feeling of dread.The film also successfully uses new techniques in terms of generating this deep sense of fear and unpleasantness, with for instance the game of hide-and-clap providing one or two memorable instances.
Ultimately, The Conjuring is by no means on par with classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or The Evil Dead, but nevertheless it is a drastic improvement on the standard toned-down, unimaginative rubbish that is repeatedly churned out today. There is a real sense of nostalgia for horror flicks of the '70's within the film, which were clearly used as inspiration for James Wan when creating this above-average shocker. Recommended viewing, for both fans of classics and new audiences.