Perhaps the best Horror Film of the decade

Rating: 8/10 (10 August 2013)

I was a little doubtful at first--I was so-so impressed with a few recent horror films that attempted to bring the unbelievable into everyday reality with camera-shake and cheap lens filters, and didn't expect much more from this film. However, I was curious to see what James Wan (Saw, Insidious, Dead Silence) was up to here.
Set in the seventies, the main characters are believable and serious right from the start. Some bad, dark things happen in this world and Ed and Lorraine Warren are among those who work to keep such things at bay and out of the daylight. They go about their profession in a matter-of-fact way--you can plainly see their stoic acceptance of a rather frightening reality--and they appear almost battle-worn right from the beginning and do so with a convincing depth. Vera Farmiga just has that 'believable face'--her moments here are engrossing and was obviously an excellent casting choice for her role.
I was reminded of the chilling scene in the Exorcist that revealed, not only the Vatican's real-life belief and acknowledgment of demonic possession, but in the elaborate rituals that are part of the church's practice today, lending a level of credibility to the girl's possession by a really nasty, hateful demon, and thus a real chilling feel to the film.
Lili Taylor also adds that 'everyday mom' persona and does so with her usual depth, again making the events here seem more real. Her acting in 'The Haunting' essentially stole the show, and she doesn't disappoint here either and, again, was a great casting choice.
Supporting cast are all above par and Wan seems to get the most out of each and every one.
Apart from one or two minuscule blips in the SFX--like a body flung through the air just a wee bit too slowly on the wire--everything seemed to gel quite well and was isometrically believable.
I know I am enjoying a film when I start sucking on the lemon slice at the bottom of my jumbo ice-tea.
If you enjoy the genre and like the more intellectually satisfying and less blood & gore type of film, this one's for you.
I give it an "8" because no one has ever made a "10" yet and a "9" is likely impossible since Kubric passed away (though we Live in Hope).
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