Undeniable fun even for non-horror fans.

Rating: 7/10 (16 November 2013)

I've never really been a fan of horror films and unfortunately the state of horror today feels more unappealing than ever. The scares are objectively cheap with these ultra-low budgets and flimsy concepts where few audience members come out praising the movies they pay to see. That said, I really liked the first Saw when I saw it a few years after it came out when I was much younger. Simply, it was a thriller that thrilled me for every second. Sure, I could end up watching it now and pick apart the acting and story, but I'm certain it still has a great nostalgia value. So when The Conjuring started to get praise calling it an instant classic from people who don't regularly like horror films, I decided I'd trust James Wan enough to check it out. And it certainly was a surprise. It may be creepy as you'd expect, but it isn't scary. However, I had a huge grin on my face during the scares because it's so much fun.
What the film has to boast is the great production value which it flaunts in every dynamic swooping shot. Like The Cabin In The Woods, it's utterly crammed with fun ideas that it wants to do them all at once. But this brisk pace is a blessing and a curse. It sacrifices suspense and doesn't give room for its characters to breathe, meaning the big character moments don't really land or feel melodramatic. It's fine though, it's a treat to have characters with a handful of dimensions to them in films like these anyway. However, the third act is so hectic that I just ended up switching off. Still, the film is special and sticks out among films today, even as a homage to the classics. The one thing that stops me from being sure where to praise it is that I'm not sure what tone it was going for. Given how funny it can be, it could be tongue-in- cheek, it could be satire or it could be trying to be taken seriously? Either way would be good for it, it's just I don't know where it stands. Solid entertainment either way.
7/10