When Too Much Hype Happens to a Decent Movie

Rating: 6/10 (4 December 2013)

The nearly rapturous reviews from critics who I normally trust touting this as one of the scariest movies they'd ever seen had my expectations high. What a let down it was, then, when I actually saw the film.
"The Conjuring" does have some satisfyingly creepy moments, especially in its first half hour when we start to get only inklings of something evil lurking in a haunted house. But director James Wan, whose claim to fame is launching the "Saw" franchise, is far too literal and gives his audience far too little credit for having imaginations to sustain that creepiness across the length of the entire film. Instead, he decides to go all out, resorting to shock scares, special effects and histrionics, resulting in a climax that's more chaotic than it is scary. An exorcism that comprises most of the film's final moments is especially silly.
Vera Farmiga, as a paranormal expert, stands out as the film's best asset, using her considerable talents as an actress to make far more out of a stock horror movie role than the film probably deserves.
Grade: B-