Don't Turn Out The Lights...Ever

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2013)

The house in "The Conjuring" has issues. As in, don't-look-under-the- bed-and NEVER-go-down-into-the-basement, issues. Not in a long time has a movie come out that had me cover my eyes and dread the night ( OR daytime, for that matter). I'm a scary movie veteran. At 48-years old, I have seen them all. But, for those of you too young to remember, "The Exorcist", and, "The Shining", movies that for their time, terrified audiences across the nation, this movie can rightfully take its place right up there along side them. If you're expecting a bloodbath-gore- fest, this movie is not for you. This is the real deal. There are ghosts. There are, "other things". There are bumps in the night, ( MANY). And, there is a family that takes us right along with them into long dark days and nights.This is a haunted house.
Based on a true story, something a lot of movie studios use as clever marketing ploys to get you into their movies, what sets this apart is that this family really exists and their claims of being brutally terrorized for TEN, yes you read that right, TEN-YEARS,(between you and me, I would have been OUT of there after the first incident) not by Jason or Michael Meyers chasing them with machetes, but doors creaking open by themselves ( who among us hasn't experienced that and just pushed it off as "the wind"?) and sounds of someone walking upstairs when you know no one is home but you. Believe me, that is TAME compared to what comes after.
Carolyn and Roger Perron, and their 5 daughters, move into a remote farmhouse that has a lot of bad mojo surrounding it. Someone claims that houses don't have memories? Right. This one does: quite a few. Within a day, these memories become reality. Unable to cope with the escalating horrors that ensue, they bring in, Lorraine and Ed Warren, real-life paranormal experts that have seen it all, until now. What this family is desperate for is some sense of understanding and just plain help. What happens from then on is all-Hell breaking loose. The reason behind why the doors slam and bad smells wake them up at night, is uncovered almost immediately. Believe me, this doesn't bring anyone, including you, any relief. This house and it's "inhabitants" are mad, REALLY MAD. Hang on to your seats people, you're in for a ride.
Why would I like a movie that truly frightened me and had me, a mom of 3, sleeping with a night light on and my feet covered up, (you'll never sleep with them any other way after this)? Well for those of us who believe, and a huge population of the world does, it's a fact that in the history of this world, there have been incidents that show us that life doesn't end at the grave and what can come up out of that isn't always warm and fuzzy. This isn't your deceased grandmother leaving you a sign that she loves you and is waiting for you on the other side. Do your homework. If you search right, you can find many credible examples of real-life haunting's from all over the world and the people who survived them, and unfortunately, those who didn't. I won't tell you who in this family survived to tell the tale, lets just say I'm glad I wasn't a part of it.
This was the best $11.50 I have spent in years.
And when that door creaks open and you blame the wind? Think again.