James Wan conjures up something average

Rating: 5/10 (23 September 2013)

I must admit from the outset I was totally caught up in this whirlwind hype of the latest horror movie from director James Wan, a director that clearly knows how to build up tension in his movies. So with its notably high box office earnings and rating that The Conjuring has received on IMDb, I was optimistic that James Wan had created another spine chilling masterpiece.
Unfortunately though I have to say I was disappointed with his approach to script and direct another Amtyville horror and Exorcism clone. Even though the setting was good, the acting was mediocre at best, the tension that builds up to the scares have been done before in so many other movies, it made me feel like I was watching clones of other movies-that feeling of Déjà vu.
Sometimes watching a reminiscent piece of filmmaking from a fresh new director can be a good or bad thing, however The Conjuring lies somewhere in-between of being good and just average. Granted, the Conjuring, didn't rely on the overuse of blood which is typical of the horror genre to produce those moments of looking away from the screen. James Wan inevitably keeps the camera shifting through POV (point of view) with some of the characters, uses tight angles and subtle zooming techniques to define the tension that keeps the audience interested throughout the running time.
Many critics and movie enthusiasts rave about the Conjuring cinematography, inventive direction and musical score. To note, the best cinematography and musical score in a horror genre is still Silent Hill. The creepiness of an evil looking doll was done better in the excellent (though underrated) psychological horror "May" released in 2002. The tension build up has also been done better in Japanese filmmaking which have become more mainstream through the remakes of "The Ring" and "The Grudge" where blood and gore is minimal and the dark atmosphere of those movies with sharp direction are used to full effect to pull of terrifying moments.
I'm in the minority in saying this movie has great potential of being a classic, just like his directorial debut with Saw almost 10 years ago, with its modest budget allowance, great script, superb acting and directing with an extraordinary climax to match. The Conjuring though is merely hiding in the shadows of other movies waiting to be extraordinary.