This is what nightmares are made of!

Rating: 10/10 (27 September 2017)

I have never seen this movie or its advertising, so I was going in blind, and quite pleasantly surprised!
There are many horror and thriller flicks out there, and it's hard to pick just one, but horror and thriller flicks, these days, have become soft, revealing way too much before the end, especially the antagonist. It's always the same story-line: a group of friends go out to a secluded cabin in the woods where a bunch of scary stuff happens, and the antagonist, who is usually shown from behind or as a silhouette as he (or she) carries out his evil deeds, is always one of the friends! Usually the antagonist, as well as a group member, is a jilted lover.
I really need to give James Wan, the director, credit here for bringing Chad and Carey's vision to life creatively, and surrounding himself with the right kind of people who support him; the film is really well executed! While other directors give way too much away before the movie even begins, James doesn't give anything away easily – it's not until much later that you find out the who and why!
Wan may give you glimpses of who is antagonising the family in the second act, but not fully until the third.
Wan also ties in previous events throughout the movie and references other horror flicks, most notably being Annabelle.
Whether or not it is actually based on true events, it's a great movie and will have you on the edge of your seats with your heart pumping, jumping at the right moments, skin crawling, eyes bulging and palms sweaty. Everything you want in a horror flick!
I hope more of James, Chad and Carey's movies are as thrilling and horrifying as this one was and still is! I can't wait to watch the Conjuring 2!