The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Please continue pre-release discussion here.

Movie:
"The Conjuring" (Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King)

Release Date:
7/19/2013

Rating:
R (for sequences of disturbing violence and terror throughout)

Running Time:
112min. (1h. 52m.)

Budget:
$13 million (estimated)

IMDb Synopsis:


IMDb Info and Rating:
8.1 (4,200 votes as of 7/20/13)

Rotten Tomatoes:
Fresh:90 Rotten:16 (85% as of 7/20/13)

Metacritic:
68 metascore ('Generally favorable reviews' as of 7/20/13)

Trailer:
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Poster Art:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...FINAL_INTL.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/f111f2a07...yfb7o1_500.gif

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

i dunno what it is about this one, but probably will be the first horror movie i see in the theater in a long time.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

You must really love The Clapper. ;)

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

So....Amityville ?

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

You tell us, you're the only one on here that's seen it.

But yes, technically it follows Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators from the 50s onward whose findings were the basis of The Amityville Horror, The Haunting in Conneticuit, The Haunted (TV Movie), and now The Conjuring. I think this is the first one where they are prominently featured as characters in the movie.

The movie was intended to be PG-13 but wound up with an R rating, they were apparently sent back a response saying it was "too adult" and no specific scenes or tone could be modified to get a PG-13 rating. So there's that. Early test screenings were apparently excellently received, 86% on rt for a horror flick is crazy high.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Great horror flick. Throw The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity and Insidious in a blender and apply a great cast and there you go. The only disappointment was that the ending felt a little abrupt. Wan really knows how to build dread and maintain an unsettling as hell atmosphere. It was effective enough to keep the crowd mostly quiet at the gofobo a screening I was at, and judging from the hour before and first five minutes of the film, that was quite a feat.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Just got back from an early screening, and I have to say that this was a pretty effective little horror movie. Nothing groundbreaking or new, but very well done with some great scare scenes and unique camera movements. I've got to admit, the last fifteen minutes of the movie I was gripping my seat tight. James Wan really knows how to create dread and tension.

So the girl I went to see it with would grab my arm and jump every time something happened in the movie, which essentially made me jump. Not sure how much I would have jumped on my own if she wasn't constantly doing that, but there were at least a couple of really good scare scenes. The older lady next to us had her eyes covered with her hands almost the entire time, while her husband fanned her. It was pretty funny. This is a great movie to see with an audience.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

A friend of mine, an avid horror fan who's sat through some pretty grueling flicks, is generally upphased by horror movies, but for some reason, along with Burton's version of the Cheshire Cat, the clapping hands bother him.

Some guys like that, I hear ;).

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

At 84% with 44 reviews, average 7.4/10. Not bad for a horror flick.

It sounds like a cliche but very effective movie.

James Berardinelli gave it a 3.5/4: http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_...dentifier=2640

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

will have to wait till next Tuesday to see this. kinda bummed!

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Saw this about an hour ago. I liked it. I gave it 4 stars. It does NOT reinvent the wheel, it's the usual stuff: slowly opening doors, pictures flying off walls, creepy faced female demons, loud noises, etc...however it does this really well. My body was very tense throughout the film, preparing itself for the inevitable creepy face or loud noise. I jumped a couple times. There was plenty of screaming from the women in the audience.
Also worth noting is that this was a really well acted film...as good as you can get from a horror movie. Wilson and Farmiga were terrific.

I have no hesitation recommending this if you're on the fence. Worth checking out.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Farmiga is an awesome actress, I don't know why but she's well suited to the horror genre.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

From my Letterboxd:

Terrifying and masterfully paced, The Conjuring is one of the best horror movies we've had in years. The movie does a nice job of building up the story so the audience actually cares about the characters. All the while the movie keeps teasing bits and pieces of horror and suspense to keep the audience thirsty for more. A combination of an eerie atmosphere, jump scares (not too many, making them more meaningful), good sound and thoughtful camerawork, made this an effective horror movie for me. I can definitely see myself returning to this one again in the future. Recommended, especially if you like the horror genre.

8.0 / 10

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Just got back from my screening and I must say that this was some scary ass shit! Loved the cinematography. The scares were really effective.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

The Exorcist would like to have a word with you. -wink-


Max Von Sydow
Jason Miller
Ellen Burstyn
Lee J. Cobb
Jack MacGowran
Linda Blair

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I expected this to be crap, but a lot of people I know have been positive about it. I'll end up having to watch it for work anyway, so I won't go to the theater unless I have a good date lined up, but I'm willing to eat crow if it's good.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

It was also a trip to see that they threw in the "Maurice" reference in there. The reference used in the film was almost verbatim.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Seeing this now. Yay!

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

very effective horror gem. i don't get scared easily and this movie wasn't the exception, but the horror was at first little seen, but then in your face and i think it worked well and was different, i assume, from all the other penny-ante ghost story tropes that cascade like free flowing water down a rapid falls.

the acting was what did it for me and having established, seasoned vets like Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor were very believable and good. different from typical, low budget fare.

this worked for the most part, some jump scares that i bit once, but they were at least effective and the clap-on scene was not the comical farce i had thought it would be if shown in the actual movie.

not bad and glad i saw it. theater was 3/4 full too.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/images/3.5.gif

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I thought it was fucking great. Minor iffy CGI in some smal parts but goddamn was it nice to have characters you give a damn about in a horror film. Great cast. Loved the setting too. Never saw Wan's other films but this was very well directed.

So comparing Insidious, which I've yet to see, and this film. Which was better? I kind of want to see Saw now, just to see some early Wan work.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I thought Insidious was on a similar level (some possibly a greater level) in terms of suspense and terror. I had issues with the Insidious script, especially in the third act, which I didn't have with The Conjuring. If you enjoyed this though, I would definitely recommend you check Insidious out.

I love the original Saw, so definitely highly recommend that (hopefully you are going in spoiler-free).

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I may have to go with The Conjuring even though Insidious is really fucking good. Can't wait for Insidious 2!


You should watch Death Sentence - the one he did with Kevin Bacon playing a vigilante badass. Rent the UNRATED DVD (they never did release the unrated Blu-ray).

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I didn't notice any references to British man love. ;)

http://images.moviepostershop.com/ma...1020211833.jpg

**************
Just got back from seeing the movie and really enjoyed. A number of scenes creeped me out and the performances by Taylor and Farmiga were excellent.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Well played. I didn't know what else to call it. haha

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I just got back from seeing it with my wife with a PACKED theater. This may sound like hyperbole, but I am dead serious - I just may have a new favorite horror film. It is so well crafted, not just in terms of the awesome scares of which there are a ton, but also just in terms of the technical filmmaking aspects. The camera work and everything like that blew me away just about as much as the scares did. If you are interested at all then be sure to go and see this one, preferably in a packed theater to get that full horror film experience. Grown men, all throughout the theaters, were yelling out. This is a horror film that builds and builds and eventually it has you in a state of tension that flat out doesn't let up until the credits roll, and even then it's a creepy vibe.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Based on your review, I am going to see this sometime this weekend.

The "grown men yelling out throughout the theater" line has me intrigued. :lol:

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I liked "Insidious" as well, but would compare this more to "Sinister". Or not? I liked Sinister. The Conjuring is the best of the 3 though.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Agreed. 12 million is the budget and I think it's the most expensive film, aside from the upcoming FF7 flick, that James Wan has ever worked with. The cinematography is brilliant!

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Sinister could have been epic but dropped the ball. The Conjuring buries Sinister. Hands down.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

The RT 85% is kind of amazing. I can't think of another recent horror film that had that type of critical acclaim.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Just got back from seeing it. I had fun with it. It's not great, but there are some solid scares throughout. I just wish I hadn't seen the trailer, which gives away the best scene in the film.

Unfortunately, the third act turns into an unintentionally funny homage to , as well as several other horror films. But when it is functioning like a traditional haunted house flick, it works really well.

Saw a late screening and the house was packed. They seemed to love it, but then, they also applauded the trailer for the Carrie remake, so....

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Saw it last night and had a blast. Lots of good scares and solid performances from everyone!

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

That doll, man... I would piss myself if I saw that thing in my place.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Miss Me?
http://www.geekexchange.com/wp-conte...uring-doll.jpg

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Dead Silence and Death Sentence both cost around $20M each and both almost cost the man his career.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I stand corrected. Nothing like going back to low budget filmmaking to get your cred back. Brilliant.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

I like the good supernatural horror movie as much as anyone but what I can't abide is when one tries to force feed me the line that it is really true. While even the greatest horror movie of all time, The Exorcist, has a little bit of a claim to being based on something true (IIRC, it was a case with a boy rather than a girl), I never got the feeling that anything like this was being thrown at me. The book was still a novel and the film had the feel of fiction and no one was shouting TRUE STORY at me.

The Conjuring makes heroes of the Warrens who were either self deluded "Ghost Hunters" or outright frauds. They were major players in the Amityville Horror fiasco which is a thoroughly proven fraud, in my opinion.

For me, this just undercut anything that was good about the film (and there were some good things, until it died under the weight of its way too earnest Warren adulation and forced "truthiness").

Still, because of its positives, I did not think it was terrible. I voted 2.5 stars.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

Agreed 100%

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

It didn't provide the "terrifying" experience I was hoping for. Yes, it's eerie and well-made but was't a home run. It was very crowded and only a small percentage of the crowd seemed to react to the jump-scares. My fiancée agreed.

It was good but not great.

Re: The Conjuring (Wan, 2013) — The Reviews Thread
 

^ Saw it and agree. I am starting to think if my viewing of so many horror movies over the years has hardened me to scary stuff. I remember when The Ring was scoring decent reviews back in 2002 and being underwhelmed by it as well. On a positive note, the theater was packed and many people were jumping at some of the stuff, mainly young women. :D

I have to give props to Patrick Wilson. He seems to be carving out a niche genre for himself with stuff like this and Insidious. Having solid actors can help elevate these movies a bit.