By Colm McCall
Three years ago the original Conjuring hit the big screen. It was a smash with both casual fans and critics alike. Annabelle was the spin-off it spawned in 2014, which was unfortunately far less successful. However in this straight up sequel, horror maestro James Wan (Saw 2004) has returned to directorial duties; a decision which has spurned audiences to flock to US box offices in their droves. Much unlike the somewhat exhausted horror genre of the present day, the Furious 7 (2015) filmmaker usually prefers to rely more on makeup and practical effects than lazy CGI overindulgence. Those who enjoyed Insidious (2011) will know what I'm talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed the first movie, so I was super excited to check this one out.
The story follows paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson, Watchmen 2009) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga, Orphan 2009) Warren as they travel to London to inspect a case involving an eleven year old girl who is experiencing demonic visions, activity and possession. Whilst the family encountering the trauma are met by their fair share of believers, there are also numerous cynics who see the supposed victims plight as a pathetic bid for media attention. Undoubtedly not short of familiarity with cases of a similar circumstance, the investigative duo are the only ones who can aid the desperate Londoners in their peril.
Firstly, I must disclose that this film didn't impress me to the level in which I had hoped and expected. As the best director working presently in the genre, I think Wan falls slightly short of the high precedent he previously set. Subtlety is definitely not this picture's strong suit. I feel that the tension isn't really built as well as it could have been. This is totally polar opposite to something like Jaws (1978) or The Shining (1980), where tension is built painstakingly slowly. As an audience, I think we see far too much. I'm certainly not an advocate of the mantra 'less is more' (at least when it comes to movies), but I do think certain visual aspects could have been toned down.
Aside from the aforementioned shortcomings, as well as the concluding scene being a little too sappy, I still thought this was a very strong film overall. The horror genre aside, this was an enjoyable movie experience and a great deal classier than the majority of others like it. The acting is incredibly strong, solidifying the picture with a distinct refinement- a quality which eludes many modern movies. All too often, it's really tough to become invested in a horror because the acting on screen is so unbelievably terrible. But gladly, this isn't the case here. Ethan Hawke's work in Sinister (2012) is also a notable case in point.
One can forgive the many horror cliches and overly explanatory dialogue featured, as the direction is absolutely fantastic. Just like the acting, the aesthetics are undeniably slick. Wan certainly knows how to shoot a movie. If he keeps on this upward trajectory, I wouldn't be surprised if hes held in similar esteem as Wes Craven or John Carpenter in the years to come. Overall the acting and direction were top notch, yet this obvious strength was somewhat tarnished by the flaws in pacing and storytelling.
The Conjuring 2 scores 7/10 on the MACmeter.
