Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORROR SCREAMS VIDEO VAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR
    • Home
    • Film Reviews
      • Films Beginning With Numbers or Symbols
      • A – C
      • D – F
      • G – I
      • J – L
      • M – O
      • P – R
      • S – U
      • V – X
      • Y – Z
    • Book Reviews
    • Franchise Corner
    • Competitions
    • Horror Screams Podcast
    • Contact Us
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORROR SCREAMS VIDEO VAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR

    Peter 'Witchfinder' HopkinsBy Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins21st July 2019Updated:21st July 20191 Comment2 Mins Read
    THE CONJURING 2 **** USA 2016 Dir: James Wan. 134 mins

    THE CONJURING always felt like a (very good) pilot for a long running Hollywood franchise, and the swiftly generated sequel fittingly opens with an extended nod to a key inspiration, following the Warrens’ harrowing experience at the infamous Amityville house. Considering retirement from the paranormal as a result, the Warrens are instead drawn into the experiences of a divorced mother (Frances O’Connor) and her four children at their Enfield council house, where violent poltergeist activity has evolved into apparent possession of the youngest daughter (Madison Wolfe).
    Defined as “Britain’s Amityville”, the Enfield case has already inspired a TV mini-series (“The Enfield Haunting”) and significant portions of the excellent WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT and GHOSTWATCH. Director James Wan recreates a suitably dreary and oppressive late 70’s London, characterised by permanently overcast skies, dismal interiors and ineffectual authorities with no answers for a family in terror. The widescreen frame immerses us in this increasingly traumatic homestead, with witty use of period detail: this might be the only horror film in history to stage a false fright involving a poster of contemporary heartthrob David Soul. The first hour is particularly strong as we become aware of the invasive presence, and both O’Connor (garnering sympathy without patronising anyone) and Wolfe are terrific as mother and daughter; the more explicit, CG-enhanced frights of the latter stages are less compelling. It’s overlong by as much as half an hour, with too many endings, too many over-familiar “experts” and a strain of old-fashioned Hollywood corniness that extends to one of the fluffiest horror movie endings of recent times. Still, the charisma of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga generates goodwill, and the movie more than delivers on its promise of jolts and scares in its often jarring portrait of a well-documented case.

    Review by Steven West






    FacebookLikeShareTweetPin
    James Wan Patrick Wilson The Conjuring 2 The Enfield Case The Enfield Haunting Vera Farmiga

    Related Posts

    Fabulous Films releases Denzel Washington action thriller SAFE HOUSE

    4th July 2023432 Mins Read
    Read More

    Film Review: ORPHAN (2009)

    7th December 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Franchise Corner Entry: THE CONJURING UNIVERSE 

    16th September 2019113 Mins Read
    Read More

    21st July 2019119 Mins Read
    Read More

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: TOP TEN 2016 MOVIES…..AS CHOSEN BY……

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Recent Posts
    • SCREAMIFY TO PREMIERE ‘THE HORRORED GIRLS’ PODCAST IN EXCLUSIVE FIRST-WINDOW DEAL
    • The Return of the Living Dead Video Game Coming Soon From Dragon Games
    • DRILLER KILLER 2 Starring Eric Roberts & Beverly Randolph and featuring Hollywood legend Denzil Washington
    • Until There Is One Launches Indiegogo Campaign To Help Break Guinness World Record For Most Kills
    • Critically Acclaimed Horror-Monster Movie “A HARD PLACE” Drops on Free Streaming NOW on TUBI, The Roku Channel, SLING, and Cinverse
    Archives
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.