A testament — or perhaps a prime example of a film that, for a fleeting moment, takes titillating pleasure in depriving it’s audience of any hopeful repose. Through and through, the Conjuring 2 evokes such sensations, among others.
Devoted to keeping it’s viewers captive, Conjuring 2 does prevail in it’s scare tactics, and revels in it’s execution — a good example of a fear-driven film — not void of drawbacks or cheesy cliches, but definitely of critical mistakes. From the likes of director James Wan arrives a piece of history that seems to adhere well to the logistics of it’s “true story” narrative; with a decent transition to the big screen.
Presented in a slew of quick, compact images and colourful textual references at the very start, the Enfield Poltergeist haunting, occurring in the London borough of Enfield, England, describes the abnormal occurrences of one Hodgson family, as ghosts, apparitions and demons supposedly frequented their home. These claims of poltergeist activity, of which took place between 1977 and 1979, described these phenomena — weird, unnatural, terrorizing; such were the lives of the Hodgson family as they lived in the presence of these presumed unusual beings.
American paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren became the primary detectives behind the case in the film after police officers visited the home and witnessed unusual activity themselves; a chair moving of it’s own accord, a few knocking sounds between the walls of the establishment — and the rest was left to the fabric of history. However, the extent of the Warren’s involvement, apparently, wasn’t as elaborate for the actual investigation.
Of course, being of the horror variety — with a discourse you might anticipate — the Conjuring 2 has it’s moments. Sprinkled with jump-scares, horror film scores with the energizing but equally terrifying effect you can imagine, and an overall moodiness and grainy atmosphere that assumes it’s prerogative, Conjuring 2 does the job. Its cast, with aesthetics also derived from their real-world counterparts, also seem to represent those roles quite well. Our two titular protagonists, and characters at the forefront of the event: Margaret and Janet Hodgson, played by Lauren Esposito and Madison Wolfe respectfully, do well in ascribing the fear you’d expect from a couple of children. Although it’s complete accuracy to the real-world events of the Enfield haunting is questionable, the Conjuring 2 realized what subject matter it caters too, and in that regard, it succeeds.
The Conjuring 2 is a good film. Not great, but good. In the moment, it does exceptionally well at conjuring up a scare or two, but unfortunately, it won’t leave you to retreat back to your room in fear, if you expected as such.
The Conjuring 2 is out in theatres on June 10th.
