The Conjuring 2 – Film Review
The sequel to the terrifying original, The Conjuring 2 offers up even more scares than the first time around, has an extremely intriguing story, and introduces us to new horror character Valak.
Paranormal investigator couple Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) travel to London, England in a desperate attempt at helping a family get rid of an extremely disturbing spirit that lurks in their household.
Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring 2 (2016)
I was excited to see what James Wan could do with The Conjuring 2 for two reasons in particular – one being that I absolutely adored the first Conjuring film released in 2013, also directed by Wan. Two, because I had heard early reviews coming out stating that this sequel was even better than the original. I have to agree with that statement, as The Conjuring 2 is delightfully scary, thrilling, and has a story that was fascinating.
The cinematography present in this film shot by Don Burgess is some of the best cinematography I have seen in a horror film this decade. It is almost bizarre how beautiful this disturbing and terrifying horror film looks, but its gorgeous camera work and excellent lighting make the film all the more better.
The opening scene is also amazing, as from the beginning, Wan lets you know this is a horrifying experience. The scene in question involves a creepy nun known as Valak (Bonnie Aarons), who will be sure to haunt millions of film fans around the world with her performance here. She has several scenes in the film, and to me, the scenes that she appears in, are the film’s scariest moments.
Furthermore, the performance by Madison Wolfe was absolutely amazing. She definitely delivers one of the best child performances in years with The Conjuring 2 and I cannot wait to see what future projects she does.
Madison Wolfe (left) as Janet Hodgson and Vera Farmiga (right) as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Additionally, the story in The Conjuring 2 is a simple one, but the characters involved in it make it entertaining to watch. I have always found that horror films that focus on a family being haunted tend to be weak sometimes, but with this film, Wan found a way to make it different and interesting. It focuses on how the family actually gets torn apart and become more distant as this spirit begins to haunt certain members of their family each day.
The musical score by Joseph Bishara is also unsettling and unnerving and helps to add to the film’s already existing gloomy and dull atmosphere.
With a gripping story, horrifying moments, and well-written characters, The Conjuring 2 proves to be an even better film than its predecessor.
Overall Grade: A
MPAA Rating: Rated R for terror and horror violence
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O’Connor, Madison Wolfe
Directed by: James Wan
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Running Time: 134 minutes