“A
worthy and equally terrifying sequel of an unforgettable horror hit.”
“Saw”
and “Insidious” series director James Wan comes back to give us a deliciously
terrifying and delightfully entertaining sequel to his 2013 horror hit. In The Conjuring 2, ghostbuster couple Ed
and Lorraine Warren takes on a case that cements their strong marriage. With
his Elvis swag and sweater vest, Patrick Wilson reprises his role as Ed, so
does Vera Farmiga as the prim and polite Lorraine.
The
film opens with Ed and Lorraine investigating the aftermath of heinous murders
that became known as “The Amityville Horror.” Through an out-of-the-body
experience, Lorraine sees the shotgun murders and confirms that the tragedy was
indeed demonic in nature. However, she also has a vision of her husband’s death
as precipitated by a nun-looking ghoul (Bonnie Aarons).
In
1977, seven years after the Amityville case, similar paranormal obsession is
observed in an impoverished family living in the borough of Enfield, North
London. After her husband abandoned them, Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor)
single-handedly raised her four children (Lauren Esposito, Madison Wolfe, Benjamin Haigh,
Patrick McAuley). Soon after a game of failed spirit calling,
12-year-old Janet (Wolfe) suffers sleepwalking, levitation, and possession of
an angry old man named Bill Wilkins (Bob Adrian) who wants them out of his home.
Through
the request of the Catholic Church, Ed and Lorraine fly to England to
investigate the incident in the Hodgsons’ home. The couple become a beacon of
hope for the estranged family. However, premonitions are scarce and they could
not find enough evidence to convince parapsychologist Anita Gregory (Franka Potente) of the authenticity of the paranormal activity, despite getting help
from amateur researcher Maurice Grosse (Simon McBurney). But when Lorraine
finally grasps the family’s plight, the vision of Ed’s death resurfaces to
haunt her, endangering the Hodgsons further and testing the strength of their
marriage.
As expected from the director with numerous
horror blockbusters, James Wan once again excelled in The Conjuring 2. The story and the drama are different from the
first movie; yet, they are equally brilliant, breath-stopper, and terrifying.
The present movie flawlessly interweaves the Warrens’ own tale with that of the
true events that happened on the Hodgsons. The film builds up slowly as two
events from different sides of the world are presented. While there is an
intriguing vagueness of the Warrens’ story, the demonic happenings in the
Hodgsons soon become repetitive. Yet, when their worlds collide, the suspense
dramatically rises and each scene afterward becomes exceptionally riveting and
gripping.
Familiar
horror tropes are ever present, such as a distressed mother, troubled children,
and an old house. However, the film succeeds with its visual tricks, and coupled
with commanding energy, impeccable production design and musical score, the terror
comes alive. Camera works are effective, whether as zooming shot or a
back-and-forth movement. The 70’s vibe is also well played out and the gloomy
house, complete with its stained tiles, rickety floorboards, and water-lagged
basement, unerringly represents its residents’ despair and misery. The era’s
music is playfully infused in the movie from time to time, and with
perfectly-timed silences and eerie sounds like creaking floors, a screeching
backyard swing, a dog bell, and a noisy toy firetruck, the score can certainly
chill up any type of audience.
Lastly,
the entire cast is superb. Wilson and Farmiga are expectedly brilliant, while
O’Connor compellingly brings the hardships and dilemmas of a mother desperately
trying to keep her family intact. Wolfe is a winner her, as she brings the
sweet innocence of a child and the malevolent anger of a possessed.
The Conjuring 2 is a worthy sequel. It is intelligently written,
brilliantly staged, and well acted out. Plus, there is the introduction of the
creepy “Crooked Man,” possibly promising a spin-off movie much like Annabelle
from the first film.
Production
companies: A Warner Bros. released of a New Line Cinema presentation in
association with Ratpac-Dune Entertainment of a Safran Company/Atomic Monster
production
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera
Farmiga, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Lauren Esposito, Benjamin Haigh,
Patrick Mcauley, Simon McBurney, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Simon Delaney, Franka
Potente, David Thewlis, Bonnie Aarons
Director: James Wan
Writers: Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes, James Wan, David Leslie Johnson
Producers: Peter Safran, Rob Cowan, James Wan
Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Steven Mnuchin
Music: Joseph Bishara
Director of photography: Don Burgess
Production designer: Julie Berghoff
Costume designer: Kristin M. Burke
Editor: Kirk Morri
Writers: Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes, James Wan, David Leslie Johnson
Producers: Peter Safran, Rob Cowan, James Wan
Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Steven Mnuchin
Music: Joseph Bishara
Director of photography: Don Burgess
Production designer: Julie Berghoff
Costume designer: Kristin M. Burke
Editor: Kirk Morri
0 comments:
Post a Comment