A while ago I decided to watch The Conjuring 1 and 2. I had seen the first film around when it came out but never got around to writing down a review in my Book of Horror. (Yes, I have a book I write all my reviews in and I have named it the Book of Horror, cheesy huh? xD)
I'm happy I did re-watch it though because it is a thoroughly good film. I kept mixing it up with Insidious, a film I didn't care for, and it had made me a bit reluctant to watch it again even if I still wanted to see the second one. But I decided to watch it anyway and I quickly figured out how wrong I was. After that I got to enjoy it all over again.
There won't be any spoilers in my review, no more than the plot line as read on IMDB.
The Conjuring Part 1
The film is based on a "true story", which it is in part even if you don't believe in the paranormal. In both part one and two we get to follow the married couple of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators and demonologists. They are also the source of the story behind another famous horror film, Annabelle.
The year is 1971, the place it Long Island USA. Ed and Lorraine are approached by a woman in desperate need after moving in to a new home and her and her family now being terrorized by some evil being.
The story throughout the film is simple but that is definitely in their advantage. So many horror films today try way to hard, they complicate things to much. There might not be a deep complicated story but that means it also lacks plot holes, something that is also far to common in films today. It is a satisfying and quite terrifying journey you go on when watching this.
It builds up a solid base on which more films about the Warrens can be made. It establishes their knowledge and perseverance and above, dare I say, the love that makes them so strong together.
The Conjuring Part 2
Again we meet Ed and Lorraine, but this time it gets a bit more personal. They get the request to travel to London to investigate if this family in question is in need of help or if all that's happening to them is explainable as natural causes, or even just plain fake.
Even before they get this request something is sturring at the Warrens. Things aren't quite as they used to be and Ed is having visions of a nun, a terrifying nun to be honest.
In 2018 there will be a film coming out called "The Nun" and it will be based on the nun from this film. I am looking forward to that one so much because she is the first thing that has properly given me the creeps in far to long.
Here they do start to complicate things a bit. To be fair I find part two a little bit confusing, not as clear cut as part one. Still a good movie and I would recommend it to anyone.
It's also much slower than part one. Yes things happen, but there isn't any development in the story until almost halfway through. Have patience and you'll be rewarded however. :)
In conclusion: They are well worth the watch.
Part one I rate at 9/10, it is one of my favorite films.
Part two, 7/10. Still good, but it lacks the simplicity and clarity that part one possesses.
Enjoy!