Horror James Wan's "The Conjuring"

[Rock Sexton]

The only scene that crept me out was when the demonic spirit woman was hovering over the mother while she was in bed. That's it.

All the door slamming, creeky noises, and standard supernatural movie genre elements are so tired to me. They don't scare me at all. You know what does though? The idea of having 5 daughters!

 

[redhawk23]

$40 mill openeing weekend...

http://m.deadline.com/2013/07/the-c...ore-but-every-other-new-film-soft-or-sinking/

Its weird that that article is talking about projections in the past tense.

 

[Prison Mike]

Saw this movie last night and really enjoyed it. The beginning was slow at first but it picks up. There were a few scenes that creeped me out especially the scene when the woman was on the wardrobe and jumped onto one of the daughters. I saw the movie with a packed crowd and other than the fact that a kid 2 seats down from me was talking nonstop and providing a running commentary throughout the movie, I really enjoyed myself.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I don't think it deserves any academy noms. It's definitely no Sixth Sense, but it's just a very solid movie. Like others have said, it doesn't do anything new, but what it does it does well. The acting is solid, you care about the characters, and it's a good story.

With Sixth Sense, well, say what you want about Shamalamadingdong, but that movie was a brilliant piece of writing with a truly well earned and masterful twist. It's a great movie.

The Conjuring isn't great, but it is very good.

Well, that was when it was at 90%, now that it's at 85% don't see it as possible.

 

[Kane52630]

RottenTomatoes is the measure of what gets a Oscar nomination now?

 

[Ultimatehero]

RottenTomatoes is the measure of what gets a Oscar nomination now?

When that's the only thing I have to go off of currently - yes. If it was 90% that would have meant it would have been one of the top critically received films of the year and, to my knowledge, the ONLY horror film that has gotten in the 90s since 'The Sixth Sense' and the other classic horror films. A 90 would have put it in the same league as those that did. Unlike other genre films horror films have been known to be nominated and sometimes win. So, if it was in the 90s (which is a miracle for a horror film) that would have potentially put it in the same league of those that won or were nominated.

For those interested:
- Psycho
- Rosemary's Baby
- The Exorcist
- Jaws
- Silence of the Lambs
- Shadow of the Vampire
- Cape Fear
- Aliens
- Carrie
- The Sixth Sense

Those aren't films someone would call 'oscar bait' films - they're just extraordinarily done horror films that were remarkably received. And if it did get a 90? That would have meant it was remarkably received, especially as a horror film, among critics. So, yes, although not oscar bait the films above weren't either they were just brilliant horror films. 'Ghost' also was up there -- but, left it off since I'd say for a horror film it had oscar bait elements in it.

 

[chesslover]

I want to know what Lorraine saw........but first I'll paint the universe.

 

[Infinity9999x]

For those interested, here's an article about the "true story" of the conjuring. A nice quick read.

http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/conjuring.php

 

[Infinity9999x]

When that's the only thing I have to go off of currently - yes. If it was 90% that would have meant it would have been one of the top critically received films of the year and, to my knowledge, the ONLY horror film that has gotten in the 90s since 'The Sixth Sense' and the other classic horror films. A 90 would have put it in the same league as those that did. Unlike other genre films horror films have been known to be nominated and sometimes win. So, if it was in the 90s (which is a miracle for a horror film) that would have potentially put it in the same league of those that won or were nominated.

For those interested:
- Psycho
- Rosemary's Baby
- The Exorcist
- Jaws
- Silence of the Lambs
- Shadow of the Vampire
- Cape Fear
- Aliens
- Carrie
- The Sixth Sense

Those aren't films someone would call 'oscar bait' films - they're just extraordinarily done horror films that were remarkably received. And if it did get a 90? That would have meant it was remarkably received, especially as a horror film, among critics. So, yes, although not oscar bait the films above weren't either they were just brilliant horror films. 'Ghost' also was up there -- but, left it off since I'd say for a horror film it had oscar bait elements in it.

You can't just rely on RT to indicate if it's going to be oscar worthy or not. I see logic you're using, and there's definitely is a method to that, but you also have to take into account the films themselves. Most of the films you mentioned were ground breaking in some fashion. They did things that were new and innovative. The Conjuring doesn't really fit with that. And I'm not knocking the film because of it, not every film needs to be groundbreaking. It was actually very refreshing that we got a very solid horror film with a good storyline.

 

[Kane52630]

*sigh* people put too much stock on a website.

 

[Infinity9999x]

*sigh* people put too much stock on a website.

Nature of the beast. People as a whole have always wanted ways to rate and examine things in a numerical sense. Sports fans get too obsessed with stats, comic/movie fans like us have a tendency to get too obsessed with the overall score on review sites.

And there was a logic to his approach. Horror films aren't usually reviewed highly, and when they are they tend to make a splash.

Any who, another interesting article regarding the authenticity of the Warrens.

http://www.ghostresearch.org/articles/amityville.html

Apparently the Warrens were very negative towards a certain Dr. Kaplan, who had a book pointing out some glaring holes in the Amityville story. The author of this article goes through and refutes what appear to be some questionable claims the Warrens make, as well as what appear to be outright lies. Granted, I don't know how accurate the writer of the article is either. But either way, interesting read.

 

[Ultimatehero]

And there was a logic to his approach. Horror films aren't usually reviewed highly, and when they are they tend to make a splash.

Exactly, I don't put much stock into the site or critics in general. But a 90 - if it had staid there -would have made it one of the best reviewed films of the year (only about 10% of the films or less than that get in the 90s), and to go further - it's a horror movie, even the good horror films that come out rarely get that good of a review (that good being in the 80s). Critics typically tear them apart. So, having not seen it yet - that initial 90 really surprised me.

I can see what you mean, somewhat, about those other films - I wasn't around back then when all of those came out, so to me they play more as just really great examples of the genre. But I know there were ambulances (?) around theaters playing the Exorcist and Psycho was attention-grabbing in the way it played out, so I can get that. The only one example where I'd say that isn't really case is 'The Sixth Sense' (but I might be wrong there since I was really young) since the whole notion of death was played up before in 'Ghost.'

 

[Infinity9999x]

Exactly, I don't put much stock into the site or critics in general. But a 90 - if it had staid there -would have made it one of the best reviewed films of the year (only about 10% of the films or less than that get in the 90s), and to go further - it's a horror movie, even the good horror films that come out rarely get that good of a review (that good being in the 80s). Critics typically tear them apart. So, having not seen it yet - that initial 90 really surprised me.

I can see what you mean, somewhat, about those other films - I wasn't around back then when all of those came out, so to me they play more as just really great examples of the genre. But I know there were ambulances (?) around theaters playing the Exorcist and Psycho was attention-grabbing in the way it played out, so I can get that. The only one example where I'd say that isn't really case is 'The Sixth Sense' (but I might be wrong there since I was really young) since the whole notion of death was played up before in 'Ghost.'

With Sixth Sense, it was more the twist and the clever writing. It definitely made a big splash when it came out. It was a pop culture hit (there's a reason why people still say "I see dead people.) I was young as well when it came out (only 10) but I remember people talking about it like crazy. People kept coming back for it just for the writing. Like I said before Shymalan's writing in that film really was impressive, when you watch the film and see how he writes scenes so it seems like Willis' character is interacting with others...it was just a damn good film.

Nobody had really seen a horror film done like that before. It was like a neo-noir mixed with horror, with a twist that NO ONE saw coming (I don't care who you are, nobody called that. If they said they did, they're lying.) So in that regard, it really was different. Add to the fact that it was well acted and crafted, and that's why it received such accolades.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Well, pop culture hit and with a surprise ending - but, personally, I wouldn't say that makes it ground breaking. It pretty much played with the same themes as 'Ghost' to me, which I saw years later. Also Goosebumps had the exact same twist beforehand more or less. It's an amazing film, but I wouldn't say it's ground-breaking (revolutionizing), just an amazing film. I don't recall that many people talking about the writing, just the twist, and that it was pop culture. But, a lot of things were pop-culture: Austin Powers, Independence Day, etc. But on top of that, just really really well done. Which is why I wouldn't say ground-breaking, just amazing.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Well, pop culture hit and with a surprise ending - but, personally, I wouldn't say that makes it ground breaking. It pretty much played with the same themes as 'Ghost' to me, which I saw years later. Also Goosebumps pretty much had the exact same plot beforehand. It's an amazing film, but I wouldn't say it's ground-breaking, just an amazing film.

Well, when you get down to it, most films we consider "ground breaking" had influences that came before them with similar stories. People knew of demon possession long before Exorcist, and a man killing people in a hotel isn't exactly something no one had heard of before. It was more in the way they were handled and filmed.

With Sixth Sense, yes Ghost (another great movie btw) handled that idea of the afterlife already, but it was interesting to see a film that was really just as much a mystery as horror flick. Like I said, it's really a noir/horror mash-up, which wasn't what people were used to seeing, and it had a twist that nobody expected. But, unlike typical horror-twist endings which are usually done for shock value, this twist actually added to the plot, and reinforced the themes of the story itself.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I guess I just have a different definition of ground-breaking then. Because everything else is agreed upon, just not that term for it. I just recall a bigger, or from what I hear at least, deal about the other older films of "how dare they show this?" or "how could they show us this?" which is why I'd state those as revolutionizing because they pushed the envelope. Psycho being the prime example among them. Whereas I'd state Sixth Sense was a remarkably well written film, but leave it at that.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I guess I just have a different definition of ground-breaking then. Because everything else is agreed upon, just not that term for it. I just recall a bigger, or from what I hear at least, deal about the other older films of "how dare they show this?" or "how could they show us this?" which is why I'd state those as revolutionizing because they pushed the envelope. Psycho being the prime example among them. Whereas I'd state Sixth Sense was a remarkably well written film, but leave it at that.

Yeah, I would agree that Sixth Sense definitely didn't have as much an impact on filmmaking as Psycho or Exorcist did. Those films were definitely bigger in those respects, and public reaction. Nobody had seen that level of violence or gore in film at the time, so they really pushed the envelope with that.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I thought the movie was okay, nothing special though. The acting was fine, the direction was fine and some of the scares were good but I just wasn't in love with the story.

And of course I don't believe this was a true story because I don't believe in ghosts or demons taking over people's bodies. I'm religious and all that stuff is still malarky to me. So the very idea that this was a true story had me rolling my eyes.

I wish the movie had been about the creepy doll, I liked that thing.

Rating: 6.5/10

 

[Infinity9999x]

I thought the movie was okay, nothing special though. The acting was fine, the direction was fine and some of the scares were good but I just wasn't in love with the story.

And of course I don't believe this was a true story because I don't believe in ghosts or demons taking over people's bodies. I'm religious and all that stuff is still malarky to me. So the very idea that this was a true story had me rolling my eyes.

I wish the movie had been about the creepy doll, I liked that thing.

Rating: 6.5/10

Well, the story was obviously hollywoodized, the family said that. Multiple things were changed. Bathseba didn't hang herself on the property after proclaiming her love for Satan. It's still not even positive if she was a witch, she was accused but never convicted. She died as an old woman and most likely not in the Perrin home. Here's an article about it if you're interested.

http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/conjuring.php

Really though, I think it was probably most likely fabricated if just because of what I've read regarding the Warrens. They do seem a little sketchy. At least the way they dealt with the criticism of Amytiville was.

However, I do think if you're religious and you believe in God, then you have to believe in the other guy as well. You can't have one without the other. That's why I still won't touch a ouija board, even though I know 99.9% of the time you'll probably be fine....I just think that it's not a good idea to try and get the attention of something that could be infinitely more powerful than you are.

 

[Warhammer]

Personally, I didn't think it was all that scary. Haunted houses, demons, and all that is over-saturated in modern horror. We've seen it all before. I even laughed at many parts.

However, for a horror film (that sure does sound condescending to the genre doesn't it?), this film was well made. The film did alot of things right. It had terrific acting. There were characters that I actually cared about. The horror was a slow burn throughout the film and was atmospheric as opposed to the run of the mill, cheap jump scares that almost every modern horror films does. If Wan continues to make horror films like this, he will truly become a new master of horror. It was money well spent on a well made film.

 

[Heretic]

I'm a Horror fanatic...and watch a different Horror movie probably every other night. Big releases, direct to video, completely unknown indies...doesn't matter to me.

Most big budget Horrors are just awful. This one, while not amazing and certainly not breaking any new ground, at least didn't have me rolling my eyes over major holes and stupidity in the plot. That alone lifts it above crap like Mama, Haunting in Connecticut 2 etc etc etc. This was much more about created a horrific mood rather than CGI jump scares. It felt like a Horror movie, which is rare these days.

Plus, it has Shanley Caswell in it, who I think is the bee's knees.

 

[redhawk23]

http://www.destroythebrain.com/review/movie-review-the-conjuring

A review from one of my favorite local St. Louis critics.

Andy is an awesome guy. Through his site and his connections in the area and with film distributors he puts on great midnight movie programs each month.

 

[TwoOfAKind]

Watched this movie yesterday and thought it was quite well done horror flick.

Two things I felt let this movie down was the trailers (too much given away) and thought it made a better haunting movie than a possession movie.

But would love to see more movies made following the Warrens.

 

[WorthyStevens]

Job well done, James Wan and crew. I watched this 2 days ago, and the scene [blackout]where Joey King sees the entity behind the door[/blackout] is keeping me awake right now.

But seriously, 9 out of 10. I really respect the decision to leave most of the horror to the imagination.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Just got around to seeing it. I thought it was good, but could have been better. I think a large part of that however was how much was ruined by the trailers. The drama itself was great. My only real gripe is the look of the doll, there was no reason to make the doll look like that - it was in reality a raggedy Anne type doll. So it just seemed like a needless call back to Dead Silence rather than going after the reality of what happened there. 8/10.