Horror James Wan's "The Conjuring"

[Marvolo]

Its really looking like we might have a horror classic on our hands. Normally a claim like that would seem hyperbolic, but in this case it seems like it could be true. Whether it will be considered a classic in 20-30 years is anyone's guess, but I keep reading reviews saying this is like the classics of the 70s. The excorcist and amytiville horror keep coming up in reviews so if this film is successfully emulating those classics then I see this film being something people look back on many years from now as a classic of the genre.

 

[Lasirius]

Enjoyed it a lot. Very creepy and unsettling throughout.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Can't wait to see it.

 

[The Dark Defender]

Well, the reviews are good but I was hoping it was going to have actual demons in it. That's one of the reasons I liked Insidious so much, it actually showed the demon, even though people started making fun of it because of the red face comparison to Darth Maul. I guess I'm just bored with all the demon/exorcism films that don't show the actual demon. I'm a big fan of monster movies and it's always fun to see what kind of designs they come up with for the monster/demon. I definitely want to see this one, but if it's too much like the PA films I'll be a tad disappointed.

I'm also really curious as to why Patrick Wilson is doing so much horror right now. Insidious, Insidious 2 and The Conjuring. I'm just wondering if he really likes horror films or that's all that is coming his way at the moment.

It's not THAT much like PA, you do physically see the threat at times.

 

[Hush]

The idea of the house, family terrorized, demons, investigators. Lots of similarities to PA, totally different tone and better acted.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Yea the first 25-30 mins are kinda dull and slow like the PA movies. But once it picks up, IT REALLY picks up and doesn't let up until the end credits start to roll.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Its really looking like we might have a horror classic on our hands. Normally a claim like that would seem hyperbolic, but in this case it seems like it could be true. Whether it will be considered a classic in 20-30 years is anyone's guess, but I keep reading reviews saying this is like the classics of the 70s. The excorcist and amytiville horror keep coming up in reviews so if this film is successfully emulating those classics then I see this film being something people look back on many years from now as a classic of the genre.

i dunno about it being a classic, its no exorcist for sure. the thing is, the conjuring isnt anything we havent seen before. it doesnt really offer anything new. i think that is the movies only real flaw. but, that said, while we've seen this before....it does it really well.

 

[Tanin]

Seeing this film sometime this weekend. I personally don't think a film needs to add anything new to be good. In fact trying to add something new usually makes the film suck because getting a new great idea that sets it apart from anything else is cinematic gold.

Haunted house and exorcism stories haven't been really updated since the 70's. IMO

 

[redhawk23]

It might not offer anything really new but it does give us something we haven't had in a long time, which is a horror film with actual characters in it not to mention pretty good acting. You aren't just rooting for these people to die gruesome deaths. In that aspect, the movie actually does a lot better than most horror films in general, even older ones. The film has really good camera work and thought put into its gags, which is something else severely missing when so many horror films are found footage.

It's not revolutionary, but it is completely solid and entertaining.

 

[Jheri Curl]

Is it better, worse, or equal to Drag Me to Hell?

 

[Tanin]

I'll tell you what I think tomorrow or the next day... but I'll be honest. I am not sure how fair a comparison a horror with a comic slant and a straight horror film will be.

 

[Phallic]

I saw the movie myself last night. The movie is mostly suspenseful, but the suspense is done well. And a couple of scenes involving the actual ghosts (wardrobe, basement, bed and rocking chair scenes were 4 the most notable ones for me) were very well done and extremely spooky.

Stripping the horror elements aside, it was still a legitimately well made movie. If you like horror movies in general, this will probably tickle your fancy.

 

[Zeus]

I was hyped for this movie, it had vibes of a horror classic and I am NOT A HORROR fan. However, I love great films...like The Shining, Exorcists, etc...This film is fantastic, it is one of the best horror films of the last 20 years. Just amazing to watch and carefully made by Wan.

I suggest you go check it out...I love how barely any CGI in a horror film can make a film like this succeed...Only sounds, gimmicks, shock and the plot get you. Intense stuff

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

One of my sister's tried to see it tonight but it was sold out. I'm glad I didn't go with her when I had the chance lol.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Can't wait to see it. A part of me is wondering if it might be up for an academy award nomination. The last time I've seen a horror movie this well received as this is shaping up to be is The Sixth Sense and that did get academy nods (which is what makes me think that's possible here as well). Before that, I think The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby were at the academy as well.

 

[TX85]

Anyone jumped?,I'm waiting to see this on dvd or on demand cause I know I'll end up jumping at least once and I hate doing that in a theater so bad

 

[Kane52630]

I just came back. It's incredibly well made for a horror film. Just like what others have said, it's classic horror that managed to combined different elements/types of horror. Also the story structure that the movie went by in the beginning was quite interesting.

 

[redhawk23]

Can't wait to see it. A part of me is wondering if it might be up for an academy award nomination. The last time I've seen a horror movie this well received as this is shaping up to be is The Sixth Sense and that did get academy nods (which is what makes me think that's possible here as well). Before that, I think The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby were at the academy as well.

I really don't know what category this film could be really nominated in. No individual element is necessarily outstanding.

The great reception is very much due to the film being very successful in its aims and kind of scratching an itch that hasn't been touched in a long time.

 

[redhawk23]

While its enjoyable, the stuff with the doll is a bit of a non sequitur. Later they try to bring it into the fold a bit more but I think it would have been better off left alone as a solid intro and mood setter.

 

[Ultimatehero]

best picture, not likely. screenplay - possible. also if it was to critics not necessarily outstanding rotten tomatoes' top critics wouldn't have it at 90%. And these aren't horror fans looking to scratch an itch. That's high for any film. That is a miracle for a horror film.

ADDING: Just checked, it's at 84%, while still high - the 90% earlier just really threw me for a loop because that number, as said, is a miracle for the genre.

 

[Kane52630]

While its enjoyable, the stuff with the doll is a bit of a non sequitur. Later they try to bring it into the fold a bit more but I think it would have been better off left alone as a solid intro and mood setter.

I somewhat agree but at the same time I'm glad they bought it back later so it wouldn't feel too random. I love that it's Wan's signature piece to put in his films.

 

[Asr]

I really have only one minor criticism against the movie that's really not any fault of its own: I'm kinda getting tired of seeing a creepy old lady as the antagonist in horror movies. It's getting old (pardon the pun). After movies like Wan's previous ones (Insidious, Dead Silence) and others like Drag Me To Hell and The Woman in Black, and way more that I can't think of right now, it seems like creepy old ladies are the only thing that's scary. For once I'd like to see either a flat-out demonic monster, or just a nebulous dark form that leaves more to the imagination.

That aside, I thought this movie was awesome! It was really well-paced (though at times it did feel slow), it had a great soundtrack (with effective use of silence vs extra-loud noises and music), there were really cool camera angles and shots, and most importantly it was suspenseful, creepy, & freaky. Great, clever use of the unseen and seen too - some of those "unseen" moments were truly hair-raising. One that comes to mind is when the cloth on the clothesline flew away and for a fraction of a second settled on the form of some thing while still in mid-air. That part was epically freaky!

The acting was top-notch all around too, down to all 5 daughters! I can't think of any other movie that's had that level of acting from five young girls! Each one of them played their role really well and truly sold their emotions. And they totally played off each other as sisters convincingly too. It was just a small minor part of a scene but I thought it added a lot when the oldest daughter picked up her sleepwalking sister and put her into her own bed and said something like "ok you can sleep with me tonight". Because usually in horror movies, it seems like siblings rarely get along with each other, but just a minor thing like that humanized the family and made me want them to survive, instead of making me want them to get offed by the evil spirit.

This movie was so well-crafted that I want to see it again in theaters, maybe even a 3rd time, and I rarely want to see horror movies more than once. I have to hand it to Wan, this is his best horror movie yet and I hope he does more of them. Though with hopefully not another creepy old lady as the antagonist.

The final scene of the ending annoyed me just a little bit though. It left too much to the imagination for me. I wanted something more to happen.

 

[redhawk23]

Its really looking like we might have a horror classic on our hands. Normally a claim like that would seem hyperbolic, but in this case it seems like it could be true. Whether it will be considered a classic in 20-30 years is anyone's guess, but I keep reading reviews saying this is like the classics of the 70s. The excorcist and amytiville horror keep coming up in reviews so if this film is successfully emulating those classics then I see this film being something people look back on many years from now as a classic of the genre.

But what movies did those movies hearken back to? All movies have influences and none exist in a vacuum but what about this movie make it distinct other than merely being enjoyable? What new does it bring to the table? What standard does it set?

Movies like The Exorcist, Amityville and Wan's own Saw become basically jumping off points for entire subgenres and are remembered for it. This movie ,while pretty great and probably better than Saw, doesn't really do that.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Can't wait to see it. A part of me is wondering if it might be up for an academy award nomination. The last time I've seen a horror movie this well received as this is shaping up to be is The Sixth Sense and that did get academy nods (which is what makes me think that's possible here as well). Before that, I think The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby were at the academy as well.

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.

 

[The Dark Defender]

$40 mill openeing weekend...

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