It's already halfway through the year and
people started talking about the movie, well yes, still Hollywood movies, from
a variety of genres, including a recent movie of this one genre: horror /
thriller, which has received much attention so far.. The Conjuring ..
was touted as the scariest movie in 2013 .. Who’s not tempted to watch it?
Dir: James Wan (saw, Insidious); Starring: Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel, Orphan) and Patrick Wilson (Hard
Candy, Insidious) as the Warrens and Ron Livingston (HBO’s “Band of Brothers”)
and Lili Taylor (Public Enemies) as Roger and Carolyn Perron, Joey King (Crazy,
Stupid, Love), Shanley Caswell (Detention), Haley McFarland (TV’s “Lie to Me”),
Mackenzie Foy (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn), and newcomer Kyla Deaver play
the Perrons’ five daughters, and Sterling Jerins (World War Z) is the Warrens’
little girl, Judy, residents of the house. 15 cert, 112 min.
The Conjuring, the new horror film from James
Wan, has been the American box office success story of the summer:
over there, it has taken almost $87 million in two weeks with
budget $13 million (estimated), leaving the likes of Pacific
Rim and The Lone Ranger lumbering in its wake. Based on a 'true story',
The Conjuring follows a family that move into a big rundown house in Rhode
Island. Parents Carolyn and Roger (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor) and their five daughters begin to
experience strange occurrences in the house like doors opening and closing and
portraits falling off the wall. It isn't long before things take a turn for the
sinister and they go to renowned paranormal investigators Lorraine (Vera Farmiga)
and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson)
for help. They move into the house to in hopes of discovering the source of the
disturbance and helping the Perrons before it's too late.
Now, let's make it easy, I divide this film
into 3 scenes: 1. Introduction; 2. Middle groove; 3. Ending. I can’t say that the whole movie was so slow, I just
feel the proportion of 3 parts that we are talking about is not so balanced.
Understandable for cuts in part 1, well we're watching a horror movie, instead
of a story about the happiness of the Perron family. This part, the
story of Annabelle was so dominating. For part 2 to 3, it became awkward
in my mind. We moved quickly to part 2 where strange things begin to
happen, and you know what? I think we were
allowed to stay in that part for a long time, a bit too long until we start to
guess the end of the film, some audiences may have guessed. People are given time to build up expectations. So, based on part 2, sorry to say that I
did not get a good climax at the end. (7.8)
Real Annabelle at left, fake but
creepier one on the right.
The plot was actually predictable but it was
not that boring. The actors and actresses also play their roles well. I
think the best is Vera Farmiga and Lili Taylor next to her. I can’t say much about Ron Livingston because I did
not really feel the emotion in him, in contrast with Lili. A bit wondering about the selection of Patrick Wilson
as Ed Warren, not something bad because he performed well however, and is the
perfect opponent for Vera who looks so steeped in her role. I may
just be affected by his role in "Insidious". While Vera, she even had her own observation with the real
Loraine Warren. (8.0) Next, compliments
for the videography! The movements flow smoothly from scene to
scene, spoiling my eyes. When
there are moments of silence in some scenes, the image filled it well. Scene
that I still do not understand its existence is when Ed and Lorraine were
explaining the source of the sound of the floor to the husband and wife on the
roof of the house, which at that time I thought that they were Roger and
Carolyin. Odd, because a few minutes later Carolyn appeared that for the
first time introduce herself to Ed and Lorraine. Just wondering what is the
function of this scene, is simply to state that "there is always a
rational explanation for any strange occurrences in the house"? (8.6)
I see the effort in the selection of costumes
and properties, yet somehow if traced in, I do not feel that I really was in
the 70s, but I have to say that the whole costume colors used have contributed
to the overall tone. Make-up, everything looks perfect, especially when
Bathsheba pervaded Carolyn. Anyway, the white GMC moving
truck that pulls in behind the family station wagon when they first arrive at
the house in 1971 wasn't available until 1973. (7.0)
So, for all the
points I got from watching The Conjuring, yes it's scary,
but not the typical fear that I will take it out of the movie theater. I was actually more wondering about the scenes
that I have seen. And obviously this is not the scariest one in
2013, at least according to my version. So looking forward to watch Insidious 2 and see if it
will make The Conjuring as
an introductory film only from James Wan.
Average points: 8.1; Rate **** of 5.
Average points: 8.1; Rate **** of 5.
Some scenes from The Conjuring...
(Movie review by prayudiutama)