REVIEW – THE CONJURING (2013)

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)

Talking about the house, I liked the over all set design of this film, a large house on a large area, without neighbors, a lake in the backyard with wooden dock. Plus that makes it more powerful is the presence of a large tree used by Batsheba to kill herself. Not so exposed as in the commercial poster, but the message is still delivered well. Sight around the house is so beautiful, in contrast with the poster! Not that scary, until we get into the house, where the atmosphere changed instantly.(8.7) In a perfect way, the sound effects used throughout the film could really blend with the atmosphere that is built visually, not over or even under-used. (9.0)

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.

Some scenes from The Conjuring...

(Movie review by prayudiutama)