Director James Wan shot to fame after the cult classic Saw (2004), and then went on to direct critically acclaimed films such as Insidious (2011) and The Conjuring (2013). He has, of course, also made the lackluster Insidious: Chapter 2, that made fans apprehensive about this sequel.

Fortunately, The Conjuring 2, is right up there with Wan’s best work; it could have been even better had it not been for a few flaws.

The Conjuring 2 takes us to late ’70s England. You’d think that being set at the start of the Margaret Thatcher era would be the most horrific thing about the film, but no, there are scarier things afoot. One of the clever things about this sequel is how it uses some actual historical murders in its narrative to set the tone. 

Believe the hype! The Conjuring 2 is a nerve-wracking film by a director who is proving that he can be a master of horror when he wants to

When the film begins, we learn that paranormal investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren are investigating the real-life Amityville murders in the United States. As you may know, in 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters at their home in Amityville, New York. A year later, when George and Kathy Lutz as well as their three children moved into the same house, they claimed that they had encountered paranormal activity. This scared them so much that they moved out of the house only 28 days later.

Although there is no independent corroboration of Lutz’s claims, a bestseller based on their experiences was published.

In the fictional world of The Conjuring 2, the Warrens are trying to find out if a demonic presence was behind the insanity of Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s mass murdering ways. Some may find this disrespectful to an actual tragedy, though it certainly made the film creepier. Here, Lorraine has a vision where she sees a demonic nun and the death of her husband Ed.

In the fictional world of The Conjuring 2, the Warrens are trying to find out if a demonic presence was behind the insanity of Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s mass murdering ways.

A year later, we meet the Hodgson family in London, England, who are struck by tragedy when paranormal events begin taking place in their home. When the second oldest of the four children is possessed and their mother witnesses the events first hand, the Warrens are requested to assist. Lorraine, having not told Ed about seeing his death at Amityville, is wary of tackling the case.

The biggest concern with The Conjuring 2 is that it is a bit longer than it should have been. There are at least 20 minutes of exposition and flat space that could have been cut in the editing room. That being said, the strong characterisation on offer is enjoyable, especially that of the Hodgson family, who are quite endearing.

In terms of scares, Wan shows that when it comes to delivering frights, method can trump innovation. The film carries all of the horror tropes, including the haunted house plot device and a handful of jump scares, but Wan uses these options very effectively and with skill. The anxiety level built up by the film is so high, that you can taste it on your tongue and feel it on your skin. When the jump scares finally come, you almost welcome the release.

Rated R for terror and horror-related violence

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 24th, 2016