Director: James Wan
Release Date: 2016
Genre: Horror
Running Time: 2hrs 14 minutes
Rating: R
Format: Blu-Ray
Synopsis:
In 1977, Paranormal Investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren traveled to Enfield, London, to see single mother Peggy (Frances O'Connor), who believes that something evil is in her home. When Peggy's youngest daughter starts showing signs of demonic possession, Ed and Lorraine attempt to help her, only to find themselves targeted by the evil spirits that lurk inside the house.
This is a story about one of the most haunting incidents that took place in a small council home in Brimsdown, Enfield, England from 1977 - 1979, involving two sisters aged 11 and 13. In August, 1977, single mum Peggy called the Police after her four children reportedly claimed that furniture was moving around the house. Reports of further incidents in the house attracted a lot of media coverage and was covered in British newspapers, The Daily Mail and Daily Mirror. Before this incident took place Ed and Lorraine Warren had just finished investigating another case The Amityville Haunting!
Peggy and he four children, Janet, Margaret, Billy and Johnny live in a small council estate in Enfield, London. Peggy is struggling to keep up with the rent as her ex husband won't pay any child maintenance. Like most mothers she tries to do the best for her children, bringing up four children is quite the challenge! It doesn't take long before spooky thing start happening in their house. This isn't your typical horror movie. People don't hide behind white sheets and a serial killer doesn't come running out from a nearby alleyway. James Wan wanted his audience to use their imaginations with this film. Janet, Margaret, Billy and Johnny are clearly very close to one another. What's astonishing is that James Wan has really captured the characters beautifully, in comparison to the documentary that the BBC did on the real life events years ago, actress Madison Wolfe is a dead ringer for real life Janet Hodgson.
Wan made sure he captured everything accurately right down to interior of their house and the fashion of each individual. It's very rare these days you see a movie based on a true story where everything is so accurate. Most filmmakers choose to make stuff up to make it their own. The majority of this movie is not what you see, but what you don't see, allowing your imagination to go wild! The storyline is captivating and will have you on the edge of your seat from the get go! Vera Farmiga delivers once again a beautiful performance as Paranormal Investigator Lorraine Warren. Patrick Wilson who also starred in James Wan's hit horror movie "Insidious" has proven once again that he's a very good actor. He's really dived into the character of Paranormal Investigator Ed Warren. Actress Madison Wolf steals the show as Janet Hodgson. Her performance isn't amazing but she captures the characteristics of real Janet Hodgson perfectly!
The only thing that is a little bit disappointing is we are introduced to so many intense scenes, the storyline is really great then suddenly there's a drop, the film goes from being this wonderful horror movie to almost that of a cheesy B-movie, minutes later it's back again. Personally it was the choice of music used that for me just didn't work with the scene at all. There are a few moments that I think could have been shot a lot better. I'm no filmmaker but these scenes do look cheesy at times. It isn't the actors or the cinematography but moments of direction that are a bit poor. It's honestly the only thing through out the whole movie that annoyed me slightly. I love the realism of the production design, the house, the street and how realistic it is to the documentary shown with the real Hodgson family.
One of my favourite horror movies, it's highly entertaining with a very good storyline. I'd love to see James Wan direct a few more films based on Ed and Lorraine Warren's paranormal investigations. A really great horror movie if your into the supernatural!
Blu-Ray Special Features:
Crafting The Conjuring 2:
An inside look into the making of The Enfield Poltergeist and an introduction to the real Hodgson family.
The Enfield Poltergeist, Living with the Horror:
A fascinating featurette on the real Hodgson family and what they witnessed, interviews with the Janet and her sister Margaret Hodgson.
Creating Crooked:
A wonderful look into how they created the crooked man. Showing storyboards, production design and costume design.
The Conjuring 2, Hollywood's Haunted Stage:
A paranormal investigator looks into one of the most haunted stages at Warner Brothers Studio.
The sounds of scary:
An inside look at the composers for the soundtrack.
Deleted Scenes:
Self Explanatory
5/5 stars
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