Frighteningly good

I was challenged to watch this movie and not jump in fear or lie awake at night imagining a figure hidden behind my door.

Naturally, I wore my badge of horror honour to show these amateurs just how true thrill and chill seekers watch scary movies – I mean up until now, the 2013 box-office scare champ was The Evil Dead. Hollywood definitely needs to try harder than that!

For some, the story will evoke tender nostalgia for the 1970s, while for others, they will be glad they weren’t around to encounter anything of the sort. All-in-all, everyone who loves a haunted house movie will not be disappointed in The Conjuring, especially because it’s based on a true story.

Not only did it make me feel anxious, startle me and get my heart pumping, but I also had my hands glued up to my face throughout the whole film. I was frightened … I still am!

This is the scariest movie of the year, if not the decade. There is no denying that The Conjuring is a horror fanatic’s nightmare come true.

I must admit, the script may have been a little predictable and reminiscent of a low budget TV movie, but director James Wan’s filming techniques made it work.

Wan didn’t rely on visual effects to scare the audience; he used his incredible filming skills. The transitions are smooth enough to take you on the journey with the characters and the shots were creative and simple, ultimately provoking more emotion from viewers. He used old school techniques – it was set in a time with no computer-generated effects, so why use them?

The movie opens with married celebrity demonologists Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga). They’re known for documenting supernatural occurrences and helping those who suffer from them. After a creepy demon doll prologue, viewers are promised an insight into the Warren’s most frightening case.

We are then introduced to the Perron family, Carolyn and Roger (Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston), who move into an old house with their five daughters. When they start moving their things into their new home, they discover a hidden cellar.

Of course, this triggers the supernatural element in the house and birds fly into the outer walls, doors shake, the girls sleep walk, the smell of rotten meat lingers in the house and before you know it … the house is officially haunted.

Carolyn attends one of the Warrens lectures at a local university and convinces them to come back to her house.
 
The Warren duo come in and do what they do best – set up cameras and spy on the ghosts … and that’s when all the freaky stuff happens (not that it wasn’t scary way before this point).

Eventually, the audience learns the history of the house and the ‘ghosts’ within it.

The story is predictable but that doesn’t stop you from jumping out of your seat. The scares are obvious, but Wan holds them for long enough that when that ‘thing’ you knew was going to pop out at you, eventually does … so does your heart.

Both Wilson and Farmiga were excellent as the Warrens. Wilson came off as a realistically concerned husband and father, yet with enough authority to be the leading man. Meanwhile, Farmiga drew the audience in and was great as a spiritual and powerful woman who can see things that are blind to the human eye.

Lili Taylor was a strong leading lady and even though I’ve never been a fan, her versatility was on show. She definitely created a believable character that was needed in order to pull off the ending of the film.

I will proudly put my badge of horror honour on display for this movie. It’s a rare horror flick, especially for the present time. It will definitely produce enough in-seat jolts to have you feeling like a fool for weeks.

* Showing in Cineco, Saar, Seef II, Al Jazeera