Director: James Wan

Writer: Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes (Screenplay)

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, Kyla Deaver

 

Plot: Paranormal investigate couple Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine (Farmiga) Warren travel around exposing the truth about the encounters. Carolyn (Taylor) & Roger (Livingston) move into a new house with their five children. What seems like a beautiful house that needs a little bit of work turns into a nightmare when the family discover they are being haunted and enlist the Warren’s to help expose the truth and help the family get back to normal.

 

Verdict: Chilling tale of one family’s battle against the paranormal forces

Story: Well this was different to what I was expecting, I was expecting a lot of jump scares but what we got was very well played out scares along with how they get investigated before all the modern technology. The story mixes enough different types of horror to keep the story feeling unknown throughout as well as having some smaller side stories that never get explained nor do they need explaining against the main story. (9/10)

 

Actor Review: Vera Farmiga – Lorraine Warren who has had something she won’t talk about happen on a previous case who has a connection with the ghost figures. Good performance in a role which didn’t need an overreaction to seeing the spirits and Vera doesn’t this adds real belief to her performance as a lady who has seen it all. Star Performance Award (9/10)

 

Actor Review: Patrick Wilson – Ed Warren a very smooth talker who goes around exposing truths as well as helping people who are really possessed. Good performance again showing a calm persona in the face of what is happening. Smooth Talker Award (9/10)

Actor Review: Lili Taylor – Mother of the family who is targeted the most by the spirits. Has to go through the most and does it very convincingly in a good performance. (9/10)

 

Director Review: James Wan – It would be fair to say this guy has created three of the best horrors this century now with this joining Saw and Insidious. This guy knows how to make everything come together to tell a good story and have enough horror to keep you at the edge of your seat until the credits role. (9/10)

 

Horror: Some brilliantly created scares along with jumps that will make the audience jump without it needed to make the characters. (10/10)

Thriller: Build up to the scares is very well created and even when you think some are over a final jump is added to great effect. (9/10)

Special Effects: Some great special effects and used by using the technology of the era for effects needed in the filming scenes. (9/10)

Music/Sound: Great use of sound effects along with some very haunting music box tune. (10/10)

Believability: I believe things like this can happen but I am only giving it a 5 because it all comes down to what you believe. (5/10)

Chances of Tears: None (0/10)

Settings: An isolated house great for setting adding to the atmosphere around the scenes. (10/10)
Oscar Chances: Unlikely

Chances of Sequel: I want to say yes as we could follow up on the Warren’s more.

Suggestion: This could easily be one of the best horrors in recent years and it is like this because it doesn’t just exploit gore or cheap scares. I will be picking this as my horror film of the year and will be suggesting it to all horror fans. If you don’t like being scared you won’t enjoy this. (Horror Fans Watch)

 

Best Part: What the music box represents.

Favourite Quote: Ed Warren ‘The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges on which we decide to follow.’

Trivia: Lorraine Warren & Andrea Perron (one of the daughters) both served as consultants to director James Wan and screenwriters and both claim the movie accurately tells the real story of what happened.

 

Overall: Brilliant horror one of the best this year maybe the best this year

 

Rating 92%