The Conjuring tells the story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who are called to a rural farmhouse in Rhode Island. There, the Perron’s (the fabulous-as-ever Lili Taylor as the Missus) and their five girls are being terrorised by an oppressive supernatural force – the evil spirits of some 19th century satanist and her victims. Lorraine’s a psychic, and many of the movie’s scare are brought about by the un-worldy things she sees in the corner of her eye.
It’s a very well made little film actually, and I can see how it made $320 million on a $20 million budget. It didn’t scare the crap out of me like, say, the first Amityville Horror – which is perhaps unsurprising since now I’m 46 and then I was 12. It’s also got similar themes and issues – again unsurprising since the Warrens were in fact called on to help in the Long Island incident. The thing I liked most? The richly consistent 70’s styling – it’s tremendously well executed. Although it’s set in Rhode Island, it filmed in North Carolina. The original house in Harrisville has become quite the unwitting tourist attraction too….