The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring is an American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. It is the film that launched The Conjuring Universe franchise.
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy
Plot
The film is based on a true story. It follows renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they rush to help the Perron family. The family is experiencing terrifying and unexplained phenomena in their new Rhode Island farmhouse in 1971.
Performances
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson have incredible chemistry and deliver very natural and convincing performances. It's as if their roles were tailor-made for them. This is also one of the reasons behind the franchise's success.
Lili Taylor, on the other hand, steals the show as the tormented mother, bringing an incredible sense of tension and desperation that keeps you on edge throughout the film. All the children in the family also deliver excellent performances without ever going over the top.
Technical Aspects
The technical side of the film is what elevates it and sets it apart from the usual thrillers. The cinematography, visuals, and colors are simply perfect. It achieves exactly what it needs to, creating an atmosphere that feels heavy and oppressive while remaining visually stunning.
The director knows exactly what he's doing. No matter how familiar you are with the genre, there's a good chance that at some point he'll make you jump out of your seat.
He opts for an old-school approach, using natural lighting, dark corners that make you constantly scan the screen, and practical, in-camera effects instead of fake CGI.
The camera draws you into the house, closely following the characters, while the sound design does an exemplary job. It plays with silence, builds tension, and uses the creaking of the house to convey the characters' fear and terror.
Conclusion
All in all, this is a very good film that fans of supernatural horror absolutely must watch. It clearly follows in the footsteps of The Exorcist, but in a more modern and lighter version. It's no coincidence that this film spawned an entire franchise with nearly ten films to its name.