Review of The Conjuring 2 (2016) by Thequietgamer — 12 Oct 2016

What works in James Wan's follow up to his horror hit, aside from the man's mastership over the genre, is that there is a very human element to it. It treats it's character like humans and takes time to allow us to connect and care about them. It even fleshes out the Warrens a little bit more.

All of that is something the vast majority of horror film's struggle with nowadays. We aren't able to care about their characters, because all they really are is blank faces meant to scream at stuff. The Conjuring 2's ability to give us characters that feel like real people (all fantastically portrayed by a very talented cast) gives the movie an incredible edge over the competition. It also allows elements of humor, heart, and romance to be apart of the experience in ways that feel natural and believable. The writing is just good.

The horror elements is also very well handled. While it ends up being not that scary, Wan's experience with the genre allows for a very well-crafted haunted house thrill-ride. The excellent camera angles, spooky ideas, and an actual emphasis on tension building show what mainstream horror movies can be in the right hands.

James Wan gives us something better than all those crappy teenage date night, jump scare fests that clog up theaters all the dang time. It's a respectable effort. One made out of genuine love for the genre and talent. As a result it's so much more than your cheaply-made cash-crab horror sequel that we so often get. James Wan breaths new potential back into the mainstream horror genre. It's just up to other directors to pick up on it and start making horror movies with their heads and hearts, instead of just focusing on their wallets.

9.