Review of The Conjuring 2 (2016) by Ian B — 13 Aug 2016

Sequels are a big part of the horror genre, but it's no secret most of them turn out to be crap. Thankfully The Conjuring 2 is that rare sequel that stands up to the original. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this time in London dealing with the Enfield poltergeist case (after a brief stop in Amityville).

There's a slight 'been there, done that' feeling that occasionally pops up, otherwise director James Wan has crafted another extremely terrifying movie. The first half of the film draws you right in with plenty of suspense, atmosphere and strong performances.

Wan is proving himself to be one of the best at building tension and effectively scaring the shit out of his audience. If the movie has any shortcomings it's the length and third act. At almost two and a half hours long, it could've used a little tightening in the editing room.

..while the ending unfortunately throws a silly twist into the story. Despite a few minor issues, The Conjuring 2 is one of the scariest and most entertaining horror films of the decade. It's not quite as good as the first, but pretty damn close.

Highly recommended.