Conjuring Up a Good, but Unexpected Time

Gentle whispers of a dark, cold room. The feeling of an invisible hand brushing against your face when you're trying to sleep. The inescapable feeling of something or someone stalking you from the shadows with hungry eyes. Are these just illusions made manifest by unfound fears of the night or does the darkness really conspire against you? And if so, who or what does it conspire with? Such unnerving ambiguity is what conjures the thoughts that one day blossom into full blown nightmares - nightmares that we as a society love to explore and indulge through a plethora of tall tales. But perhaps when you've stepped into the darkness one too many times, the nightmares themselves begin to lose their luster and thus their tales lose their sway over no longer fearful hearts.

The Conjuring franchise is probably THE most popular horror franchise of the modern era. And although it’s spinoff titles like The Nun and Annabelle have come up a little short, the main line films have managed to satiate the supernatural tastebuds of both audiences and critics alike. So then, how does the third installment hold up? Well, I’m happy to say that The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it, stands as a worthy sequel to it’s predecessors. However, before you go charging into the movie theatre or to your tv, there are a few things you should know.

This time out, everyone’s favorite paranormal sleuthing duo is back investigating another case of demonic possession, centered around the infamous Arne John trial a.k.a. The Devil Made Me Do It case. And although the opening tees you up for the tense, heart-poundingly, exorcist adventure you know and love, very quickly it switches gears and throws you into a different experience. Changing up directors this time around, this particular film has a somewhat more cartoonish and fantastical feel, especially compared to the last two entrees, which very artfully rode a fine line of realistic plausibility. As a result, it lacks the scary and suspenseful bite that the first two had, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still some fun to be had here. In fact, there is still a fair amount of suspense, good scares, great acting, and beautiful cinematography, some of which is nothing short of delectable cinema sweetness, even if some sequences feel like a bit much for a Conjuring movie.

To put in succinctly, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is short on screams, but still an entertaining experience, albeit one that may fall bit outside of bounds of what fans know a Conjuring movie to be.

Levi Mock (August 19, 2021)

Comments

MK Legends: Scorpion's Revenge - Same as it Ever Was

It's a tale as old as time. Earth falls under threat of an otherworldly force, prompting humanity to cobble together a ragtag team of would-be heroes to save it from sheer enslavement and/or annihilation (take your pick). However, what separates Mortal Kombat from the seemingly endless catalog of similar stories are the unique kung-fu tournament-focused specifics of it's world ending scenario, it's crimson-stained hyper violence, a colorful cast of karacters , and of course a deep and rich bastion of fan-beloved lore. It's just such a shame that with all these wonderful toys and avenues for creativity, the MK creators just can't seem to fully step away from the original glorious outing of their universe, much less its staple karacters. But perhaps, with enough care and ingenuity, they can make the past feel as fresh and fun as their first blood spattered debut ... maybe. Let's get into it. Mortal Kombat is a story in which the champions of Outworld and Earthreal...

Vince McMahon - The God, The Freak, & The Fraud

Within a vast sea of eclectic personalities, all strange, deranged, and nostalgic in their own right, it’s truly a wonder that one manages to easily stand head and shoulders above all the rest, both in and out of the ring. And I’m not talking about The Rock, The Hulkster, or even The Unseeable Cena. No. Because even with all their charisma combined, I can surely say that their legacy does not hold a candle to the most revered, beloved, and reviled personality of them all, the infamous head honcho that everyone loves to hate, Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Yes. Always walking ten feet tall and with every inch of the Biggest-D-Swagger the world has ever known, Mr. McMahon single handedly birthed, grew, and perfected the multibillion dollar WWE empire that many know and love today, producing unforgettable stories, legendary bouts, and larger than life superstars that rival (perhaps even best) the ancient myths of old world gods and monsters. Or so the rum...

A Whale of a Fail? - The Cursed Dreams of Giants

The lights fall low and the dream-like silver screen dazzles the eyes with the humble beginnings of an all too familiar tale. The sprawling forests of an seemingly nondescript fantasy world bleed into view, before homing in on a party of unlikely heroes; heroes that have been brought together by the whispers of apocalyptic destruction. And although some are more eager than others to commit to such a heroic quest, they all go (more or less) willingly, finding adventure, hardship, and revelation along the way. The Cursed Dreams of Giants: Belly of the Bone Whale is yet another would-be fantasy-franchise-starter that endeavors to stand out in an oversaturated genre already packed with juggernauts like Willow, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Dungeons & Dragons, of course the many fantastic adaptations of The Lord of the Rings . But are such aspirations merely the crazed fallacies of a starry-eyed filmmaker or has director Julia McLaughlin crafted the next great epic to be etched...

Low Budget Movie Buff: Movie Reviews

Search This Blog