Skip to main content

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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Never in Theaters; Never at Home; But Perhaps on a Plane? - Breathe 2024

Uninspiring in its appearance. Barely interesting in its premise. Floundering in its conviction. When it comes down to it, 2024’s Breath seems to aim at being nothing more than a passage of time in no measure of impressive or insulting manner, unless you consider the time lost in watching it an insult in of itself. So then what, pray tell, is such a movie good for? What worth does it offer in any real way? Because as a theatrical experience, I’d be an utter disappointment. From the comfort of one’s couch, it may not even be worth having on in the background. But what about as an inflight showing? Do the conditions of coach class crammed seats become numbed with its viewing? Does it in any way pacify the many other pains and annoyances of laboring high altitude travel? If so, it may be the only suitable way to enjoy such a flick. So does it do the trick? Let’s get into it.  This supposed sci-fi thriller Breath weaves a fairly straight forward tale of single mom-scientist, Maya ( ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Princess Bride (1987)

My name is Levito Mock-toya. I’ve watched this movie. Now prepare to listen … to me talk about it. A tale of swashbuckling antics, a sweeping romance, and long sought revenge. 1987’s The Princess Bride, adapted from the novel of the same name, is a fantasy adventure cult classic comedy like no other. One that since its release has captured the hearts and minds of many movie goers. But all these years later, in the prime year of 2026, does the late, great Rob Reiner’s fantasy epic hold up? With a star studded cast consisting of Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane bolstering such a seemingly timeless, heartfelt, and heroic tale, it’s hard to imagine that it doesn’t. But in this golden age, or perhaps just thoroughly saturated time of fantasy-spectacle cinema, can The Princess Bride even begin to compare or dare to keep relevance on any level? I suppose that’s a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Round 2. Fight! - Mortal Kombat 2

A heavy shadow falls over the dominion of Earthrealm, as a slew of dark titans step forth and threaten full annihilation of any soul foolish enough to stand in opposition. Their blood-soaked hands and power-hungry spirits shall not be denied their konquest. Or so they emphatically claim. Yet still a chosen few rise to the occasion and greet death at its door. These champions armed with only the might of their fists and the fire in their hearts, ready themselves for the fight of their lives. And so it is that when all stand across from each other, each holding the fate of their world in the balance, a booming voice rings out, exclaiming … Round 2. Fight! And so blood hungry spectators return in droves to catch the long-awaited sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat , effectively called Mortal Kombat 2 . This time around, the thunder god, Raiden, and his chosen champions from the previous installment seek to recruit aging action star Johnny Cage to help defend Earthrealm in yet another Mortal K...
Post a Comment
Read more