Horror fans rejoice! The 8th film in The Conjuring Universe does not disappoint! This is the jaunt fans have been waiting for, featuring everyone’s favourite real-life Paranormal Investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga).
Easily one of the most sensational cases from their files, The Devil Made Me Do It starts with the fight for the soul of a young boy, taking The Warrens on a journey that will test their knowledge, wits and relationship. Without giving too much away, one of the cornerstones of this case file is that it marks the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect claimed demonic possession as a defence in court. That being said, the film only touches on this point briefly – it’s essentially an afterthought. If you really want to sink your teeth into what actually happened, the rabbit-holes of YouTube and Wikipedia have your back (that’s on my agenda for later this week).
I gotta admit, as a horror fan, I was nervous about this release in the cinema. James Wan is one of my favourite directors, and knowing he had handed over the reins to Michael Chaves, who directed “The Curse of La Llorna”, had me more worried than having Annabelle perched at the foot of my bed. Fear not though, my dear fans of all things scary, spooky, bloody and gory. Chaves delivers a film that is everything fans would expect from The Conjuring universe. That being said, it does lack those Wan-Esque suspenseful doom vibes. No need for concern though, the director makes up for it with a darkness that is steeped in elements of both death and tragedy.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren perfectly and meet the demands of the film with aplomb. The supporting cast carries the story well and delivers solid performances. My only complaint here is that the “big bad” didn’t really hold its own in the same way as in the previous films. Perhaps this is due to the pitfall in the script or the screen presence of said “big bad”- I’ll let you be the judge. While the film does have its frightening moments, sadly, I wasn’t scared of the one thing that was ultimately meant to scare me.
As many movie lovers know, sound design can either make or break horror films hinging on the “suspense, then scare” formula. This was handled beautifully and had me on the edge of my seat at just the right moments. Editing was also on point. Finally, there’s just something about the feel of that vintage grade on the Conjuring Films that adds to the overall feel and creepiness factor.
Overall, I’m thankful to say The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is a must for fans of the well-known universe. It’s a great outing for any horror aficionados. Performances are excellent once again from both Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson. Thanks to the superb editing and sound design, viewers will be on the edge of their seat, bound to please many horror fans. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) is Now Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD!
7.5/10
02/06/2021
Written by Amanda Rosazza
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