The Conjuring 2

★★★★★ - A Review by Cameron Kanachki

"I had a premonition of your death. Something inhuman wants to kill you. If we keep doing this, you're going to die." That's a disturbingly scary quote from Vera Farmiga in The Conjuring 2, one of the best horror films ever made & one of the few sequels that lives up to the original. As was the case with the first film, this is based on the case files of husband-&-wife paranormal investigators, Ed & Lorraine Warren. Farmiga reprises her role as Lorraine Warren, who, in 1977, with her husband Ed (played by Patrick Wilson), have just finished with the infamous Amityville case. Lorraine has become increasingly concerned with Ed, having witnessed a vision of his death.

Meanwhile, in the London borough of Enfield, strange things have occured at the home of Peggy Hodgson (played by Frances O'Connor) & her 4 children. Her second-oldest daughter, Janet (played by Madison Wolfe), has been possessed by the spirit of Bill Wilkins, a man who previously owned the house & died in it. Fearing for their safety, Peggy & her children seek refuge at a neighbor's house, with the story eventually reaching the Warrens. Ed & Lorraine travel to Enfield to assist with the case, although Lorraine is reluctant, eventually seeing the vision again, & must now try to expel the demon possessing Janet.

Farmiga, Wilson, O'Connor & Wolfe's performances were terrifyingly spectacular. James Wan's direction was great, along with the screenplay by Wan, Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes, & David Leslie Johnson. And the cinematography by Don Burgess is one of the best of the year, with such excellently bleak shots. This is a film that definitely terrifies, & doesn't pull any punches.