2. The Conjuring 2
It’s not a coincidence that the best two movies in The Conjuring Universe are directed by James Wan. He’s a fantastic director and really knows his stuff when it comes to horror!
The Conjuring 2 was released in 2016 and while it’s not as good as the original, it’s an overall enjoyable movie. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, tasked with investigating the real-life haunting that’s now known as the Enfield Poltergeist case.
The sequel takes place in the late ’70s and sees Ed and Lorraine traveling to England to meet a family with a young girl named Janet (Madison Wolfe) who’s been possessed. The use of tension and suspense is definitely a high point in the sequel, as well as the fantastic cast. On the other hand, there are too many silly jump scares and the pacing throughout the movie is a little off.
1. The Conjuring
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the number one entry on this ranking list is The Conjuring. The movie that started it all was directed by James Wan and hit theaters in 2013. Introducing us to Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film is without a doubt the best-written and the creepiest of the series.
The Conjuring takes place in the ’70s and follows Ed and Lorraine as they agree to help out the Perron family, who’s experiencing unexplainable supernatural events in their home. Of course, they discover that they’re being haunted by a powerful demonic entity that they must get rid of.
The overarching storyline might not be anything we haven’t seen before, but it’s executed so well. There’s suspense throughout, the pacing is good, and the performances are very strong. Wan does a great job creating an atmosphere of dread and horror in The Conjuring.
The movie is rated R only for “sequences of disturbing violence and terror,” a.k.a. for being so scary, and while I don’t necessarily agree with that, it’s still a cool feat.
Which movie in The Conjuring Universe is your favorite?