The Conjuring (Mini Review Series) (Netflix/HBO Max)

Initial release date: July 19, 2013

Studios: Warner Bros. New Line Cinema The Safran Company

Tagline: Evil Loves Innocence

Plot: In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine and Ed Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn and Roger Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse where a supernatural presence has made itself known. Though the manifestations are relatively benign at first, events soon escalate in horrifying fashion, especially after the Warrens discover the house’s macabre history.

Cast

Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring 3) - Lorraine Warren

Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring 3) - Ed Warren

Lili Taylor (HBOs Perry Mason) - Carolyn Perron

Ron Livingston (The 5th Wave) - Roger Perron

Shanley Caswell (CBSs NCIS: New Orleans) - Andrea

Hayley McFarland (FXs Sons of Anarchy) - Nancy

Joey King - (Netflix’s The Kissing Booth 2; Hulu’s The Act) - Christine

Mackenzie Foy (Disney Plus’ Black Beauty) - Cindy

Kyla Deaver - April

Shannon Kook (The Conjuring 3) - Drew

John Brotherton - Brad

Sterling Jerins (The Conjuring 3) - Judy Warren

Steve Coulter (The Conjuring 3; Boogie) - Father Gordon

Writer(s): Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes (The Turning)

Director: James Wan (Aquaman; The Conjuring 2)

Rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror (112 min)

With ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ now streaming on HBO Max until July 4, I figured it’s time to give the entire franchise (sequels and spin-offs) another look! And, of course, to begin checking out the horror series, you gotta go back to the first one with ‘The Conjuring.’

No matter how many times you see the movie, there are quite a few moments in the first movie that will still give you chills. While watching the movie, there are quite a few moments that remind me of the older 1970s horror films. Mainly with the 70s vibe and just how most of the horror movie was shot.

‘The Conjuring’ offers quite a few inventive jump scares and, in this case, they happen in the most unexpected times. This horror movie will ultimately become a “new classic” for the genre and is probably one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. The final act of the movie is really terrifying and will definitely send some chills down your spine!

You can catch ‘The Conjuring’ on Netflix and HBO Max. And can also rent it via Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu or Amazon Prime Video.

Here are quite a few interesting tidbits about ‘The Conjuring’:

• The real Perron family visited the set of the film.

• Eight generations of families lived and died in the house before the Perrons moved in. Andrea Perron suggested that some of the spirits from the families never left. Deaths included two documented suicides, a poisoning death, the rape and murder of an 11 year old girl, two drownings, and the passing of four men who froze to death.

• The film contains no sex or nudity, little profanity, tame and mostly bloodless violence, and brief depictions of alcohol and no smoking, yet it received an R rating. This was solely for its scare factor alone.

• The movie was shot in chronological order.

• Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga both traveled to Connecticut to meet with Lorraine Warren prior to filming.

• Director James Wan modeled the movie’s cinematography and atmosphere after vintage 1970s horror films.

• The state of Rhode Island doesn’t require home sellers to disclose documented histories of a location’s criminal activity (let alone alleged paranormal/supernatural haunting's) to potential buyers. This is why the Perrons were unaware of all previous events.

• The real Annabelle doll was actually a used Raggedy Ann doll that was bought by Donna’s mother at a hobby shop and was known for not only leaving notes on parchment when there was no parchment around but also leaving claw marks on his chest. The makers of the movie decided to make a more sinister-looking doll of porcelain for the movie.

• In the original case Ed and Lorraine Warren were kicked out of the house as they weren’t able to help the Perron’s.

• The movie’s title was temporarily ‘The Warren Files’ based on a suggestion by James Wan, but was later reverted to ‘The Conjuring’ prior to the commencement of the film’s marketing campaign.

• Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema initially intended to release ‘The Conjuring’ in early 2013, but decided on a summer release date after gaining a positive reception from test audiences.

• The horror film grossed $137.4 million in North America and $182.1 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $319.5 million, against a $20 million budget.