The Conjuring (R)
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review sites: Bloody Disgusting; Dread Central (Blu-ray/DVD); iHorror (2 / 3)
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This came out in 2013, but I didn't see it until 2018. By then, there was a prequel ("Annabelle") that started its own spinoff series, as well as a direct sequel, and... some other stuff. Anyway, the movie features real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played here by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). The Warrens' work, it should be noted, inspired "The Amityville Horror" franchise, though as of the time I watched this movie, I hadn't seen any of that.

It begins with the Warrens interviewing some people about a doll that was supposedly possessed by a spirit named Annabelle, although they decide it's actually a "conduit" for some demonic entity. However, most of the film is not about that at all. That interview was in 1968, and the film is mostly set in 1971. Roger Perron and his wife Carolyn (Lili Taylor) move into a house in Harrisville, Rhode Island, along with their five daughters, Andrea, Nancy, Christine (Joey King), Cindy, and April. It doesn't take long for lots of strange things to start happening, though it does take awhile for any of the Perrons to realize there's anything supernatural going on. Meanwhile, we see brief scenes of the Warrens going about their lives (sometimes including their daughter, Judy). Eventually, Carolyn sees one of their lectures, and begs them to come check out their house. They do so, along with their assistant, Drew, and a local cop named Brad.

I don't really want to say any more about the plot, but of course things get increasingly creepy. I don't think I ever found any of it particularly scary as a movie viewer, though of course this is the kind of thing that I can certainly see would be terrifying for the people experiencing it. In any event, I'm glad to have seen the movie, and I liked it well enough to want to check out the other movies in the franchise, at some point.