The Conjuring 2

In the 1970s, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) head to the Amityville house to see whether the murders committed there were demonically inspired. A vision of a demonic nun and Ed’s death terrifies Lorraine, and she decides to stop their hunts to protect him. Events soon take a turn, however, that brings them out of this self-imposed sabbatical – in 1977 Enfield, an overwhelmed single mother of four finds that something evil is in her home. The Warrens investigate, and believe her story when the youngest story starts to show signs of demonic possession. They try to help, but the malicious spirits do not intend to give up without a fight. The Conjuring 2 is a follow-up to the 2013 smash hit, and it is just as scary as that film, if not more so. There are a lot of frights, and director James Wan is a man who knows how to build atmosphere rather than relying continuously on jump scares – as such, this film is chilling to watch in a way a lot of modern horror simply isn’t. However, in order to really get the most out of these scares, we also need to care for the victims, and the human element here is very strong. Wilson and Farmiga’s easygoing chemistry is employed to the film’s advantage, as is Madison Wolfe, playing the youngest daughter and the focus of the haunting. This is not a midnight fright to miss.

Reece Goodall