Caveat emptor for any horror movie claiming to be based upon a true story. While the credentials behind these films (technically the 8th entry in the ‘conjuring’ universe) are sketchy at best, it is impossible to deny the production values or talent involved in these films. The acting is excellent, even down to the child actors, and at this stage Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are as comfortable wearing these characters as they would a second skin. They have an easy charisma and chemistry together which has served as the centerpiece to making these stories work since the first. Unfortunately, this amounts to rehashes of earlier entries with corresponding emotional beats and it is unfortunate the actual case that is the centerpiece of this movie gets sidelined in favor of the same clichéd ghost/witchhunt better executed in the previous films and spin-offs. The real life story and court case here is legitimately fascinating and it seems like a lapse in judgment to not focus more upon it. Instead it’s another round of crawling through dirt tunnels looking for squeamish things and spooky jump scares. The scares themselves are woefully lacking, with a greater emphasis on action set-pieces than genuine scares, but the visuals are still top notch. Those seeking a horror movie equivalent to comfort food might be satisfied, but those seeking substance will find this sorely lacking. While still better than most films of this variety this certainly is the weakest of the core Conjuring movies and I earnestly hope inevitable future installments might present something more original and engaging.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it (2021)