THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT Review–Proves People, Not Ghosts, Are What Makes Great Horror
Josh Millican
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Ruairi O’Connor
Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan
Directed by Michael Chaves
Since its launch in 2013, The Conjuring franchise and its spinoffs have introduced a bevy of memorable and iconic supernatural villains like Bathsheba, Annabelle, The Nun, and The Crooked Man. While the latest installment, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (arriving in theaters and on HBO Max beginning June 4th) has a few spooky new baddies to introduce, it ultimately proves what many franchise fans have already deduced: It’s the people, not the specters, that make The Conjuring franchise something special.
Also Read: Dread Central is now on Google News!
Synopsis:
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of the most sensational cases of their careers after a cop stumbles upon a dazed and bloodied young man walking down the road. Accused of murder, the suspect claims demonic possession as his defense, forcing the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.
By people, I’m referring specifically to Ed and Lorraine Warren. And to be even more specific, I’m talking about the characters played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively (as opposed to their real-life inspirations). I have mixed feelings about the real Ed and Lorraine Warren (may they both rest in peace), but since it’s never kind to speak ill of the dead, I’ll just leave it at that. Ed and Lorraine as portrayed by Wilson and Farmiga, on the other hand, are wonderful; the heartbeat and soul of The Conjuring franchise. And it’s been a minute since they’ve been front and center.
The Conjuring Part 2 was released in 2016. Since then, we’ve gotten the spinoffs Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, and Annabelle Comes Home, all of which relegated Ed and Lorraine to the background (if they even appeared at all). The Devil Made Me Do It realizes it’s been too long since Patrick and Farmiga have displayed their crackling chemistry as paranormal investigators as deeply in love as they are committed to their practice.
The Devil Made Me Do It opens with a bang! Seriously, the opening 10 minutes are comparable to the climaxes of the first two Conjuring movies. Excitement, however, doesn’t equal triumph, as we see this dynamic duo pushed to the ropes like never before. And just as the film begins with a downer (a failed exorcism), there’s a darker tone throughout the entirety of The Conjuring 3, one never fully eased or counteractive by a sweet Elvis song or equally tender moment. Still, it’s the combined efforts of Ed and Lorraine, propelled for the love they have for each other, the ensure they will live to battle more supernatural foes in the future.
Related Article: New THE CONJURING 3 Featurette Includes Recording of Real-Life Exorcism
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It has something the other Conjuring movies don’t: A real victim. Though all of the films in the franchise are based on the “real-life” case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and while folks have died in the fictional Conjuring universe, this one is based on an actual murder. That said, there’s something more grounded and sinister about this installment, something harder to ease with spooktacular special effects. But this difference is also one of the film’s strengths–and something that makes it especially timely.
If the past 15 months have taught us anything, it’s that life is can be unexpected–and not always in a good way. Therefore, it’s important that we learn to navigate these stories that don’t necessarily deliver a happy ending. Moreover, it’s important to recognize triumph, even when it doesn’t appear with fanfare. The Devil Made Me Do It represents a new era in horror, one that will incorporate the themes and realities of our “new normal”. What we find scary and the ways we process fear will evolve in the wake of the global pandemic. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It acknowledges this heavy truth with a harrowing film that, at best, offers a bittersweet resolution.
Patrick and Farmiga aren’t the only ones delivering knockout performances. Ruairi O’Connor plays Arne Cheyenne Johnson; it’s an extremely difficult role and the lynchpin that connects all of the film’s terrors. O’Connor succeeds in spades in playing a character possessed–and a soul that’s devastated. There’s a balance achieved by the actor and director (Michael Chaves) that makes Arne terrifying, sympathetic, and heroic all at once–even after he commits murder. Julian Hilliard also deserves a shout-out for his excellent portrayal of David Glatzel, especially during the film’s opening sequences. As I stated in the opening, it’s the people, not the ghosts, that makes The Devil Made Me Do It remarkable and worthy of your attention.
Also Read: “The Devil Made Me Do It!” Ed & Lorraine Warren Describe the Case That Inspired THE CONJURING 3
Don’t get me wrong, horror fans, there’s plenty of straight-up hellishness waiting for you in The Devil Made Me Do It: New phantoms, strange characters, and intense terror. The film is bolstered by a fantastic, nerve-jangling score by Joesph Bishara (the composer behind all of The Conjuring movies), great special effects, and brilliant editing. Prepare to be hooked immediately and held rapt throughout.
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THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
Summary
Though they appeared in 2019’s Annabelle Comes Home, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga haven’t appeared in the forefront of a Conjuring movie in almost 5 years. This makes their return as Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Devil Made Me Do It a true homecoming that fans of the franchise will adore.
