The Conjuring 2 — Still Nice … !

26th October, 2016.

I have something of a confession to make.

It’s a relatively simple confession to make.

A relatively simple confession to make … about movies.

It’s quite simply this.

I don’t, usually, watch sequels.

I’ve up grown, over the years, with the impression that they’re not a patch on the original film.

With one or two exceptions, I think.

The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi were improvements on their predecessor.

Aliens — in going in an action direction — was a very different film from the original: and the better for it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens … ?

A VAST improvement on The Phantom Menace trilogy: themselves a major argument that sequels aren’t necessarily a good thing.

A few months back, I managed to sit done with the James Wan directed, The Conjuring.

And came away thinking two things.

That The Conjuring was enjoyable.

And that The Conjuring was enjoyable enough to make me want to invest my time in its sequel: the imaginatively named The Conjuring 2.

OK, the name might be unimaginative.

The film itself … ?

~≈◊≈~

The Conjuring 2 opens in 1977: not long after its heroes — Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga — have handled an especially difficult case.

In a little New York town called Amityville.

We’re also introduced to the Hodgson family of Enfield.

Whose youngest daughter, Janet … ?

Is having issues … !

Scary, oiuja board issues!

You can tell SOMETHING’S going to happen, can’t you … ?

~≈◊≈~

Now … ?

Still nice?

Lord yes.

I’m still unconvinced by hordes of sequels.

They don’t necessarily convince me to see the original.

However?

The Conjuring 2 stands on its own two feet.

Very steadily, and quite proudly, on its own two feet.

Yes, it’s a sequel.   And yes, it’s a sequel whose mostly American cast have studied at the Dick van Dyke School of London Accents*.

Beyond that?

Beyond that, Wan and company have made a film that tells an entertaining and suspenseful story: with moments of engrossing drama that had me riveted in my chair.

Personally?

I found The Conjuring 2 to be both worth the rental fee: and a good follow up to the first film.

Go watch The Conjuring 2: and enjoy it.

The Conjuring 2.

★★★☆

*        Dick van Dyke’s fake Cockney accent in Mary Poppins is — in the view of many of my countrymen — bloody awful†.   It’s SO awful?   That even Dick van Dick admits it’s awful.

†        The only convincing faux English accent I heard from an American actor?   Was from James Marster, playing Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.