Rating of
2.5/4
Conjuring 3 - Movie Review
Matthew Brady - wrote on 07/01/21
"I think I hurt someone."
‘The Conjuring the Devil Made Me Do It’ is by far the weakest entry in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe. James Wan, who made the previous two movies, didn’t direct this time around and instead it’s directed by Michael Chaves, who previously did ‘The Curse of Livin' La Vida Loca’, and it painfully shows.
The Conjuring movies are like ‘the big event’ of these series of movies, while the spin-offs feel like the starters you usually skip to get to the big meal. Unfortunately, this feels like one of those spin-offs.
None of the scares were effective or scary as the build-up was seriously lacking. There was no atmosphere or tension for there to be any evil presence, but instead it felt predictable. Whenever the movie tries to do a U-turn in terms of the build up to the scare, it felt lackluster. The main “evil villain” wasn’t that interesting or terrifying, but I respect the film makers for trying to do something different and not sticking to the old haunted house formula, even if it sucks. I mean, it would have been easy to bring back “Da Nun”.
I mean the story had potential. Loosely based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, also known as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case, a unusual case where the first time ever in the United States court history that the defence claim to prove themselves innocent was based upon demonic possession and having no responsibility for the crime. A courtroom drama like ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, maybe? I mean in the trailer it did gave off the impression that the movie was going down that route. However, the movie misses the opportunity to do anything with it. Also, despite the Hollywood label “based on a true story” when it’s like 10 or 20% true. And another thing to note is how none of the actors look like the people they are portraying on screen, but that’s nothing new in the industry of movies.
Despite my criticisms, it’s not a bad movie, as there were some merits.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as the Warren's are always the best part of these movies, so it will come to no surprise that both elevate this material. These movies are about them and it will be a crime if any filmmaker somehow messes that up. They both deliver heartfelt, charming, and emotional performances that you rarely see in these type of horror movies.
I thought the supporting cast were good as well, especially Ruairi O'Connor, who plays Arne Cheyenne Johnson, he is one of the stand outs.
The opening of the movie was solid and set up the events that would later occur in the movie, despite the payoffs being disappointing. There were a couple of interesting shots that stood out to me. Then again, The Conjuring movies are always technically well made.
And that’s really it for positives.
Overall rating: As I said early, it’s the weakest out of the previous two, but even then, it still overshadows the spin-offs. And to end things off, this may come across as random, but this weirdly feels like an ‘X-Files’ episode mix with ‘X-Men’, in terms of supernatural happenings and Lorraine basically having superpowers. The double XX’S. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
But yeah, based on a true story.
