The Conjuring (Supernatural Horror Film)

The Conjuring

In Movie Theaters: Friday, July 19, 2013 Nationwide

On DVD: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Released; Now Available Buy or Rent Availability
Director: James Wan
Cast:  more cast
Vera Farmiga . . . Lorraine Warren
Patrick Wilson . . . Ed Warren
Ron Livingston
Lili Taylor
Joey King . . . Christine Perron
Mackenzie Foy


The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were American paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of haunting. Their reports inspired the Amityville Horror.

The Conjuring was released in the United States and Canada on July 19, 2013, and in the United Kingdom and India on August 6, 2013. The film opened to positive reviews, and grossed over $318 million worldwide from its $20 million budget, making it one of the highest grossing horror films of all time.

Story Line: In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron move into a dilapidated farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island with their five daughters Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April. During the first day, their move goes smoothly, though their dog Sadie refuses to enter the house and one of the daughters finds a boarded up entrance to a cellar.

 The next morning, Carolyn wakes up with a mysterious bruise and Sadie is found lying dead outside the house by April, the youngest daughter, who also finds a strange music box. Over the next several days, various instances of paranormal disturbance occur, most notably when Christine and Nancy are attacked one night by an unseen figure behind their door; the activity culminates one night while Roger is away in Florida. After hearing various clapping and giggling noises, and seeing the picture frames shattered on the stairs, Carolyn is locked up in the cellar. Later Cindy, one of the daughters, is awakened after sleepwalking into her sister Andrea's room and she sees a spirit on top of a wardrobe in the room that leaps on and attacks Andrea.

Carolyn contacts noted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to help her family. The Warrens conduct an initial investigation and conclude that the house may require an exorcism, but they needed authorization from the Catholic Church and further evidence before they can proceed.

While researching the history of the house, Ed and Lorraine discover that the house once belonged to an accused witch, Bathsheba (a relative of Mary Eastey), who tried to sacrifice her week-old child to the devil and killed herself in 1863 after cursing all who would take her land. The property was once more than 200 acres but has since been divided up into smaller parcels. They find reports of numerous murders and suicides in houses that have since been built upon parcels that were once part of the property.

Ed and Lorraine return to the house to gather evidence to receive authorization for the
exorcism. Cindy again sleepwalks into Andrea's room and reveals a secret passage behind the wardrobe. Lorraine enters the passage and falls through the floorboards into the cellar, where she sees the spirit of a woman whom Bathsheba had long ago possessed and used to kill her child. Another of the Perron children, Nancy, is violently dragged by her hair along the floor by an unseen force.

The Perron family decides to take refuge at a hotel while Ed and Lorraine take their evidence to the Church to arrange an exorcism. While the Warrens are on their way home, their daughter is attacked in their own home by the spirit of Bathsheba, though Ed arrives in time to prevent her from being harmed.
Carolyn, now possessed by the spirit of Bathsheba, takes two of her daughters, Christine and April, and drives back to the house. Ed, Lorraine, Roger, and two assistants rush to the house where they find Carolyn trying to stab Christine with scissors. After subduing Carolyn and tying her to a chair, Ed decides to perform the exorcism himself. Though Carolyn escapes and attempts to kill April, who is hiding under the floorboards, Lorraine is able to temporarily distract the possessed Carolyn from killing her daughter by reminding her of a special memory she shared with her family, allowing Ed to complete the exorcism, saving Carolyn and her daughter.

Returning home, Lorraine tells Ed that the priest who they sought for the exorcism had called back and left a message, saying that he had gained approval from the Catholic Church to perform it. In addition to this, he also has another case for them to investigate on Long Island. When they leave, the music box that April had found opens and plays music, revealing the Annabelle doll in the middle of the music box mirror.


 

The Conjuring 2

In Movie Theaters:  Friday, October 23, 2015 Nationwide

Producers:  Rob Cowan, Peter Safran

Screenwriters: Carey Hayes,Chad Hayes

Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson

Sequel...
In June 2013, it was reported that New Line Cinema was already developing a sequel. Both Farmiga and Wilson are signed on to reprise their roles for an additional film. The sequel is scheduled to be released on October 23, 2015.