The Conjuring

Ed and Lorraine Warren, renowned demonologists who founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952, assembled an Occult Museum at their home in Monroe, CT, housing a collection of artifacts connected to black witchcraft, sorcery, and curses. Based on a true story about one of their earlier exploits, James Wan's The Conjuring focuses on the Annabel doll, a conduit for malevolent forces. In 1971, when Roger and Carolyn Perron (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor) bought an old, secluded farmhouse in Harrisville, RI, the couple and their five young daughters were terrorized by bizarre, supernatural encounters with a dark, inhuman presence—until they sought help from paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga), who explained to them the three demonic stages of infestation, oppression, and possession. What follows is a series of horrifying night terrors and a suspenseful investigation into the creepy, creaking cellar, all leading to an obligatory exorcism in which Taylor imitates Linda Blair, spewing blood and invectives while suspended upside down from the ceiling as birds circle menacingly outside. Likely to appeal to fans of the paranormal, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Scaring the @$*% Out of You” production featurette (8 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is “A Life in Demonology” on paranormal experts (16 min.), a “Face-to-Face with Terror” interview with the real-life Perron family (7 min.), and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a reasonably creepy chiller.] (S. Granger)