The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it Movie Review

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Studio: New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company

Director: Michael Chaves

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hillard

Runtime: 1 h 52 min

Rating:  5/5

Impressed with The Conjuring 1 and 2, the anticipation along with my expectations were very high for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. The supernatural horror film series has followed the true events and cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren, demonologists, and paranormal investigators, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The film did not disappoint as it kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting for each new revelation and scare. Each story thus far has had its own individuality, making the films unpredictable which is an important element to a good film.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it, was based on the story in 1981 where a young man, Arne C. Johnson, is found by a cop, who was alerted about a life-threatening incident, walking down the road. The man was covered in blood, confused and disoriented. He murdered his landlord without any recollection and his defense is “demonic possession.” Ed and Lorraine believe that he is innocent and try to find evidence to support his claim.

This film separates itself from most of the horror film because it is based on true events. It was nearly identical to what happened in real life. There is a certain level of uneasiness that is felt while watching a film that you know took place in real life. It is possible that it could have happened to you, or someone that you know. Not everyone believes in the supernatural, but Ed and Lorraine along with the film, do a great job of convincing otherwise.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga did a phenomenal job throughout the film. Their chemistry is undeniable and consistent in each film of the series. Their love and concern for another is one of the most powerful aspects of the series. Although these films deal with the most frightening situations, there is a sense of safety that Ed and Lorraine give. They are basically the heroes in each film. When there is no one else to turn to, options are exhausted and no one believes in those who experience the supernatural, they turn to Ed and Lorraine Warren. Their characters are kind, empathetic, genuine, and courageous. They are always willing to put themselves at risk to help others, regardless of what anyone thinks. Unlike the rest of the films in the series, Ed’s health is jeopardized in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Since I have grown to love and care for these characters, it is another element of fear that leaves me concerned throughout the film.

This film in the series was just as good as the other two, however, if I had to choose my favorite, it would be the first Conjuring. Not that this one lacked any substance or entertainment, but as a mother, I related to the original Conjuring. The Conjuring told the story of The Perrons and their five daughters. Supernatural events took place in the house they had recently moved into, which led to the mother being possessed by a demon. Although the film was filled with fear and anxiety, it also told a story of a loving family who stuck together and persevered through the most terrifying and uncertain moments. The Conjuring 2 was also a great film, following the theme of demonic possession within another family in London. This time the story surrounded a single mother of four who’s daughter was possessed. A lot of people doubted her story but like always, Ed and Lorraine came to her defense and put their lives at risk to help the family.

When most people hear about stories of the supernatural, doubt sets in. Not many have had their own experiences so it may be hard to understand or believe. I used to be a skeptic. When it came to supernatural events, I immediately thought, not. I did not believe it at all. I have seen several other supernatural horror films that just dropped the ball and seemed to be just for entertainment purposes. The Conjuring however, made me rethink my entire perspective. Why can’t the supernatural be real? Just because it is something that I have not, or yet to experienced does not make it necessarily false. The stories in The Conjuring series are based on true events and documented. Even if it is not the proof some need to change their beliefs on the supernatural, it may leave room for some doubt.

The Conjuring: The Devil made me do was based of the true story of 19-year-old Arne C. Johnson, of Brookfield, CT. On February 16, 1981, he murdered his landlord, 40-year-old Alan Bono by stabbing him to death. He was the first person in the United States to use demonic possession as a defense.  Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, just as in the film, and served a 5-year sentence. The Warren’s also wrote a book about the event titled, The Devil in Connecticut. For entertainment purposes, the film is dramatized, however, the events that took place in real life are relatively the same as the movie, which makes it even better.

In the film, 11-year-old, David Glaztel, played by Julian Hillard, was originally possessed. During an exorcism, Johnson invited the demon inside him for him to release David. Leading up to the events of the murder, Arne is having visions or hallucinations and behaving strangely. With his behavior changes, he also seems to be not in control of his actions. After the murder, he still deals with possession, but it isn’t the typical kind. Ed and Lorraine investigate why the circumstances of his possession differ from others. They are racing against time to help him release his connection to the demon before it harms him. They are also eager to find evidence to help his case during trial.

The best part of the movie was how it differed from the other 2. I was used to seeing a certain type of demonic possession, but this one was different, mysterious. I have seen the first 2 Conjuring’s and I felt that I was almost an expert on demonic possession. This story did not make sense or follow the rules of what I expected and what I have learned thus far from Ed and Lorraine. Not only did I get to watch the movie unfold, but I also got to play detective and try to solve this mystery. The experts Ed and Lorraine were even perplexed.

The special effects never disappoint. There hasn’t been a moment where something looked fake or forced. The script always feels genuine and natural. Sometimes with horror movies, things tend to get cliché or corny when it comes to the dialogue, same for special effects. The camera angles are always where they need to be, making the most terrifying moments very intense.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was a great movie overall. It was a great addition to the series, setting itself apart from the others. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are the foundation of what truly makes these movies great, along with the stories being based on true events.