The Conjuring

Name: The Conjuring
Genre: Biography, Thriller, Horror
Released: July 19, 2013
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Lili Taylor, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Vera Farmiga

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1242 Ratings

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8.1

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1242 Ratings

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The Conjuring

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: July 19, 2013 | R

Starring: Lili Taylor, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Vera Farmiga

Summary: Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren try to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.

Director: James Wan

Genre(s): Biography, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Peter Hartlaub

Jul 25, 2013

I'd be shocked if we see a better horror film in 2013. Read full review

Justin Chang

Jul 12, 2013

A sensationally entertaining old-school freakout and one of the smartest, most viscerally effective thrillers in recent memory. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Jul 17, 2013

As an exercise in classical scare tactics, delivered through an escalating series of primo setpieces, The Conjuring is often supremely effective. Read full review

The Playlist Gabe Toro

Jul 16, 2013

The Conjuring, at points, is terrifying. Wan really understands how active, acrobatic camerawork can enhance the storytelling without breaking the fourth wall, a technique abused by today’s horror craftsmen. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Jul 18, 2013

Whatever your belief system, this much is gospel: Movies like The Conjuring are less about the battle between God and Satan than the battle between the silly and the scary. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Jul 17, 2013

The Conjuring is like a prequel to 40 years of demonic possession thrillers. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Jul 19, 2013

The Conjuring is as toothless as it is because it's two different kinds of boring. The film's plot is explained exhaustively whenever loud noises aren't blaring, and random objects aren't teasingly leaping out at you from the corner of your eye. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bramsterdam

Jul 20, 2013

My girlfriend loves horror movies and has dragged me to a lot of stinkers, but this movie was not one of them. Possibly the best horror movie I have seen to date! Here are the top reasons why I enjoyed this movie so much

1. crapped my pants 2. surprised my girlfriend didn't leave handMy girlfriend loves horror movies and has dragged me to a lot of stinkers, but this movie was not one of them. Possibly the best horror movie I have seen to date! Here are the top reasons why I enjoyed this movie so much

1. crapped my pants
2. surprised my girlfriend didn't leave hand prints because she was gripping my arm so tightly
3. the "brave" guys beside me made lame jokes to lighten the mood (I assume they didn't like being so scared)
4. the plot was very good for a horror movie and did I mention I crapped my pants?

if you like horror go see this movie! wear a diaper...… Expand

31 of 44 users found this helpful3113

cdougall

Aug 12, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. James Wan’s masterpiece and his best film to date, The Conjuring is one of the scariest horror movies I’ve ever seen and is very well acted, written and directed. The story of this movie is cliche: a family moves into a new home which turns out to be a cursed/haunted house. The family is terrorized by supernatural presences, and turns to paranormal investigators/demonologists for help. That said, the execution of that story is phenomenal and makes this movie much more than just a haunted house movie since it doesn’t just rely on jump scares. Wan makes great use of camera movement, light, and sound to truly scare viewers and the characters in the movie in cool and unique ways. The film grips you for it’s entirety and yet somehow manages to give you room to breathe at parts so you’re not anxiously sitting in your seat for the whole runtime. It oftentimes holds your attention by simply making you want to know what’s going to happen next in a non-fearful way. The characters have very appropriate reactions to their situations and act in a way that people would definitely act in the real world, allowing this movie to make a lot of sense. What’s really interesting about this movie is that this isn’t just some fantasy story that some producers and writers came up with to make the next scariest horror movie; The Conjuring is based on events that actually happened as described by the family that the film is based around. We don’t know how much of this movie is realistic of their experiences and don’t know how truthful what they said is, but the premise of this movie is from the experiences of a family that existed in the real world. This movie is a great case example of interpretation vs reality, as I’m sure Wan and the rest of the team came up with a lot of what we see in their heads based on the information they were given. All that said, the movie flows incredibly well from start to finish and is a very enjoyable and smart horror movie. It rises above all expectations and shows that Wan is a true master of the genre. As I said before, the writing, directing and acting are all really good. The actors play their parts to perfection and manage to create some really sweet moments among all the horror, which are nice juxtapositions in the movie. There are no awkward or disruptive moments in the movie, a rarity for horror movies. The end is also great: it’s a happy ending that doesn’t directly set up a sequel but definitely leaves the door open for them, and we’ve already gotten two sequels to this movie in the past few years. I can’t really fault this movie for anything. The Conjuring is a fantastic horror flick and is a must see for fans of the genre and of James Wan.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieGoer14

Aug 3, 2013

Before saying that The Conjuring is terrifying as hell, it is extremely disturbing and manipulative. With its own twist and story it delivers a thrilling ride through hell, this is one of the best movies of 2013, more off, it is scariest than The Evil Dead remake. On the other hand, I feltBefore saying that The Conjuring is terrifying as hell, it is extremely disturbing and manipulative. With its own twist and story it delivers a thrilling ride through hell, this is one of the best movies of 2013, more off, it is scariest than The Evil Dead remake. On the other hand, I felt like there is no haunted house horror movie those days, that can work without the usual, predictable and kind of annoying cliches! For Example: birds are breaking their nicks by hitting the house! Didn't we see it in The Last Exorcism Part II and before it Dark Skies? Doors slamming, like always, and thanks for the franchise that is known for doors slamming, and it worked and terrified us every time "Paranormal Activity" Can't James wan makes the door break after slamming, or just doesn't slam the door at all? I think he can do just way to more better, I actually blame him much because it was based on true story but not EVENTS, even though it isn't right if you have the accurate events. It is sometimes predictable and references much past horror movies ex: Poltergeist, Insidious, Paranormal Activity, Sinister, Drag me to hell and much more. But does make The Conjuring even close of being bad? Absolutely not! The cast is terrific, Vera Farmiga is hot and the plot is a through back to the '70s, it is not a bad movie, but not great one either but awfully close of being my favourite movie of 2013, if it wasn't for the cliches, it would have gotten a ten, but unfortunately, those cliches exist and I hate them, although some of them work, but not all of them. The Conjuring is the best horror movie 2013 and one of my favorite horror movies. I would highly recommend seeing it in theaters, IF YOU DARE!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

papeadojhon

Nov 8, 2014

Horrorosa, perturbante, suspensiva, e inteligente. The Conjuring tiene el paquete completo que una muy buena pelicula de horror deberia tener. Además de garantizarte unas cuantas noches de pesadillas con todo el asunto.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheOrience

Oct 18, 2013

Its true that The Conjuring plays on the same tried story of the haunted house, but it, unlike its predecessors plays it right. The films director, Wan, manages to take an overly developed storyline and streamline it into a frightfully believable tale that is shot in a way that removes theIts true that The Conjuring plays on the same tried story of the haunted house, but it, unlike its predecessors plays it right. The films director, Wan, manages to take an overly developed storyline and streamline it into a frightfully believable tale that is shot in a way that removes the predicable scare tactics that plague the horror genre and replace it with well thought schemes and unpredictably eerie scenarios. A film worth watching, even for those averse to the genre.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MrPajamas

Nov 2, 2020

The Conjuring is one of the good horror movies. The first half of the film doesn't look like much, but from the second half of the year, Warren gets involved, pulling the whole film. Overall, the fact that it is based on real events also helps the film, and thus it adds at least a littleThe Conjuring is one of the good horror movies. The first half of the film doesn't look like much, but from the second half of the year, Warren gets involved, pulling the whole film. Overall, the fact that it is based on real events also helps the film, and thus it adds at least a little realism. I can recommend.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Troubledkid97

Oct 8, 2018

I was watching until half of the movie, then I was so bored I want to kill myself. Maybe it will entertain you if you are a frail 13 years old girl or a religious numbnut, eh? The fact this this movie gets so many positive reviews baffles me, turn out there are a lot of stupid people outI was watching until half of the movie, then I was so bored I want to kill myself. Maybe it will entertain you if you are a frail 13 years old girl or a religious numbnut, eh? The fact this this movie gets so many positive reviews baffles me, turn out there are a lot of stupid people out there who have no taste and will like whatever third rate product Hollywood **** out.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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18	#18 Most Discussed Movie of 2013
5	#5 Most Shared Movie of 2013