What's The Bottom Line?: What's The Bottom Line special Spontaneous Sunday presents The Conjuring

presents

The Conjuring (2013)

Starring: Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy) Vera Farmiga (The Departed) and Ron Livingston (Office Space)

Introduction

For this Spontaneous Sunday, I have decided to do one of my requests. A man called Ryan Meehan asked me to do a film blog about The Conjuring, at first I was quite surprised someone asked me to do a request but I have seen this film and I did think it was quite a unique film for the 2013 box office selling....However, since it's based on a true story I wanted to keep that in mind when I was watching the film.

First Impressions Before Seeing The Film?

I really enjoy the look of the cast, the main cast members am excited about are Patrick Wilson and I adore his acting abilities, and he takes the roles quite seriously and believable. But, then we have Vera Farmiga and I have never seen her in a bad film yet. I love her in The Departed, loved her in Source Code, Safe House, and especially since The Conjuring is a thriller/horror Orphan!. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga play paranormal investigators. And, the location of this paranormal activity is a farm house? That's right, this is a true story and as we unfold you'll see why it's taken so long to tell this story.

After I Watched The Film?

I have to say, I like the storyline it's true and actually believable but I was more surprised at the special effects that were used in the film. You can see that there has been so much effort put into making this paranormal sense. However, the children in the film also acted amazingly I can't fault them. Considering, it's always a risk when under 10 year old's are in a thriller or a horror because they could be physically sacred! However, if you look at the facts and the story of where this film came from. It's so close to heart and mind that it does portray that believability. Plus, the little manipulations that happened and that are happening in and out of the film is believable too. Plus, it's not only the effects you have to remember the makers of this film was from Saw and Paranormal Activity. So, that in mind the effects, camera work and above all the essence of the paranormal activity is there! But, I have to say am quite let down at some of the goofs shall we say that happened in the film. There all on the IMDB page from like iPhone's in pockets to Mustang parked at the motel in BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires....which weren't sold in 1971! Just the little things in the film you'll see but I didn't notice them till I did my research. I did think however, the whole story itself is interesting, you can see the 'ghosts' have this presence over the children which is what our first impression is and always will be. But, do not see any of the interviews with the family before the film. Watch that afterwards. Anyway, overall if the special effects were really rubbish I wouldn't of enjoyed it as much. I remember seeing this film and think, the make up is great, the special effects are quite flawless, the children's acting is quite high considering it's a full length film and at first glances you probably wouldn't link the children to any films. But, I like looking at childhood stars and seeing where they end up. Like, Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory he is now a Vet. But, I find it really creepy mainly that you know eight generations of families lived and died in that house before this family moved in.

A RANDOM fact.....When the movie was shown in the Philippines, some cinemas had to hire Catholic priests to bless the viewers before showing it. This is due to some viewers having reported a 'Negative Presence' after watching the film. The priest were also provided spiritual and psychological help to the viewers as well.

What Makes The Conjuring A Film That Must Be Seen?

I tell you what, considering the film is based on a true story, that alone should be a reason to see it. I love the things that actually happened like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Titanic, Public Enemies, Remember The Titans, 12 Years of a Slave. I just like the dramas or horrors or any film mainly that are based on a true story. But, the story has to grip me. So, that in mind I wouldn't watch a WW2 film, I have watched Red Tails thou because it had a different take on the World Wars. However, I feel this should be a paranormal film that must be seen simply because, it has the depths and understanding of what is paranormal spirits. I hate Paranormal Activity films simply because it's rubbish. I don't like films that are seen through a camera lens because to me it's not real. This film however, doesn't have that element you see everything without seeing it through a camera lens. However, I would watch it just to see what happens at the end of the story and see why it taken so long to tell the story. I think it took so long honestly because you have to think 30 years ago. Now, 30 years ago you could of been classed as clinically insane if you mentioned this to anyone. And, plus it's quite hard to tell people something so unique, so spiritual and it's the whole 'seeing is believing, believing is seeing'. It's so much to take into consideration and plus there's those psychological scarring, I mean no one would ever experience this in today's society and you would either keep it bottled up or you would tell someone. But, it would be hard to prove.

So, What's The Bottom Line?

I think the bottom line would be, if you like you're true stories, paranormal 'badass' spirits and the fact of the element of risks and strong powerful actors and getting to know there back stories I would highly recommend this film just on that and there's so much more to see.....or not to see and that's the bottom line.

Tips If Watching The Film?

1) I think my first tip would be, don't watch any family interviews first. Watch the film first and then you'll see why I said that. I like seeing who plays the real people and then seeing the real people

2) Try and not guess what's going to happen, because at points I was like "oh this is going to happen". But, I see films more enjoyable if you don't guess and just enjoy.

3) Look into the history of the film, behind the film and the goofs and the trivia because it's all interesting. You think the film is good, the history behind the film is even more interesting. Because, they couldn't fit everything in a film.

4) Finally, look at the props/costumes/make up that are used in the film really makes you see how much effort they put into the film to make it what it is today.

My Rankings

Going to give a huge shout out to Ryan Meehan to say thank you for giving me this film to write about because seeing it again I love it even more. So, that in mind I give this horror/thriller paranormal phenomenal of 2013 a good 8 out of 10. IMDB uses overall gave this film a 7.5 and for once I am happy with that rating.