“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” Review

Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Conner) tries to fight the demon possessing him in “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.”

“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is a piece of horror like a lesser Edgar Allen Poe story, it’s certainly has the atmosphere of a gothic horror story but it simply isn’t as strong as “The Tell Tale Heart” or “The Cask of Amontillado.” While certainly stronger than most of the films of “The Conjuring Universe,” such as “The Nun” or “The Curse of La Llorona,” the third installment of the main “Conjuring” series falters due to a lack of strength behind the camera while also having enough of what fans love to make it a mostly satisfying horror film.

Like the previous two films, the film follows demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they investigate a paranormal incident based on real events. In this film, the Warrens become involved in the infamous “devil made me do it” case where Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Conner) killed a man and pleaded not guilty by means of demonic possession. As the Warrens investigate the validity of Johnson’s claim, they discover that not only is the claim legitimate but that Johnson may kill again if the person who summoned the demon isn’t stopped.

The believability of the film’s tagline, based on the true story, will vary wildly depending on whether or not you believe in ghosts. As for me, I’m very much an agnostic in that regard. I don’t necessarily believe in ghosts but I also neither condemn nor disbelieve people who claim to have seen ghosts. But watching “The Conjuring” and its sequels momentarily convinced me that ghosts were everywhere and I have spent many nights watching these films and then looking under my bed for spectres and demons.

Wilson and Farmiga provide enough legitimacy to their roles to make even the biggest skeptic believe in the existence of demons. Their chemistry as husband and wife is not only believable, but the way they work together as a team while investigating is incredible considering that they’re both real people.

Patrick Wilson (Left) and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, a real-life couple of demonologists who investigated many cases of supernatural hauntings across the world.

Unlike the first two films, which were haunted house films in the same vein as “Poltergeist,” this film is much more of a mystery like “Seven” or “Zodiac.” While it’s certainly ambitious to try something different, especially since the first two films are so beloved, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is just not as strong as the first two. This is mainly because James Wan isn’t sitting in the director’s chair.

While there are suspenseful scenes, the film just doesn’t have the consistent levels of dread that was present in the first two. Director Michael Chaves, who previously directed “The Curse of La Llorona,” certainly relies less on jump scares for this film than in his latest film, which is good. Jump scares, while they can be used effectively and sparingly in good horror films, have often been used for audiences like how a jumper cable jump starts a car, by giving the audience a momentary shock that prevents them from realizing that what they’re watching isn’t the least bit frightening.

While the film has a solid atmosphere, Chaves doesn’t have enough scenes of tension so there are gaps in the film where nothing terrifying is happening. At times, the only thing maintaining interest are the Warrens because of how wonderful the acting is. With that said, there are moments that are straight-up-terrifying, especially the opening where the Warrens perform an exorcism but this level of terror isn’t present throughout.

The best way to describe “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is to imagine if, after directing “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” director Christopher Nolan decided to hand off “The Dark Knight Rises” to his friend Zack Snyder. While Snyder is a talented director and can handle action and superhero spectacles, he’s no Christopher Nolan. And while Chaves and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” are both fine, they’re no James Wan and the films that came before. While not as strong, fans of the series, like myself, will find some enjoyment in this film.