I was not a huge fan of 2013’s The Conjuring, though I recognized it was a first-class horror effort. The film recounted the efforts of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and their attempt to solve the famous Harrisville haunting in Rhode Island. Effectively directed by James Wan, Conjuring still had the feeling of a bit of deja vu in the well-worn genre for me.
The fact that The Conjuring 2 is based on fact helps lift the film to a different level. Credit also should go to the screenwriters, Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes & Wan and David Leslie Johnson, for making what seems so incredible so credible. O’Connor is excellent as the beleaguered mom, with Wolfe easily the standout among her kids who include Lauren Esposito, Patrick McAuley and Benjamin Haigh.