American Conjuring is a 2016 horror movie about a family who moves to a new house in the countryside only to discover that it is haunted by the vengeful spirits of the previous ownersâ children who died in a tragic accident. The family, comprising parents and their young daughter, begin to experience paranormal occurrences soon after moving in, and things start to escalate as they try to uncover the dark secrets of the house.
The family consists of Susan (Lynn Csontos) and her husband, Bob (Darren Matheson), who relocate to a large and scenic farmhouse with their daughter, Stephanie (Chloe Bear), in a bid to start afresh. The first night at the new house is already setting the mood when Stephanie is awakened by strange noises and goes to investigate. However, she quickly realizes that she is not alone, and the ghost of a little girl appears before her, leaving her terrified and confused.
The following day, Stephanie tells her parents about the ghost. While Bob is initially skeptical, Susan believes that her daughter saw something, and soon, more eerie events begin to occur. Dolls start moving on their own, objects disappear and reappear in unexpected places, and the family begins experiencing vivid and terrifying nightmares. These incidents are not random, but there is a pattern, and Susan and Bob seek the help of paranormal investigators to get to the bottom of it.
The paranormal experts, who are led by Ellen (Natasha Davidson), soon discover that the house is built on cursed land, and the previous ownersâ children died under mysterious circumstances. They suspect that their deaths were not an accident, but rather the work of an entity that they call the "Devilâs child," which has been haunting the house for decades, waiting for another family to move in so that it can claim more souls.
As the paranormal activity intensifies, the family's health and well-being start to deteriorate, and they realize that they need to either leave the house or confront the spirits head-on. However, both options come with grave consequences, and the family must rely on their resilience and resourcefulness to survive.
The film's horror elements primarily come from its masterful use of suspense and mood lighting. The first half of the movie builds up the tension slowly, leaving the audience on edge with every creak of the floorboards and flutter of curtains. The setting itself adds to the overall ambiance of the movie, with the old farmhouse and surrounding woods providing an excellent backdrop for the haunting.
The actors also deliver convincing performances that add to the film's overall appeal. Lynn Csontos, who plays the mother, Susan, does an impressive job portraying a woman desperate to protect her family from the horrors surrounding them. Chloe Bear, who plays Stephanie, also does an excellent job, convincingly portraying a young child terrified by what she's experiencing.
While the plot is somewhat predictable, the filmmakers do an excellent job of maintaining suspense and fear until the very end. The movie has a satisfying conclusion that manages to tie up most loose ends, leaving the audience somewhat content.
Overall, American Conjuring is a horror movie that delivers genuine thrills and sets up the mood quite effectively. Despite not being particularly innovative, the film manages to keep viewers hooked, thanks to its well-executed horror elements and performances. The film is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but fans of the horror genre will enjoy it.
American Conjuring is a 2016 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes.
It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 2.4.