Conjuring 2, The

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Frances OÂ’Connor, Madison Wolfe, Simon McBurney, Franka Potente, Lauren Esposito, David Thewlis, Bonnie Aarons

Director: James Wan

I committed the most heinous sin that any film reviewer can commit by paying to see James WanÂ’s second bite at his highly profitable 2013 cherry.

Ironically, it was money well spent.

The house was packed Â– both of us Â– with the audience reacting well to the slickly served-up supernatural horrors on offer.

Director Wan perfectly proves that the best way to ensure a sequelÂ’s success is to repeat the basic assets of the original while adding more of the same to satisfy genre addicts.

Vera Farmiga takes a rest from her small screen horrors in televisionÂ’s Bates Motel to once again play real-life paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren and Patrick Wilson returns as husband Ed, the couple who made their name investigating creepy manifestations in 1970s Amityville.

This time, however, they boldly come to England in 1977 where single mother Frances OÂ’Connor and her four children are being subjected to a reign of supernatural terror, with daughter Madison Wolfe becoming the increasingly horrified target of the ghostly aggressorÂ…

It says much for Wan, who collaborated on the screenplay with Chad Hayes, Carey W Hayes and David Leslie Johnson, that he succeeds in keeping the suspense strong and serving up a satisfying slew of shocks and make-you- jump scares during the rather long running time of 134 minutes.

The performances are just what the material needs, excellent special effects and Don BurgessÂ’ moody cinematography add impact and, while well-chosen London locations add impact, the overall atmosphere is perhaps more Amityville than North London.

That said, I got my moneyÂ’s worth (apart from an extremely overpriced ice-cream), as will all horror film addicts.

Alan Frank

USA 2016. UK Distributor: Warner. Colour.
134 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 18 Jun 2016