This
automatically attracts interest like a bee to honey as it’s another one of
those ‘based on a true story’ yarns.
As
long as the application is correct; supernatural horror always has the
potential to be terrifying as dealing with spectral evil is a different kettle
of fish.
For
a film of this genre to have more clout than Covonia, the sounds you hear and
the imagery you see must be effective and genuinely creepy.
Can
James Wan build on the success of Insidious and exude unquantifiable distress
or will it just tumble like a domino rally?
Plot
details and/or spoilers may smell rancid.
Those
learning that cellars and wardrobes manifest fear include:
Patrick
Wilson – Ed Warren
Lili
Taylor – Carolyn Perron
Vera
Farmiga – Lorraine Warren
Ron
Livingston – Roger Perron
Kyla
Deaver – April
Shannon
Drew – Kook
John
Brotherton – Brad
Joseph
Bishara – Bathsheba Sherman
The
Annabelle case of 1968 is recalled to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine
Warren.
This
porcelain doll makes Chucky good looking.
‘Miss
me?’ is written on a scrap of paper in red crayon and graffiti is extended in
another room.
This
naturally disturbs and the natural progression of hating something is to get
rid, but is it as simple as throwing it in a skip? Not really.
One
night, loud thuds can be heard from beyond the door and that note is back,
along with Annabelle.
The
experts conclude that the doll was possessed by an inhuman spirit meaning it
has never walked the Earth in human form.
Ed
is a recognised demonologist and Lorraine
Each
object they successfully ‘cleanse’ is stored safely in a large room that includes
the Annabelle doll in a glass container.
Burning
the object will shouldn't be entertained as you’re only destroying the
vessel. It’s best to keep the genie in a
bottle…
Okay,
that was child’s play as their most horrific case is about to be revealed.
In
1971, Carolyn and Roger Perron, along with their five daughters move into a dilapidated
farmhouse in Rhode Island which they got cheap at a bank auction.
We
quickly learn that the girls like to play a game called Hide and Clap. It’s basically Hide and Seek with a blindfold
as the person who’s ‘it’ asks for up to three separate sets of claps in the
hope to find them.
The
said game that we've all played at some point is also a 2005 thriller starring Robert
De Niro.
Sadie
the dog senses something dodgy and they accidentally stumble upon a boarded up
cellar whose main attraction seems to be a piano and other ancient antiquities.
She
may have already but whatever, daughter April finds an old but still working
music box nearby.
The
children complain of a wonderful smell as they struggle to enjoy forty winks
and the next day, the woof woof is found dead.
Another
odd thing is every night; each clock stops at exactly 3.07am...
Carolyn
wakes up with a nasty and mysterious bruise that begs no explanation and when this
becomes a common occurrence, she’s a tad concerned.
April
talks to ‘Rory’ who lives inside the music box and hides in the wardrobe when
unhappy.
Banging,
creaking and doors slamming shut without invitation strongly suggests paranormal
activity without a camera and protracted boredom.
‘Something’
also appears to be tugging at the girls’ feet while they sleep. I guess it has a foot fetish.
This
pressure cooker is brought nicely to the boil, courtesy of Hide and Clap.
Carolyn
is eventually drawn to the wardrobe but unbeknownst to her, applause is not
from April’s fair hands as she appears behind her.
She
searches inside but nothing, not a goddamn thing.
Awoken
by a late night game in progress, the already freaked out mother goes to
investigate.
No,
don’t do it love. Okay, it would be
boring if she didn't.
She
finds everybody safe and dreaming a little dream, but the photo frames fall and
when matches bring light in the cellar after the lightbulb blows, more ‘clapping’
brings slight unease.
The
deal breaker is when the girls are ‘jumped’ by a female pensioner sat on top of
the wardrobe.
Derogatory
terms for such a woman include hag, crone and my favourite, a harridan.
Without
Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, Something’s Gotta Give and attending a lecture
hosted by the Warrens seems her family’s only hope.
During
which, we learn that infestation and oppression occur before possession.
They
reluctantly agree and after giving it the once over, the putrid smell points to
demonic activity and legging it won’t help.
This
is a hateful dark entity who feeds on the weak and the mentally vulnerable.
Along
with the hired help of Kook and Brad, they set about going to work by rigging
the house with equipment and cameras are set to go off when a certain
temperature is reached, which is essential as evidence is required to receive
the necessary authorisation for an exorcism.
Doing
their homework, the hovel reveals something rather unpleasant.
Bathsheba
Sherman who was suspected of being a bit witchy formerly resided here and after
sacrificing her child to the devil, hung herself from a tree before cursing all
who possessed the land.
She
was pronounced dead at 3.07am.
Originally,
acres of space existed but land has since been divided up and other houses in
the surrounding area were host to a string of murders and suicides.
Her
evil agenda consists of possessing the mother to kill the child.
If
only this was Far From the Madding Crowd, we’d be dealing with Ms Everdene and
narcissism.
Here
or thereabouts, that nasty bitch, sorry witch, appears above Carolyn and projectile
vomits blood which she swallows.
The
daughter who has been sleepwalking throughout (I think April), leads them to a
bedroom and vanishes.
However,
Ed uses a UV lamp which reveals footprints leading to the wardrobe which contains
a secret passage.
Lorraine
finds a noose and places ‘Rory’ the music box back where it once sat. Shortly after, the floorboards collapse and
now inside the cellar, she and the spirits of Bathsheba’s possessed victims share the briefest of company.
Running
in terror, her pendant is broken.
That
allows the witch to appear at the Warrens who successfully scares the living
daylights out of their daughter when it grooms Annabelle in a rocking chair.
Thankfully,
the only thing that gets broken is the sitting apparatus which is thrown in anger.
It’s
time to finish this, together.
Back
at their ranch, Carolyn is now a woman possessed and although initially subdued
from unleashing murderous rage, she’s on the move again.
They
manage to handcuff her and Ed begins the exorcism. As expected, this is a force that will and
does eventually break free by levitating.
Her
ears prick up when she hears that Kook has found April hiding place and armed with a pair
of scissors; it seems Bathsheba’s spirit will claim another victim.
As Carolyn and co leave the house, her bruises disappear confirming the nightmare
that they've lived and breathed is over.
Ed
takes the music box and adds it to his collection. As the camera zooms in, it starts playing…
You
don’t have to stay very long to see the credits display pictures of the actual
Perron family, the Warrens and newspaper clippings of the case.
This
combines every type of cliché possible together with the elements of Dark
Skies, The Possession (2012), The Exorcist and Insidious.
Projectile
vomiting reminds me of Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell only the ‘shamed’ hag prefers to take aim with maggots.
Much
malevolence takes place during the day and brown trousers moments regularly
persist courtesy of expert timing and a horrible looking antagonist.
I’m
also pleased that he Saw sense and resisted to spill buckets of blood.
The
unsettling atmosphere is compounded by distinctly drab looking participants as
glamour definitely takes a back seat.
Patrick
Wilson makes a winning return from Insidious and is believable as the real life
investigator (who died in 2006).
Vera
Farmiga is equally competent as wife Lorraine
Getting
caught up and embroiled in the legitimacy of fact is almost inevitable so let’s
briefly touch upon this.
Apparently,
the stink of rotting flesh wafted up nostrils at 5.15am and not 3.07am.
The
real Annabelle was a rag doll and although Bathsheba was accused of witchcraft,
she was never convicted by a court and died of natural causes.
Before
a string of sequels, the 1979 original Amityville Horror was pointlessly remade
in 2005 and as the Warrens took a passing interest, a
reboot and/or reimagining with Wilson and Farmiga reprising their roles shouldn't be ruled out.
Regardless
of whatever, horror gurus and supernatural hounds will be impressed by a plate served
with menace, a side order of shocks and washed down with a beverage of
discomfort.
Insidious:
Chapter 2 is James Wan’s next attempt to traumatise and I’ll be there to bear
witness…
No comments:
Post a Comment