'The Conjuring' review: Best horror film of 2013

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  Brad Hamilton-JOHN BROTHERTON, Carolyn Perron-LILI TAYLOR, Ed Warren-PATRICK WILSON, Roger Perron-RON LIVINGSTON in, "The Conjuring." Photo: Michael Tackett, Warner Bros.

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The Conjuring

by Peter Hartlaub

Horror. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson.Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston. Directed byJames Wan. (R. 112 minutes.)

James Wan, for better or worse, seemed destined to be known as "the guy who made 'Saw' " - a film that ushered in the recent era of torture porn cinema.

Never mind that he's directed four movies since then. Never mind that in the hazy memory created by six diminishing sequels, people forget that the original "Saw" was a decent piece of filmmaking. (With less torture than you remember.) Wan was on track to endure a lifetime of sideways looks when he got introduced at parties.

If there's any fairness, he'll now be known as "the guy who made 'The Conjuring.' " The horror movie is artfully crafted from the first scares to the closing credits, with a bold retro vibe. But while its closest cousins are "The Exorcist" and the original "The Amityville Horror," Wan understands that modern audiences have short attention spans. The scares here begin in the pre-credits sequence, and barely let up until the end.

The throwback horror genre has been percolating for years in art houses - most notably with talented young Ti West's "The House of the Devil" and "The Innkeepers." Although West prefers a minimalist approach with a slow build, Wan aims for a more epic style.

"The Conjuring" introduces us quickly to Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), demonologists who believe in the occult, but understand that most events are easily explained hoaxes. Next we meet the Perron family - Carolyn, Roger and their five girls. With their 1970s clothing and sensibilities, the family is recognizable and realistic, with seasoned Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor in parental roles.

The Perrons have invested too much in an old house, which they gradually learn is haunted by spirits who mean to do them harm. They quickly hook up with the Warrens, who want evidence of the paranormal events before calling in an exorcist. The Perrons agree, after being told that these demons will follow them if they leave. The tale is tied together well - at no point does the plot require anyone to make idiotic decisions in the name of narrative momentum.

Wan's boldest move is his reliance on practical effects, which enhance the 1972 setting. A storm of crows looks more like something from "The Birds" than a modern movie apocalypse. Demons are clearly played by made-up actors. The postproduction digital effects bill couldn't have topped the low six figures - and yet nothing feels skimpy.

The weakness of "The Conjuring" is repetition. There are multiple sequences where a Perron lights the basement with matches, sleepwalks or investigates an armoire, and scenes start to blend together in the 112-minute run time. (The emotionally satisfying ending makes up for minor editing issues.)

Although the budget was likely modest, attention to detail is rich. The musical score sets a menacing tone and is also an effective tease, changing things up to avoid tipping off the audience. As action builds, the camera work seems to get a little shakier and rise to impossible angles, as if the demons are handling the cinematography as well.

The actors are all committed to Wan's vision, but Taylor stands out, giving everything to a complex and constantly shifting role. Writers Chad and Carey Hayes are also assets, resisting the horror movie urge to overexplain. They craft memorable scenes, but also include mystery, ensuring that new things will be discovered upon repeat viewings.

There are two kinds of people who won't like this film: those who hate all horror movies, and a less mature crowd not ready to experiment beyond the cheaper thrills of the "Paranormal Activity" or "Final Destination" templates. (That latter group doesn't trust mainstream movie reviews, so this glowing take should provide adequate warning.)

As the critic in charge of putting together this publication's summer movie preview, I barely considered "The Conjuring" worthy of mention. That was clearly a mistake. I'd be shocked if we see a better horror film in 2013.

Breaking News....

 

World Premiere Series "The Unexplained Files" Investigates Bizarre Phenomena and Mysterious Cases This Summer on Science Channel
The six-part series launches Wednesday, August 28 at 9:00/8:00c on the network.

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WORLD PREMIERE SERIES "THE UNEXPLAINED FILES" INVESTIGATES BIZARRE PHENOMENA AND MYSTERIOUS CASES THIS SUMMER ON SCIENCE CHANNEL
--THE UNEXPLAINED FILES

Premieres on Science Channel August 28 at 9PM/ ET/PT--
(Los Angeles, Ca.)--From strange abductions, to mutated species, to bizarre occurrences, there are some phenomena that science cannot - or will not - explain. This summer Science Channel unveils some of these shocking and mind-boggling cases from around the world in the world premiere series THE UNEXPLAINED FILES. From mysterious disappearances and UFO encounters, to unidentified fanged predators and reported curses, THE UNEXPLAINED FILES investigates actual, inexplicable occurrences that have confounded scientists and inspired legends. Science Channel invites viewers on a mystifying journey that will challenge disbelief with THE UNEXPLAINED FILES premiering on Wednesday, August 28 at 9PM ET/PT.

"The UNEXPLAINED FILES mixes hard science with mystery and storytelling to create a formula that is uniquely Science Channel. Our goal is to provide a forum for credible voices from all sides of these cases so that the viewers can make up their own minds," said Debbie Myers, general manager and executive vice president of Science Channel. "Each episode of THE UNEXPLAINED FILES offers smart, lean-forward programming that will leave even the most skeptical viewers wondering what is and is not possible."
Join renowned scientists, credible experts and first-hand eyewitnesses as they present riveting neverbefore- seen footage and share their vivid first-person accounts of truly bewildering experiences. The series will take viewers on a thrilling expedition presenting some of the most shocking and interesting stories ever told. Within the bizarre yet factual world of THE UNEXPLAINED FILES viewers will discover that seeking explanations often leads to compelling questions of the unfamiliar and unexplainable.

THE UNEXPLAINED FILES ventures to Texas to research bizarre hairless, blue-skinned, blue-eyed and hunch-backed creatures that prey on local livestock and farm animals-leaving Texans questioning what these strange animals could possibly be. The series also takes a look at the world's most puzzling tome, the Voynich Manuscript, which is hundreds of years old, appears to be written in an unknown language and contains images of non-existent plants. Who wrote this unbreakable cipher and what does it mean? Heading to Australia, THE UNEXPLAINED FILES delves into the story of Frederick Valentich, a pilot on a routine training flight, who reported that a strange and unusual aircraft was hovering over him just minutes before he disappeared. Valentich and his plane were never seen again. These unsolved mysteries stem from reliable sources offering trembling accounts and daunting evidence that will leave the audience contemplating whether these odd predicaments and occurrences are true or stranger than fiction.

THE UNEXPLAINED FILES makes its premiere on August 28 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The series also will premiere on Discovery Channel outside the US in more than 220 countries and territories across Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

THE UNEXPLAINED FILES is produced for Science Channel (US) and Discovery Networks International by Raw TV Ltd. For Science Channel (US) and Discovery Networks International, Josh Berkley is executive producer. For Science Channel, Bernadette McDaid is vice president of production and Deborah Adler Myers is general manager and executive vice president. For Discovery Networks International, Sarah Davies is commissioning editor and executive producer. For Raw, Dimitri Doganis and Ben Fox are executive producers, and Bart Layton is creative director.
Episodes to include the following stories: (6x60)

Episode 1 Premieres Wednesday, August 28 at 9PM ET/PT Valentich- On October 21, 1978, 20-year-old Australian pilot Frederick Valentich rented a single engine Cessna 182L and left Melbourne, Australia to begin a 48-mile training flight. During the flight, Valentich told Melbourne air traffic control that an aircraft about 1,000 feet above him was accompanying him. He said, "The strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again. It is hovering and it's not an aircraft." Frederick Valentich and his plane were never seen again. Texas Blue Dogs- Since 2004 bizarre hairless, blue-skinned, blue-eyed and hunch-backed dogs have been seen in Texas attacking and mutilating livestock and farm animals. The creatures have been caught on film and camera, and their bodies have been found. One Texas doctor even has one stuffed and mounted in her fireplace. But the classification of these creatures is still very much a matter of great debate among experts.

Episode 2 Premieres Wednesday, September 4 at 9PM ET/PT Freaky Fires- In late 2003, in a small village in northern Sicily, ordinary household electronic items like refrigerators, toasters and televisions suddenly began bursting into flames and exploding seemingly at random. Air conditioners erupted even when unplugged. Computers jammed. Cellphones rang when no one was calling and electronic door locks in empty cars went demonically up and down. The mystery was left unsolved. Ghost Yacht- The Kaz II, dubbed the ghost yacht, is a catamaran, which was found drifting 88 nautical miles off the northern coast of Australia on April 18, 2007. The fate of her three-man crew remains unknown, and the mysterious circumstances in which they disappeared still puzzle authorities, family and friends. When the boat was found there appeared to be no signs of struggle and items on board were untouched-there was even a full cup of coffee and an open running laptop left undisturbed. How did the three men vanish without a trace?

Episode 3 Premieres Wednesday, September 11 at 9PM ET/PT Livestock Mutilation- This gruesome phenomenon, where livestock are unusually and, sometimes, inexplicably mutilated and killed, was first reported in Britain in the 19th Century and in the U.S. in the 1960s. It still happens today. As recently as November 29, 2012, David Mitchell, a Scottish farmer, found one of his sheep slaughtered with surgical precision, its heart, lungs and liver laid out meticulously on the hillside and a pair of surgical gloves lying next to the remains. Curse of the Ice Mummy- In September 1991, a couple was hiking in the Alps near the Austrian-Italian border when they suddenly noticed a skeleton poking out of the ice. It was the body of what appeared to be a perfectly preserved warrior, complete with fur robes, leather shoes and a bow and arrow. Scientists studying the body dubbed it the Iceman. The Iceman is one of the oldest preserved bodies ever found and has provided us with invaluable information about mankind's past. But many involved in the excavation of the body have unexpectedly died - could the remains be cursed, putting everyone who touches the body at risk?

Episode 4 Premieres Wednesday, September 18 at 9PM ET/PT Spontaneous Human Combustion- Closely examining recent cases including ones in Ireland and Oklahoma, and a U.S. survivor of spontaneous human combustion that has lived to tell viewers his horrifying tale. Carlos de los Santos- Pilot Carlos de los Santos is en route to Mexico City Airport, when he is suddenly surrounded by three UFOs. Carlos is terrified as the silver discs seem to disable his aircraft, then raise it to a high altitude, threatening a fatal stall. Carlos regains control when the strange objects suddenly dart off to a volcano at inconceivably high speeds, completing aerial manoeuvres that were unheard of at the time. Investigation proves that Carlos was neither intoxicated or under the influence of durgs and the actual 18-minute recording of his desperate Mayday call to the airport attests to his genuine panic. It is first time testimony from a radar operator that could prove that Carlos's plane may have been trailed by UFOs.

Episode 5 Premieres Wednesday, September 25 at 9PM ET/PT Argentina UFO- Joaquin V Gonzalez, a small town in Argentina seems to attract UFO's. A local mayor has recorded hundreds of UFOs over 20 years. In 1995 one crashed into a nearby mountain range- local pilot Tony Galvagno and his friends locate the crash site but are barred from investigating further. In 2009, 200 witnesses see a brilliant white shining craft in the sky. Some onlookers manage to take photos of it before the town is plunged into darkness. The power outage stretches over a 120-mile area and lasts for over 12 hours. Could alien visitors really be targeting the town? And if so, why? Mothman- On November 15, 1966, four people witnessed a huge winged creature as they sat in their cars on the outskirts of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It was six to seven feet tall with red eyes and no head, as if the eyes were in its chest. Over the next 13 months more than 100 others saw the creature. The winged creature became known as The Mothman and was seen as a harbinger of doom. Morgellon's Disease- Sufferers of this strange disease report fatigue, awful skin lesions, aches and pains, a sensation that insects are crawling under their skin and odd multi-colored fibers emerging from their bodies. Thousands of people around the world believe they have Morgellon's, but the disease does not officially exist! The majority of doctors regard it as a form of delusional infestation, but some sufferers of the disease believe it could have extraterrestrial origins.

Episode 6 Premieres Wednesday, October 2 at 9PM ET/PT Alien Rain- There are many areas around the world where rainwater has turned a disturbing shade of red. The most mysterious rain of all is the Blood Red Rains of Kerala, India. Could this mysterious rain be carrying alien life? If so, how does it arrive on Earth? Carolina Beach Boom- Residents of a beach town in South Carolina experience a mysterious boom that rumbles the ground around them and shakes the glass on their windows, sometimes on a weekly basis. Locals speculate that it could be because of alien involvement or secret military tests, but no one has been able to get to the bottom of these strange events. Voynich Manuscript- Bought by the book dealer Wilfried Voynich in 1912, and now held by Yale University's Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the manuscript has been described as the world's most mysterious manuscript. It seems to be hundreds of years old, and is written in an unknown language (or unbreakable cipher) and filled with bizarre images of plants that do not exist on earth. What is it? Who wrote it?

About Science Channel:

Science Channel, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), is home for the thought provocateur, the individual who is unafraid to ask the killer questions of "how" and "why not." The network is a playground for those with audacious intellects and features programming willing to go beyond imagination to explore the unknown. Guided by curiosity, Science Channel looks for innovation in mysterious new worlds as well as in its own backyard. Science Channel and the Science Channel HD simulcast reach more than 68 million U.S. households. The network also features hightraffic online and social media destinations, including ScienceChannel.com, facebook.com/Science Channel and twitter.com/Science Channel.

About Discovery Communications:

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than two billion cumulative subscribers in 223 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 162 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of 20 television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is the leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of digital textbooks, and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

15 Best Supernatural Ghost Story Movies

With 'The Conjuring' at cinemas now I thought we could count down 15 other ghost stories to keep up at night.  It is interesting that a lot of good ghost films feature boys who see dead people.

#15: Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) The godfather of gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis takes us on an adventure in the south where a small town is still very upset about losing the Civil War. The kills are highly imaginative and coated in vibrant red viscera. The “barrel roll” is a must see. If you haven’t experienced the odd beauty of Two Thousand Maniacs, then its inclusion in this list may be a spoiler.

#14: Ghostbusters (1984) This is one of those films that never feels dated, whether it is a nostalgic viewing or your first time it never ceases to entertain. While not overtly horrific, except of course for Rick Moranis’ over-the-top awkward and cringe-worthy character. It does offer a few jump scares for the less desensitized. The greatness lies in the camaraderie of Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson – their bond is what ensnares most audiences.

#13: The Frighteners (1996) Before tackling The Lord Of The Rings and after his amusingly disgusting films (see Bad Taste, Meet The Feebles, and Dead-Alive) Peter Jackson made this semi-kid friendly spook show. Michael J. Fox interacts with the dead while making a living as a phony paranormal expert. The special effects are top notch and R. Lee Ermey steals the show as usual.

#12: Stir Of Echoes (1999) Richard Matheson was a poet of fear, his words will live forever. I Am Legend is a yearly re-read for me. In this adaptation, Kevin Bacon is in full Bacon form – whatever that means. His son seems to have the ability to communicate with the dead, almost a SENSE of the world beyond the grave. This is one of those great plot devices that is so original it would be interesting to see another film use it. After watching Stir Of Echoes something very odd happens, the only song that is stuck in your head for the following weeks is The Rolling Stones “Paint It Black.” It is almost as bad as the effect of “Time Is On Your Side,” after watching Fallen.

#11: Drag Me To Hell (2009) Sam Raimi’s return to form after the terror of Spidey 3. Carnival shocks abound in Raimi’s allegory for the American debt crisis. A woman is cursed when she is forced to turn a gypsy down for a loan – that will teach the banks what can happen when they fail to help the penniless.

#10: The Devil’s Backbone (2001) Guillermo del Toro’s pirates vs. ghosts film isn’t heavy on the scares but is an example of wonderful storytelling. If you haven’t seen it, I apologize for getting your hopes up about pirates, there are no pirates in a literal sense. There is, however, a giant diffused bomb that provides a symbol of foreboding for all the characters.

#9: The Orphanage (2007) Produced by Guillermo del Toro years after Devil’s Backbone and featuring more orphans and another young boy who befriends a ghost. This time the boy goes missing and it is up to the spirits to help his mother uncover the mystery. This slow burn has an amazing pay off.

#8: The Sixth Sense (1999) A boy who sees dead people and his therapist team up to battle their fear of ghosts. M. Night Shyamalan built his his own trap with Sixth Sense – he made a near perfect film with a twist. After this film his twist endings became his cliché, until he decided he didn’t care about his audience anymore and made Lady In The Water, The Happening, and The Last Airbender.

#7: The Ring (2002) Okay, really? Another boy sees the dead. This time the boy’s mother leaves a cursed tape lying around and instead of getting cartoons he gets a dose of student avant-garde filmmaking. This experimental film was made by a dead girl and those who see it die in seven days unless they force someone else to see it – now that’s an interesting way to promote your film. From my understanding: in the original books the curse eventually effects the world and those who have shared the viewing experience are affected by a deadly disease. Too bad the sequel didn’t touch on this at all.

#6: The Fog (1980) John Carpenter’s masterpiece about a small coastal town invaded by a fog filled with ghosts. For such an odd concept Carpenter knew he’d have to have some great actors to pull it off so he casted Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, her mother Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, and we also get Carpenter regular George ‘Buck’ Flower. The Fog offers good scares and a morality tale.

#5: The Others (2001) While Nicole Kidman awaits any news of the first Doctor Who, who’s battling in WWII, she must maintain her mansion with a list of bizarre rules. Her children cannot be exposed to direct sunlight so the house has to be ran a certain way: all the doors must be locked and curtains drawn. Her children are not vampires in case you were wondering, instead there is something more nefarious occurring in the home. With The Others we have another slow build, probably too slow for some, but while waiting we are able to see wonderful cinematography and little details that each have the opportunity to elicit shock.

#4: Paranormal Activity (2009) Though I love older films with much more fervor than most of the current genre titles, Paranormal Activity scared the hell out of me in the theater. The ability to build and release tension created a Pavlovian effect in audiences. It’s night time, we’re ready to anticipate another encounter. Found footage creates fear by paying tribute to classical tactics, where less is truly more. Though these films are bound by a minuscule budget they use the old adage to their advantage: What an audience can imagine is always more terrifying than what we can show.

#3: Poltergeist (1982) Tobe Hooper, under the guidance of Steven Spielberg, created a film so terrifying that if it were release today as it would have also acquired an R-rating for being too scary. This film taught us a valuable lesson, never build your house on top of an Indian burial ground. This film created an irrational fear of clowns and trees that followed me through my entire childhood.

#2: The Shining (1980) Yet another film where boys and ghosts interact, but this is the granddaddy of all ghost stories. I suggest a double feature of The Shining and Room 237, it may be the best four hours ever. The Shining works because there is no set-in-stone meaning, some say it is an allegorical tale for the death of the American dream – I kinda like that. Whatever meaning you have of the film and its ending, the perfection of The Shining will stay with you forever, and ever.

#1: The Haunting (1963) Tagline: You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror. Robert Wise created a perfect ghost story filled with skeptics and psychics. A doctor brings a motley crew of people to Hill House to investigate if it is truly haunted. The mansion has a history of death and insanity, as time goes on for these investigators it becomes apparent that the house only wants one of them. “We couldn’t hear you in the night. No one could. No one lives any nearer than town. No one will come any nearer than that. In the night. In the dark.”

Okay, so what did I miss?  What should have been number 1?  Let me know by leaving a comment..

Understanding Ghosts, Spirits and Various Types of Hauntings!

Just because you experience some paranormal activity, doesn't necessarily mean your Great Aunt Gertie is visiting you. There are many different types of hauntings, and interestingly enough there are different types of ghosts or spirits. Let’s take a look at the most common type of haunting first.

Residual Haunting A residual haunting is a haunting where energy is essentially trapped. A spirit will repeat the same behaviour repeatedly, like the movie “Groundhog Day” for ghosts.

There are many theories as to why this happens. Some people believe that it occurs when there are strong emotions tied to an experience, a place, or an object.

For example, let’s say that your father had a favourite chair. He’d sit in the chair every single night. It was his nightly ritual. Once dead, you may experience seeing your dad sit in that chair each night. Is he really sitting in it? No. You couldn't interact with him. He’s simply left an energetic impression.

Now it can happen when there are negative emotions, too. The battlefields of the Civil War are said to be entrenched with residual hauntings. The spirits have passed over, but their energy remains on the battlefield.

Visitation, aka Intelligent Haunting This is the type of haunting most people want to experience when they’re investigating. They want to interact with someone who has passed.

An intelligent haunting is when a person, place, or object is visited by a spirit or ghost.

This type of haunting means that the ghost can communicate, if they choose to. They can move objects, touch people, and interact with their surroundings. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they’ll manifest and show themselves to you in the form of the person who died.

I recently learned was that there are different types of spirits and ghosts.

A Spirit – A spirit is a person who has passed over. When you’re visited by a spirit it is because they’re choosing to visit you. I think they often visit us in dreams. When my grandfather passed, I dreamt about him. Other family members had the same dream. 9

A Ghost – A ghost is a person who cannot or will not pass over. They may have unfinished business or simply prefer to stay right where they are. In many cases, these folks are not pleasant folks. A ghost may also be referred to as a grounded spirit.

Ghosts can haunt places, people and objects. The Haunted Collector is a television show based on the premise that ghosts or energy can attach to objects and cause paranormal experiences. I suppose the boy who visited me could have been attached to the watch. He was most certainly an intelligent haunt, though.

 It’s important to learn how to protect yourself. Walking around in the dark is dangerous enough, but add potentially mischievous ghosts into the mixture and well…the possibilities are frightening.

By Annette Brownlee

The Ghost of Earl Grey?

Spooky goings-on in corner shop as CCTV appears to show boxes of teabags floating down the aisles
Footage shows two tea boxes 'levitating' in shop in Whitstable, Kent.
Boxes suspended in air before dropping on floor in front of shopper!

The phrase 'dying for a cuppa' has never been so true.

CCTV has captured boxes of teabags floating down the aisles, in what appears to be a spirit haunting a corner shop.

The startling footage from inside the small store seems to show boxes of tea levitating from the shelves before falling down, close to an unaware shopper. 

'I have never seen anything like it since I've been running the shop. The customer never said anything and I don't even know who it was.'

Ms Newbold runs the shop with her step-mother and father Michael Knowles, who has run businesses in Whitstable since the 1970s when he opened a hairdressers.

She added: 'I showed my dad and he couldn't quite believe it as well. I review the CCTV about once a week and that's when I came across it.

'We check sometimes if we think something is suspicious or if a dodgy character is in the shop.

'I'd be interested to find out more if anyone knows anything because I have no clue. I have never seen anything like this since I have been in the shop.'

'I don't believe in ghosts and this hasn't changed anything.'

The YouTube video has received more than 8,000 hits in just a few days.

One viewer describing the incident as 'freaky', adding: 'I would run a mile if that happened to me.'

Spook chaser will pay $10,000 for tip on a REAL haunted house!

Archived Newspaper

The Milwaukee Journal - Jul 31, 1936
See the archived newspaper here