12 Greatest Horror Films Of The Last 5 Years
4. The Conjuring (2013)
From the very offset The Conjuring provides a more unique perspective than your typical mainstream horror movie. Rather than focus on the family who are being terrorized, The Conjuring follows Ed and Lorrain Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), two paranormal investigators attempting to get to the bottom of the case.
There's nothing particularly subversive about The Conjuring's actual plot – the film is a traditional horror that sets out to scare you without cutting corners, in the vein of something like The Exorcist . The performances are strong, the effects are believable (and sparing) and the story – though fairly predictable – is handled well.
If you're looking for a horror film that is less interested in reinvention and more concerned with handling its material with dexterity, The Conjuring is an absolute must-watch, especially since it's directed by director James Wan, who has more than proved himself adept at the genre.