Set in 70s London, Conjuring 2 is, like all the best ghost movies, based on a true story, in this case the claims that a poltergeist was behind some bizarre goings on at a council house in Enfield between 1977 and 1979. A single mother called the police after 2 of her 4 children claimed to have heard demonic voices and seen furniture move by itself, which was written off by members of the Committee For Sceptical Inquiry as a hoax. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated and concluded that the children were possessed, which led to them being derided by other investigators as overly credulous (the Warrens also claimed the Amityville haunting was genuine). Hoaxes dont make for compelling movies, though, so expect the movie to take a different approach. James Wan reportedly turned down Furious 8 in order to return to this franchise, which should go some way to making amends for 2014s Annabelle spin-off. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga also return as the Warrens, and the script is once again credited to Chad & Carey Hayes, who will one day be forgiven for writing House Of Wax and The Reaping.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
