Title – The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) 

Director – Michael Chaves (The Curse of la Llorona)

Cast – Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, John Noble 

Plot – Based on the true story of murder suspect Arne Johnson (O’Connor) whose defense for his actions were based around the fact he claimed he was possessed at the time of the incident with famed paranormal investigators Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Farmiga) charged with assisting in proving if this was in fact true. 

“I think I hurt someone” 

Review by Eddie on 07/06/2021

With 2013’s The Conjuring and its 2016 sequel The Conjuring 2, Australian Horror master James Wan created a modern day set of genre classics that provided eager audiences around the world a chance to partake in some iconic moments with its based on real figures Ed and Lorraine Warren with the two well-received films easily some of the best horror based products to be released since the 2000’s began. 

Since the big money releases of those Wan films, the Conjuring universe has expanded in different ways to varying results with none of the spin-offs coming close to the all round quality of the two staple films as the various features either remained adequately mid-tier or even downright bad. 

Hope remained strong however that the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren in another legitimate Conjuring affair would bring this franchise back into the light but it appears as though the questionable quality of the off-shoot films has crept into the main events as the loss of Wan as a director has put one nail into the coffin off this series that at first did so much right. 

This time directed by Michael Chaves who last directed the terrible The Curse of la Llorona (one of the worst entries yet into the series), The Devil Made Me Do It has a great opportunity to keep things on the right track with an intriguing true story of Ruairi O’Connor’s Arne Johnson basing his murder defense on being possessed and the Warren’s trying to help prove that he indeed did face battles against dark forces but with a lack of scares, a narrative devoid of any memorable moments and a lack of story-telling nuance, the third film in the tale of the Warren’s fails to breathe life into a quickly dwindling universe. 

With the first two Conjuring films providing us with such iconic and stand out moments as say the clapping game or Bill Wilkins reveal to investigators, one would be right to expect some great moments too be littered throughout this event but as we wait for any of these such moments to appear what is left in their places is nothing more but generic attempted jump scares, flying kitchen implements and most oddly of all a slippery morgue zombie that will likely make audiences laugh rather than wince in fear. 

It’s almost embarrassing watching the talented Wilson and Farmiga going about their business here and while their presence elevates what would’ve otherwise been a bargain basement like effort, all the good will these two have earned as the Warrens through their various commitments to the series isn’t enough to save Chave’s film from itself with Wilson’s walking cane/weak heart role in particular ruining a once great character and the films complete lack of genuine scares despite at times building tension for outcomes that never come making this a seriously generic and forgettable ride. 

It’s hard to know where this series can now go, perhaps it is only Wan that could do anything to save it from itself but with his talents tied up elsewhere it does appear more than likely that this once bright horror franchise has burnt out for good. 

Final Say – 

Saved by a story that deserved better telling and the good will earnt from its two leads, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is a serious step back in quality for this series that now seems destined to produce nothing but forgettable products from here on out. 

2 flying plates out of 5