Ranking the Films in the Conjuring Universe… Again
I’ve done this once before… why am I doing this to myself?
The CCU
FYI: When I say I’ve done this before, I don’t mean on this site. I used to write for a different site, and, when The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was about to release, I decided to rewatch the franchise and rank the films. During this rewatch, I was reminded of the formulaic, trope-heavy qualities of the franchise, and I told myself I would most likely never visit the whole franchise again until I was much, much older. Well, obviously that wasn’t the case, and now, with The Nun II having been released, it’s about time I updated my original ranking (Spoiler Alert: It hasn’t changed).
I was contemplating on whether or not I should do a full in-depth review of the newest entry in this horror franchise, but I ultimately decided to scrap that idea. Hopefully, this list, and the place in which the Nun sequel finds itself, will give you a good idea of where that film sits in comparison to the others.
Second spoiler alert: I will be discussing the plots of these movies. I assume that if you are reading this, you have either seen all of these movies or just don’t care about spoilers. I would also like to remind you that this is my list. Therefore, it includes my opinions. If you disagree, that’s great. It just goes to show you how subjective this medium is. Feel free to start a conversation in the comments if you wish to further discuss why certain films landed in their respective places.
But without further ado, let’s get started with:
9. The Curse of La Llorona
Firstly, I know that director Michael Chaves (who would later go on to direct the third Conjuring film and The Nun II) has stated that this movie is not part of the CCU (Conjuring Cinematic Universe, as I will be calling it). However, the obvious cameos within and the vibe it carries make it seem as if it is trying very hard to be part of the universe. So, regardless of what Chaves says and what others think, I will be including it here because being a part of the CCU would be the only thing that makes sense about this mess.
Secondly, I want to state that I believe that legends from foreign countries should not be tackled by American filmmakers. Why? While I do not know for sure, I have a feeling that these country-specific legends can get a little muddled when not executed by filmmakers of said country. In La Llorona’s case, it was directed by a white dude and written by two other white people. Maybe that’s not a bad thing to some, but to me, it makes the film feel as if it’s being made by the wrong people. And maybe the writers and the director are well versed in Latin American folklore, but then why does the film feel so whitewashed? Why are we following a white mother in a movie about a Latin American legend? To me, it makes no sense. There is so much lore surrounding the legend of the Weeping Woman that is pushed aside in order to create more room for cheap scare after cheap scare. I feel as if that lore could have been explored thoroughly if the film had actually been created by Latin American filmmakers — you know, those that come from the land the legend came from.
Thirdly, the film is poorly written, the plot makes no sense at times, and rules set up by the film are continually broken in order to pad the runtime. Moreover, the scares are poor and the film is insanely predictable, minus the one random plot twist — if you want to call it that — that is more stupid than compelling and then never touched on again. This film sits at the bottom of this list for a reason. In other words, it’s not good. In fact, while being my least favorite CCU film, it may also sit as a contender for my least favorite horror film of the 2010s.
8. The Nun
If I could use one word to describe The Nun, it would be “boring.” Its scares are dull and repetitive, opting for the same type of scare over and over rather than trying to be creative; the writing — specifically the dialogue, the most important aspect of any script — is egregious; and the performances, while obviously riddled with talent, just can’t overcome the script. There’s nothing really exciting to behold. Moreover, the film completely neglects to include one of the most important tension-rising aspects of a horror flick: protagonists in peril. Never do I feel like any of the characters are at risk of dying, mainly because Valak, the (apparently) all-powerful demon who acts as the film’s antagonist, can’t seem to kill people. The worst part is that the plot provides no explanation for why Valak avoided killing the very characters working to destroy it (in reality, I know it’s because you can’t have a full-length film if the main antagonist kills the protagonists in the first half-hour, but they could have at least written a proper reason into the story). I have a lot of complaints about this film, and it did not get better upon rewatch. Honestly, I think it gets worse every time I watch it. Needless to say, I was disappointed, especially after Valak’s terrifying debut in The Conjuring 2.
7. The Nun II
I can’t say I was expecting a whole lot when I sat down in the theater to watch this unwarranted sequel. Contradicting the first film and doing little to make Valak’s eventual return in the chronological setting of The Conjuring 2 make sense, this sequel manages to continue the original film’s boring, ineffective scares and uninteresting characters. I will say that director Michael Chaves did learn something from The Nun and actually showed the demon killing multiple people, even if those kills weren’t as gruesome as they could have been. However, by the time the climax rolls around and Valak is holding back and practically refusing to kill anyone, things start to feel nonsensical again. Why would a demon hold back when its enemies are proving to be a relevant threat but be completely open to killing innocent, harmless victims when it is in no danger? Why not just… kill all of them? The film’s script doesn’t seem to want to explain it, so I guess it’s just another instance where we should just “suspend our disbelief” or see it as “purposeful ambiguity.” (These tactics, while often times very successful, are sometimes used by lazy filmmakers who don’t want to take the time to explain something that makes little sense.)
The Nun II’s biggest mistake, however, is not justifying its own existence. The first film ends by showing Maurice (Jonas Bloquet) being exorcised by Ed and Lorraine Warren, leading to Valak’s eventual torment of the family. But this movie seems to go against that… for the sake of making a sequel. Basically, everything in this movie, from Taissa Farmiga’s inclusion to Maurice’s relationship with Anna Popplewell’s Kate, feels forced and unnecessary. This whole movie is an unnecessary cash grab only held up by the iconography and (barely showcased) power of Valak itself. Even with Valak included, this is a boring slog of a horror film where the best scares were spoiled by the bountiful amount of lengthy trailers that Hollywood keeps shoving in our faces.
6. Annabelle
Annabelle, like Valak, is another demonic antagonist that fumbled its first solo outing after a pretty terrifying debut. So many people were excited about this movie after the success of The Conjuring, yet so many people — including myself — ended up disappointed. The film was directed by John R. Leonetti, the same man who acted as DP for The Conjuring, Insidious, and Insidious: Chapter 2 (all James Wan films). I absolutely loved the cinematography in those movies, and I think Annabelle would have been loads better if Leonetti had stayed in that role. Instead, he moved to being the director, and a different DP — James Kniest, who also acted as DP for The Bye Bye Man (icky) and Hush (not-so-icky) — was brought on. This is very apparent. All-in-all, Annabelle looks and feels like someone trying to pull off the ultimate impersonation of a Wan film, but ultimately forgetting that impersonations are not the real thing, and oftentimes you can tell. There are some tense moments, sure, but I can’t give the movie any other praise than that.
5. Annabelle Comes Home
The third Annabelle movie to be released in the CCU, Annabelle Comes Home takes the hauntings right to the Warrens’ home. This, of course, allows for a more substantial number of ghosts and ghouls, which creates more opportunities for scares and some fairly terrifying imagery. However, this larger cast of antagonists also leaves the film feeling a little overstuffed. The filmmakers obviously had a lot of ideas, but sometimes — most times, really — trying to execute every idea does not benefit a film’s quality. There are some things that I think could have been focused more on, which means there are other things that I think could have been left on the cutting room floor. There is also some questionable CGI in the film — CGI so jarring and random that I’m taken out of the film every time I see it. I do think the story is interesting, even though it gets repetitive after a while. The performances are pretty good (even though I found one of the characters to be extremely annoying). Even the directing is good, and this was Gary Dauberman’s directorial debut. Dauberman usually spends his time behind the scenes as a writer, and actually wrote the far better Annabelle sequel (spoiler alert for this list, I guess) Annabelle: Creation. However, he also wrote the first Annabelle movie and The Nun, two films whose scripts I did not enjoy. So, his writing is a hit or a miss for me, but his directing in this film was respectable. But, again, like many horror films, this one often feels derivative and drawn out to a grossly unnecessary point, almost as if the filmmakers just needed to try and pad the runtime. That, and — like The Nun and Annabelle — I never felt as if any of the characters were in danger. The demons are just so bad at killing people, which makes no sense because the main characters aren’t that smart, and these demons are supposed to be all-powerful (except against the forces of God, of course). Overall, Annabelle Comes Home is a worthy sequel to Annabelle: Creation but it falls in relation to how overstuffed and monotonous it feels at times.
4. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
If I am being completely honest, The Devil Made Me Do It managed to surprise me. I was worried by the fact that Wan would not be returning to direct, instead being replaced by Michael Chaves, director of La Llorona and, eventually, The Nun II (you know my thoughts on those movies). Yet, I had high hopes, because I find the first two Conjuring movies to be some of the creepiest of the 2010s. On the unfortunate side of things, The Devil Made Me Do It, at times, does not feel like a Conjuring movie, but instead more like another spinoff. It didn’t help that Wan’s signature directing style was not present, and it sure didn’t help that the film wasn’t very scary. However, the film makes up for its lack of scares with its brief yet terrifying use of body horror. The imagery in this film is one of the most memorable parts of it. Moreover, the film also includes some great sustained moments of tension. And, of course, I have to mention the fantastic performances by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, who bring a realistic essence to the Warrens that make us care about them and their safety.
But let me repeat: this one just doesn’t feel like a Conjuring movie. The plot is interesting and is a fun change of pace, moving away from the “haunted house” format of the first two films to incorporate a vast array of settings. But this causes the film to feel like something else entirely, which isn’t exactly what I want from the third film in a highly popular series that has done so well sticking to a specific format. The movie’s antagonist — an all-powerful (and highly vulnerable) witch rather than the traditional demons we are used to — feels too different. Sure, she has control of demons, but their names and backstories aren’t specified, making them extremely uninteresting in comparison to the other, more infamous demons we have seen within the CCU.
Overall, The Devil Made Me Do It was a fun installation into the franchise, but it definitely feels weaker when compared to the top three films on this list. Yet, even with the negatives I mentioned, it was still an intense and enjoyable watch.
3. Annabelle: Creation
Annabelle: Creation was a breath of fresh air after the pretty mediocre prequel to The Conjuring. A prequel to that prequel, Creation tells a more interesting story with equally interesting characters. Its scares are much more well done, as well, with some intriguing build-up to create more compelling scares. This film was directed by David F. Sandberg, the same guy who directed the not-too-shabby horror film Lights Out. Of course, Lights Out was not perfect, and neither is this film, but when compared to the movie it is following — and technically building to — it definitely stands out. Its issues come in the form of a hodgepodge of horror cliches, which includes — but is not limited to — the aforementioned scares. That doesn’t mean cliches are bad — in fact, much of the horror genre is built on cliches — it just means there could have been some more originality behind it. Either way, the film has some great performances, direction, and production, and I can actually feel the stakes. Girls die; the demon is not messing around. Overall, while sometimes derivative, Creation manages to be a fun and thrilling experience that shows what Sandberg can do with the horror genre. It also told audiences that the CCU was still going strong.
2. The Conjuring 2
James Wan is one of the few horror directors who can create an atmosphere that leaves me scared of the dark for a few nights. So, to me, it’s no surprise that the two films in this horror universe directed by him would end up in the two top spots. But why was the sequel not able to surpass its predecessor? Simple: The story feels a bit too convoluted. The fact that Valak was haunting this one family all the way across the country in order to lure the Warrens there so it could kill Ed is just a little too unbelievable to me, even for an over-the-top movie about an all-powerful demon (but maybe that’s just me). However, that does not mean the film is bad. It took the number two spot for a reason. Wan’s signature directing style is still there, as well as his ability to craft truly terrifying atmospheres. The character development is pretty much on point and the scares are actually scary (the same can’t be said about previous films on this list). I usually am one to talk negatively about jump scares but there was some great build-up in this film that lead to some awesome imagery, so I cannot complain too much. If it wasn’t for the lingering questions I had after watching the movie, it may have surpassed the original.
1. The Conjuring
If I had one word to describe The Conjuring, it would be “epic.” It’s an epic horror movie, with intense suspense and a fantastic yet horrifying atmosphere. It also includes a truly terrifying soundtrack that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I still get goosebumps watching this film, and I’ve seen my fair share of horror movies. The final exorcism scene is haunting, brutal, and feels all-too-real. I can’t say how loosely or tightly the term “based” was used in relation to this film, but if anything relatively close to this shit actually happened in real life… well, all I can say is “Damn.” Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga put on some great performances with their portrayals of Ed and Lorraine Warren respectively. This film even has some great scares, and it taught me to never play hide-and-clap. Everything positive I said about the sequel fits with this movie, as well. The Conjuring, in my opinion, is one of the best horror films to come out of the 2010s, and James Wan is one of the best modern horror directors. Choosing my number 1 for this list was no hard task — it has always been The Conjuring, and it always will be The Conjuring.
