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Less consistent, however, is the quality of the films.
(Hes also the creator of theSawandInsidiousseries.)
9.The Nun(2018)
9.
Its disappointing thatThe Nunis so bad, because the premise has so much promise.
This strange stunt casting that wasnt aside,The Nunhas other issues.
Is that Valak or just a nun going about her business?
8.The Curse of La Llorona(2019)
8.
One of them was a slow-burn, atmospheric meditation on the Guatemalan genocide that now sits inthe Criterion Collection.
This one is the latter.
At least La Llorona is scary.
7.Annabelle(2014)
7.
6.The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It(2021)
6.
If theres one thing this franchise loves, its putting Vera Farmiga in a ruffled blouse.
Namely, Ed and Lorraine are here!
5.The Nun 2(2023)
5.
Blessedly, the follow-up toThe Nunimproves on the original in every way.
His kills are also a bit more splatter-y than this franchise tends to get.
It all works to makeThe Nun 2scarier and, just as crucially, funner!
However,The Nun 2suffers from a dilemma befalling many a midquel: Its boxed in by canon.
TheConjuringfilms often have a final shot that indicates the evil is never really dead.
But here, when it would make the most sense to do so, we get no such reveal.
4.Annabelle Comes Home(2019)
4.
This directorial debut of screenwriter Gary Dauberman comes closest to emulating James Wans style.
Its also the movie outside of the main Conjuring series that features the most Ed and Lorraine.
(Patrick Wilson wears a little party hat, which automatically knocks it up a ranking.)
Both of those elements makeAnnabelle Comes Homeone of the strongest spinoffs in the franchise.
The three of them plus Mary Ellens crush Bob are then tormented by the spirits raised by Annabelle.
A spinning color wheel shows creepy shadows growing and moving across Judys bedroom wall.
A TV seems to show events happening a few seconds in the future.
Plus, did I mention Patrick Wilson wears a little party hat?
3.Annabelle: Creation(2017)
3.
The Lights Out short made clear that Sandberg is very good at long, drawn-out scares.
Another set piece involving a malfunctioning chair lift is excruciatingly tense.
2.The Conjuring(2013)
2.
Theyre charming, gracious, and beautiful.
Its no wonder that everyone, both onscreen and off, wants to hear them talk about demons!
When the scares do hit, theyre perfectly calibrated.
Thehide-and-clap sceneis probably the most iconic image in the franchise, and for good reason.
Its built up so well, with little moments of relief that ratchet right back up again.
But what makesThe Conjuringperhaps the tightest film in the franchise is how it fits together thematically.
1.The Conjuring 2(2016)
1.
Weve already covered that case extensively, with over 20increasingly ridiculous takeson the story set to film.
Instead,The Conjuring 2opens on that case much likeThe Conjuringdid, with Annabelle.
(This technique was used again, to lesser effect, inThe Devil Made Me Do It.)
The sequel doubles down on everything that worked aboutThe Conjuring.
Once its done, the girl spits out the water shed been holding in her mouth.
The devil has rules, but they dont make any sort of sense.
Ed and Lorraine are our guides to that twisted code, and we couldnt do it without them.
