The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

The Conjuring universe started in 2013 includes eight films to date (Conjuring (2013), Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Annabelle: Creation)(2017), The Nun)(2018), The Curse of La Llorona (2019), Annabelle Comes Home) (2019) and this film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It)(2021). It is easy to understand New Line Cinema's desire to offer horror films in the vein of those produced in the 70s and 80s, with an economy of means, but with scenarios that are effective enough to allow viewers to enter a horrific universe that favors suspense over outrageous gore. 

In this case, the third part of the investigations of the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren proves to be a good surprise as it avoids reproducing an identical path to the two previous films and mixes with intelligence a real investigation with the horror film whose numerous jump-scares work wonderfully. Inspired as the two previous films by real facts, this film asks once again the religious question of knowing if occult forces really exist and can influence the behavior of some humans. From the introductory scene featuring an exorcism in which Ed and Lorraine Warren bring their support and knowledge to allow the soul of a young boy to escape the grip of an evil force. When this doesn't work out as planned, the demonic force takes over the body of a young adult and turns him into a murderer.  

In the history of the United States, this film highlights that this was the first time a murder suspect claimed demonic possession as a defense. To support his defense, Ed and Lorraine Warren will have to find out what caused this demonic creature to act and, above all, bring out an unmentionable secret of this seemingly quiet little town in which the action takes place.

The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It is the only one of the three films about Ed and Lorraine Warren for which neither James Wan nor the two writers of the previous films Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes are back as directors. The result is a film that does not have the efficiency of the first part but that can once again rely on the perfectly functional duo composed of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. Their characters are always as endearing and seductive and above all show that intelligence is our main strength to solve investigations and especially that a mutual love is essential not to be influenced by supernatural forces able to find our weaknesses and exploit them. 

Even if this story is inspired by real facts, like the previous installments, the scriptwriters move away from what happened to accentuate the effectiveness of the suspenseful scenes but also create a real disturbing atmosphere. Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It also takes a lot of pleasure in muddying the waters. Indeed, while we could have expected a film staging a historical trial in American history, or a new film about an exorcism playing with the rules, this one prefers to find another way rather judiciously chosen. It's interesting to see that this third part doesn't play with the will to show off to the spectators with a plethora of special effects, but is rather oriented towards a sober treatment with a curse, a religious person with a heavy secret and especially a painting of the America of province in which a very violent crime puts in boiling all a small city. 

We will also appreciate the idea to put in the center of the story the first meeting between Edward Warren Miney and Lorraine Rita and a true and deep love between them which is their common strength to overcome dangerous paranormal cases. This osmosis between them is going to be found here facing a supernatural force as dangerous as powerful. The spectators having appreciated the first two parts will be able to only like this third and last part of the Warre investigators. Even if the Conjuring universe has not finished to make speak about him in other films to come.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Directed by Michael Chaves
Produced by James Wan, Peter Safran
Screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Story by James Wan, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard
Music by Joseph Bishara
Cinematography : Michael Burgess
Edited by Peter Gvozdas, Christian Wagner
Production companies : New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, Atomic Monster Productions
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures 
Release date : May 26, 2021 (United Kingdom), June 4, 2021 (United States), June 9, 2021 (France)
Running time : 112 minutes

Seen on June 4, 2021

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