Understanding the Scary Factor of 'The Conjuring 2'

Deciding how scary 'The Conjuring 2' is on a scale of 10 depends largely on your reaction to the first film. To give you a comparative basis, if the first film rated around a 6/10 for you, then the second could be perceived as a 9/10. Many viewers agree that 'The Conjuring 2' is more intense and less explained compared to its predecessor, but still not as terrifying as some other entries in the series. If you find horror films particularly scary, consider watching 'The Conjuring 2' with a friend and during daylight hours for a less suspenseful outing.

Today, 'The Conjuring 2' remains one of the scariest films I've ever seen, despite my years of watching horror movies. Renowned horror directors are delivering thrilling experiences, and films like 'Insidious', 'A Quiet Place', and 'Hereditary' placed a significant impact on me. However, movies that were praised as modern classics, such as 'Us', 'Get Out', 'The Witch', 'The Lighthouse', 'The Babadook', and 'Midsommar', did not impress me as much due to their cheesy and over-the-top elements. 'The Conjuring 2' stands out as the scariest film, even to those who don’t find it the most terrifying, which speaks to the movie's gripping storyline and atmosphere.

Personal Perspective on 'The Conjuring 2'

I give 'The Conjuring 2' a rating of 4 out of 10. As someone who is easily scared and prefers to sleep with the lights on, I found this movie lacking in the scare factor department. The movie appeared too fake, with the evil depicted explicitly and the saviors feeling too much like Catholicized comic book heroes. By contrast, 'Hereditary' felt more terrifying as a demon movie because its portrayal felt more real, as if it could happen. The monsters in 'The Conjuring 2' were cheesy, not as cheesy as 80s Freddie Kruger, but still in the same category. The overall style made the film less scary than others that use hints and ambiguity to build suspense.

The story in 'The Conjuring 2' is a good one, with an interesting English family-led single mom and a clear plot. However, the film lacks the creeping dread that makes other horror movies more terrifying. The monsters are seen from the moment they appear, with no mystery or ambiguity. The involvement of the police, neighbors, and journalists makes the victims feel more secure, as if they were not truly alone in their experience. The demon is explicitly shown, making the horrors less scary than if only the possession of a little girl hinted at the true evil. A more haunting demon would be a shape in the dark that appears human and monstrous, with a touch of body horror, rather than a silly goth nun with sharp teeth.

While the first film was rated slightly scarier but less interesting, 'The Conjuring 2' adds depth with a good love story. What the film lacks is a deeper connection to its demonic antagonist, Valak. The film does not delve into why he wants the girl or why he targets this particular family. The storyline feels more like a heroic tale of a couple, making it less intriguing from a horror standpoint.