The film, based on a true story, involves a family moving into an old Rhode Island farmhouse where, apparently, evil already resides. Weird, unexplainable things start to happen.
"The Conjuring" has a slow build as it creeps into creepiness.
The film stars Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor. Director James Wan has learned how to keep viewers on edge, with films such as "Saw" and "Insidious."
The movie keeps you wondering what's coming next, and you know it can't be good.
"The Conjuring" is rated R, not for sex or language, but for sequences of disturbing violence and terror. The rating surprised me. Maybe I see too many scary movies but, without question, I would have given it a PG-13.
The film also has a couple of "don't" moments: don't go in the basement... she does, and don't open the door... they do. They're those classic horror moments where we get to say, "what idiots!"
Overall, there's some good suspense but I don't think you'll have nightmares.
