I catch a lot of heat for my vocal praise of horror director James Wan, being told things like “anyone who blindly follows the guy who started the Saw franchise is a moron” and so forth, but the man has never disappointed me – except for Dead Silence, which I’ve blocked from my memory – so it never happened (la la la, I can’t hear you).
I mean yes, most of the Saw films aren’t anything special, but the original is – which also happens to be the only one Wan directed. I mean honestly, you have to do SOMETHING right to see two directorial releases in the same summer blockbuster season, which Wan has in The Conjuring and Insidious Chapter 2.
But which should we be more excited for? The sequel to his outrageously delightful (and I mean that in the most terrifying way) haunted house thrill ride of a film, or a brand new tale of hauntings which follows two paranormal investigators (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) battling demonic forces terrorizing a rural farmhouse? Personally I side with the latter film, picking The Conjuring because I want to see Wan tackle new projects instead of repeat success, and today my hype was answered in the form of a trailer.
Yup, Wan wasted no time getting us excited for release number one this summer, putting out The Conjuring‘s first teaser trailer with horrifying results. Seriously, I watched the trailer, subsequently peed myself, cleaned up my shameful puddle, then watched the bloody thing again I was so hooked.
Starting off with a jovial game of hide and seek but then quickly turning on the ghostly charm, everything eerie and ominous about Insidious seems to be present again – which is a fantastic thing for horror fans. Though we don’t get any screen-time love for the ghost hunting Warrens, I’d say the problem they’re about to face is summed up pretty damn well.
While I’m still extremely amped for Insidious Chapter 2, I can’t help but be ten times more invested in The Conjuring based on what I just saw. That could all change once Chapter 2 releases its own teaser of terror, but let’s appreciate what we have at the moment. Be sure to check out the trailer below, but I’d advise leaving the lights on, finding a partner to watch it with, and maybe keeping a baseball bat under your bed. You know, just in case.
The Conjuring, starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, and Shanley Caswell, is set for release July 19th, 2013
