The Conjuring Getting Stellar Reviews ... "Critically Acclaimed"

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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When is the last time a horror film has bee referred to as Critically Acclaimed??

Originally slated for a January release, the studio pushed it to summer because of very positive test screenings (january being a dumping ground for poorly received films)

Its currently got a score on rotten tomatoes of 89%

Better then recent films Pacific Rim and Man of Steel..

When is the last time a main stream horror film got reviews as good as this??

Evil Dead is sitting in the low 60% which I thought was great for a horror so thats why I was so surprised at the Conjurings high score
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,488
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    How long before release? Aftershock got good festival reviews, it's RT percentage dropped like a stone when it went wide...

    Also, Paranormal Activity was the last big critically acclaimed horror film, though it's sequels did quite well getting 59 and 68 respectively...
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    Its realeased on Friday in the US!

    Sequel already in development, many outlets saying its going to be a sleeper hit... I think that means low opening weekend but sticks around for weeks like the first Scream
  • PunksNotDeadPunksNotDead Posts: 21,041
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    It looks terrible, the haunted house scenario has been done to death (Pun Intended) in the last few years!
  • Johnny ClayJohnny Clay Posts: 5,315
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    Heard lots of good things about this. Apparently the trailer - with typical frantic editing - doesn't do it justice.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 414
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    It looks terrible, the haunted house scenario has been done to death (Pun Intended) in the last few years!

    I think it might be a case of a trailer making a film look worse that it is. Some movies are like that.

    Premise looks familiar yet very intriguing. Plus, it is directed by James Wan and produced by New Line Cinema. A good reputation there for good horror movies.
  • PJ68PJ68 Posts: 3,116
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    whatever you think of the last half of insidious, the first half has some great jumps and scares in it. james wan really knows how to build tension and do set pieces
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    Heard lots of good things about this. Apparently the trailer - with typical frantic editing - doesn't do it justice.

    I saw the trailer last Saturday and it looked like every other schlock American horror flick. Loads of 'camera pans around to reveal monster' shots and similar cliches. In fact the whole trailer seemed to consist of 'That made you jump' shots, accompanied by the usual sudden loud noise.

    Still, it's a formula that audiences seem to love.
  • Alvar HansoAlvar Hanso Posts: 2,542
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    PJ68 wrote: »
    whatever you think of the last half of insidious, the first half has some great jumps and scares in it. james wan really knows how to build tension and do set pieces

    this

    the last half, turned into some weird costume party that robbed the film of it's power, the first half was truly frightening

    will def go and see the conjuring
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,488
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    Apparently it was made for a PG-13, but the MPAA refused to give it one because it was too scary...
  • elnombreelnombre Posts: 3,625
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    Out on August 2nd over here according to the ad on the bus that just went past my window!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    I saw the trailer last Saturday and it looked like every other schlock American horror flick. Loads of 'camera pans around to reveal monster' shots and similar cliches. In fact the whole trailer seemed to consist of 'That made you jump' shots, accompanied by the usual sudden loud noise.

    Still, it's a formula that audiences seem to love.
    well maybe give its a chance before u write it off??

    Since its getting brilliant reviewes and test audiences love it.... i have alot of faith its going to be brilliant
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    GoshBagosh wrote: »
    well maybe give its a chance before u write it off??

    Since its getting brilliant reviewes and test audiences love it.... i have alot of faith its going to be brilliant

    I don't recall writing it off, simply relating my impression of the trailer.:confused:

    I see it's got Vera Farmiga in it. She was great in The Departed but I don't recall seeing her in anything since then.

    Actually, having read a couple of reviews, it looks as though the schlocky trailer is not at all representative of the film and that it's actually quite subtle and psychological.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,488
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    I don't recall writing it off, simply relating my impression of the trailer.:confused:

    I see it's got Vera Farmiga in it. She was great in The Departed but I don't recall seeing her in anything since then.

    She was in Duncan Jones' Source Code a few years back..

    And Patrick Wilson was Daniel Dreiberg/Nite Owl II in Watchmen, and the next door neighbour in season 2 of Girls...
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    I don't recall writing it off, simply relating my impression of the trailer.:confused:

    I see it's got Vera Farmiga in it. She was great in The Departed but I don't recall seeing her in anything since then.

    Actually, having read a couple of reviews, it looks as though the schlocky trailer is not at all representative of the film and that it's actually quite subtle and psychological.
    Vera Farmiga played Norma Bates in Bates Motel this year.... She she was the highlight of the whole series and is getting alot of early awards buzz.



    With more reviews coming in, the RT score isn't going down... but UP!!
    :D its sitting pretty at 90% fresh now!
  • RevengaRevenga Posts: 11,321
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    I see it's got Vera Farmiga in it. She was great in The Departed but I don't recall seeing her in anything since then.

    Um, well as well as starring in Bates Motel as has been noted, she was nominated for an Oscar, a Bafta, a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her role in 2009's Up in the Air.

    Wonderful actress.
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    Revenga wrote: »
    Um, well as well as starring in Bates Motel as has been noted, she was nominated for an Oscar, a Bafta, a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her role in 2009's Up in the Air.

    Wonderful actress.

    Um, well, I didn't see either of those.:rolleyes:
  • peroquilperoquil Posts: 1,526
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    Haven't read a bad review of this yet. People are gushing with praise for it.
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,164
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    It looks terrible, the haunted house scenario has been done to death (Pun Intended) in the last few years!

    :rolleyes: The Haunted House scenario has been done to death for probably over 100 years now.
  • PunksNotDeadPunksNotDead Posts: 21,041
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    dee123 wrote: »
    :rolleyes: The Haunted House scenario has been done to death for probably over 100 years now.

    Well yes obviously but there was a time when there was more creativity in horror films where as it seems horror movies of today just all look the same and all follow the same old tiresome formula.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    Well yes obviously but there was a time when there was more creativity in horror films where as it seems horror movies of today just all look the same and all follow the same old tiresome formula.
    It looks brilliant...... doesn't matter if its been done to death, because it finally looks like its been right
  • Trsvis_BickleTrsvis_Bickle Posts: 9,202
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    Well yes obviously but there was a time when there was more creativity in horror films where as it seems horror movies of today just all look the same and all follow the same old tiresome formula.

    Yes, I felt the same, even after seeing the trailer but the trailer doesn't seem to be representative of the film. It looks as though all the schlocky moments were put into the trailer and the psychological, unsettling, tense bits left out. Not surprising really as the trailer has only a few moments to grab people's attention, not to mention the fact that audiences lap up that kind of 'jump out' stuff.

    I completely agree that modern horror films either have you laughing at the ludicrous, over-the-top special effects or sneering at the gratuitous violence of the torture porn genre. I have zero interest in modern horror films as it has become an incredibly lazy and rather depressing genre. However, The Conjuring does seem to rather more subtle than this and the more I read about it, the more interested I am.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    Vera Farmiga was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress today for Bates Motel...it'll give the Conjuring a little more buzz i'm sure
  • PunksNotDeadPunksNotDead Posts: 21,041
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    Yes, I felt the same, even after seeing the trailer but the trailer doesn't seem to be representative of the film. It looks as though all the schlocky moments were put into the trailer and the psychological, unsettling, tense bits left out. Not surprising really as the trailer has only a few moments to grab people's attention, not to mention the fact that audiences lap up that kind of 'jump out' stuff.

    I completely agree that modern horror films either have you laughing at the ludicrous, over-the-top special effects or sneering at the gratuitous violence of the torture porn genre. I have zero interest in modern horror films as it has become an incredibly lazy and rather depressing genre. However, The Conjuring does seem to rather more subtle than this and the more I read about it, the more interested I am.

    I'll still most likely go out & watch it and who knows i may be pleasantly surprised, if its a 15 though i may have to see an early morning screening or else i'll be driven mad by noisy teens if i go to a late showing. Really hoping its an 18 but i doubt it will be:(
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,501
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    I'll still most likely go out & watch it and who knows i may be pleasantly surprised, if its a 15 though i may have to see an early morning screening or else i'll be driven mad by noisy teens if i go to a late showing. Really hoping its an 18 but i doubt it will be:(
    Its rated R in the US so whatever that translates to in the uk...I think its 15's.

    But it really doesn't mater what rating it gets..
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,488
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    GoshBagosh wrote: »
    Its rated R in the US so whatever that translates to in the uk...I think its 15's.

    But it really doesn't mater what rating it gets..

    It's a mess, don't bother comparing the ratings systems (though an R is a "17A" - there's no literal equivalent to a 15 in the US- and an NC-17 is an 18). The Extended Cut of one of the Terminators got an R in the US and a 12 over here. Blue Valentine got an NC-17 (later appealed for a R) and a 15 over here.

    The Conjuring got a 15 for "strong horror". As I said earlier it was made for a PG-13, but was deemed 'too scary' by the MPAA...
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