THE CONJURING 2 (2016)

Summary:

In 1977, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to Enfield, North London, to assist the Hodgson family, who are experiencing a terrifying poltergeist haunting. Single mother Peggy Hodgson and her four children, particularly the youngest daughter Janet, are tormented by a malevolent entity that manifests as objects moving, strange noises, and Janet's apparent possession by the spirit of an old man named Bill Wilkins. The case gains significant media attention, drawing both believers and skeptics.

The Warrens arrive to find a family in distress and a haunting that seems to be escalating, while Lorraine grapples with a premonition of Ed's death and a demonic nun she encountered during a prior investigation. As they delve deeper, they uncover a more sinister presence behind the poltergeist activity, realizing that the entity manipulating Bill Wilkins is a powerful demon known as Valak, whose ultimate goal is to break the family's faith and destroy the Warrens. The film culminates in a desperate struggle to save Janet and the Hodgson family from the demon's clutches.

Keywords: The Conjuring 2, 2016, Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Madison Wolfe, Horror, Supernatural, Enfield Poltergeist, Valak.

Plot:

The film opens in 1976, one year after the events of Amityville, where Ed and Lorraine Warren are investigating the infamous Amityville Horror house. During a séance, Lorraine experiences a terrifying vision of the demon nun Valak, which shows her Ed's brutal death. The experience deeply rattles Lorraine, leading her to urge Ed to take a hiatus from their paranormal investigations, fearing for his life and her own sanity. Ed, however, remains committed to helping those in need.

The narrative then shifts to Enfield, North London, in 1977, introducing the Hodgson family: single mother Peggy and her four children, Margaret, Janet, Johnny, and Billy. The family begins to experience unsettling phenomena in their council house, initially dismissed as playful pranks by the children. However, the events quickly escalate, with furniture moving, objects flying, and strange knocking sounds emanating from the walls. The youngest daughter, 10-year-old Janet, becomes the primary target, suffering from sleepwalking, speaking in a guttural male voice, and being violently thrown from her bed. The family's plight soon attracts local media attention and the involvement of paranormal investigators Maurice Grosse and Anita Gregory.

The poltergeist activity intensifies, with Janet frequently appearing possessed, speaking with the voice of an angry old man who identifies himself as Bill Wilkins, the previous tenant of the house, claiming it is "his house." Skepticism abounds, with some accusing Janet of faking the events for attention. However, Grosse, a seasoned investigator, believes the haunting is genuine. The Church, cautious after the Amityville incident, contacts the Warrens, asking them to observe the situation and determine the haunting's authenticity, rather than actively intervening, as the Enfield case is already a media circus.

Upon their arrival in Enfield, Ed and Lorraine begin their investigation, initially encountering the same skepticism and conflicting evidence. Lorraine, still plagued by her Amityville vision, senses a deep malevolence, far beyond a simple poltergeist. They witness firsthand the disturbing events, including Janet's possession and the manifestation of a grotesque entity known as the Crooked Man, a character from a children's toy and song. Lorraine also continues to experience visions of the demonic nun, Valak, and a recurring image of Ed being impaled by a jagged tree branch.

The Warrens set up recording equipment and attempt to communicate with the spirit. During one session, Janet, speaking as Bill Wilkins, expresses his desire for the family to leave the house. However, the investigation takes a complicated turn when video evidence appears to show Janet intentionally bending spoons and manipulating objects, leading Anita Gregory and other skeptics to conclude she is faking the possession. This revelation causes the Church to lose faith in the case, and the Warrens are advised to return home, their credibility questioned.

As the Warrens prepare to leave, Ed plays a recording of Janet's "Bill Wilkins" voice backward. To their horror, they hear Janet pleading for help, revealing that she is being tormented and forced to cause the disturbances. Lorraine realizes that Bill Wilkins is not the primary entity, but merely a pawn being used by a more powerful, manipulative demon. She pieces together clues from her visions and the events, realizing that the demonic nun, Valak, is the true orchestrator of the haunting, manipulating Wilkins to terrorize the Hodgsons and discredit the Warrens, thereby preventing them from exposing its true nature.

With this terrifying realization, the Warrens rush back to the Hodgson house, which has become a literal hell on earth. A violent storm rages outside, trapping the family and the Warrens within. Valak unleashes its full power, manifesting as the Crooked Man, causing widespread destruction, and attempting to drag Janet into the abyss. Janet is possessed once more, threatening her sister Margaret, and then is pulled towards a broken window, seemingly intent on suicide. Ed bravely intervenes, clinging to Janet as she dangles precariously outside the window, while Lorraine searches frantically for a way to defeat the demon.

Lorraine remembers her vision of Ed's death, realizing the jagged tree branch from her premonition is part of the broken window frame. She also recalls that a demon's name holds power over it. Desperate, she finds the Bible Ed had left earlier, which contains a page with the name "Valak" scrawled on it—the very name she had seen in her visions. Confronting the demon, Lorraine uses its true name, Valak, to condemn it back to hell, breaking its hold over Janet and the house. The demon is vanquished, and the haunting ceases.

The Hodgson family is finally free, finding peace in their home. The Warrens return to their own home in Connecticut, the ordeal leaving them shaken but victorious. Ed places the Crooked Man zoetrope toy next to the Annabelle doll in their artifact room. The film concludes with Ed playing "Can't Help Falling in Love" on his guitar, and Lorraine dancing with him, a quiet moment of solace after their harrowing experience. The final shot reveals the real-life footage and audio recordings from the Enfield case, reinforcing the "based on a true story" aspect of the film.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren
• Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren
• Madison Wolfe as Janet Hodgson
• Frances O'Connor as Peggy Hodgson
• Simon McBurney as Maurice Grosse
• Franka Potente as Anita Gregory
• Lauren Esposito as Margaret Hodgson
• Benjamin Haigh as Billy Hodgson
• Patrick McAuley as Johnny Hodgson
• Javier Botet as Crooked Man
• Bonnie Aarons as Valak / Demon Nun

Crew:

• Director: James Wan
• Writers: Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes, James Wan, David Leslie Johnson
• Producers: Peter Safran, James Wan
• Music by: Joseph Bishara
• Cinematography: Don Burgess
• Editor: Kirk M. Morri

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: June 10, 2016 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Thriller
• Running Time: 134 minutes
• Accolades: Generally well-received by critics and audiences, praised for its scares, performances, and direction. Nominated for several awards, including Saturn Awards for Best Horror Film and Best Actress (Vera Farmiga).