In 2013, the horror genre got a much needed shot in the arm with The Conjuring. Director James Wan (Saw, Furious 7) went from a go-to small-budget horror director to being respected as one of the best young filmmakers in Hollywood, due to the enormous success of the film. It opened the doors for him to direct tentpole movies, resulting in the billion dollar success of the Furious 7, while he is currently prepping to helm the upcoming Aquaman film. However, he didn’t forget his horror roots and returns for more scares in The Conjuring 2.

This new installment again follows the adventures of paranormal investigating super couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who made a name for themselves by tracking down supernatural phenomenon in the 1970’s. This time they travel to London to investigate a single mother and her four children, who claim that their home is possessed by a vengeful demon in The Conjuring 2.

The Warrens, again played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, bring an undeniable warmth to Ed and Lorraine that gives the movie a flavorful charm. While the true standout of the movie is Madison Wolfe. She plays the child who first comes into contact with the dark force and her performance is nothing less than terrifyingly convincing. The American actress flawlessly pulls off a British accent, while delivering one of the most convincing child possessions since The Exorcist. It’s an incredibly forceful performance and shows that she is a young talent to keep our eyes on.

There is a measure of fearlessness to The Conjuring 2, which sets itself apart from others in the genre with several key structural and stylistic choices. Wan employs several techniques that have informed his trademark style. He again shows that he is a master of environment, by using lighting, depth of focus, long takes, and confident camera work, to build tension.

His unique camera work includes rotating shots that can inspire a sense of vertigo and not a single camera pan is wasted, as there is potential evil menaces lurking out of frame or directly in the shadows of every shot. This adds a level of interactivity between the audience and the film that heightens the tension, as the viewer will be questioning things as much as the main characters.

The movie runs into a majority of its problems in the third act. The Conjuring 2 is a lot less linear than its predecessor and while there is twist that ties it all together, it isn’t a very rewarding resolution. There are certain character decisions and motivations that threaten the fabric of the entire film, that may be understandable on the surface but bring into question almost every interaction that preceded it. Wan’s usage of foreshadowing throughout the film does provide a tension-filled climax, however the ending is very conveniently achieved. While several of the subplots are not adequately resolved and held for over for potential sequels, which is simultaneously understandable and frustrating.

While certainly not a perfect film, The Conjuring 2, still stands shoulders above most offerings from the world of horror. It does have many of the creatures, jump scares, and thrills, yet maintains solid character development which is a refreshing change of pace for the genre. The jumbled ending, as well as some key story decisions prevent the movie from becoming a classic, however it’s one of the better recent horror offerings and should definitely be viewed by all fans of the genre.