With Halloween rapidly approaching, it’s the perfect time for horror movie-enthusiasts to watch scary movies. Some of the most well known horror movies come from the Conjuring Universe, which consists of The Conjuring, Annabelle, The Conjuring 2, Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, The Curse of La Llorona, Annabelle Comes Home, and the most recent release, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Personally, I have not seen Annabelle Comes Home and The Curse of La Llorona, but I have watched all of the other movies in the last year. In fact, my first horror movie experience was watching The Conjuring. 

The Conjuring Universe can be divided between The Conjuring movies, the Annabelle movies, and the other individual films such as The Nun. Out of these three groups, The Conjuring movies are the best, particularly The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2. These two movies were directed by James Wan, but the third movie of this series, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, was directed by Michael Chaves. Most people agree that Chaves’ choices did not live up to the standard that Wan set, but that’s not to say that the third movie was horrible. It’s still a watchable movie, but the first two movies create an eerie atmosphere that’s difficult to top. 

The Annabelle movies, like the other movies in the Conjuring Universe, are “based on true events,” according to the producers. The stories follow Ed and Lorrain Warren, two real paranormal investigators, through their experiences dealing with supernatural events. However, many occurrences are exaggerated to make the viewer’s experience more interesting. For example, the Annabelle doll that terrorizes characters in the Annabelle movies is much more terrifying than the actual doll which is kept in a museum in Connecticut. There are quick jumpscares in the Annabelle movies, but there is also a chilling mood throughout the films. The idea that the story is “based on true events” lingers in the back of each viewer’s mind, and I believe that these movies are definitely worth watching.

The other individual films in the Conjuring Universe include The Curse of La Llorona and The Nun. In a movie that is more confusing than scary, The Nun does not live up to the bar that The Conjuring movies set. Originally, I was unsure if I wanted to watch it or not because I had been told that it wasn’t worth watching. The trailer looked chilling, so I decided to go for it. It was a big disappointment. Horror movies are supposed to be scary and unpredictable, but The Nun was neither. While I haven’t seen The Curse of La Llorona, reviews indicate that it’s a movie viewers either love or hate. 

If you’re looking for movies to watch during this spooky season, I suggest The Conjuring and Annabelle movies, but The Nun – which has left many viewers bored and dissatisfied – should be skipped. Instead of watching The Nun, I strongly recommend The Strangers and The Strangers: Prey at Night, but a review of this series is for another time!

Photo Credits: Pocket Lint