Sprite_Lee

Sometimes in life, in order to move forward, we have to go back to the beginning, I guess. Well that's very much the case with Ed and Lorraine Warren in this latest addition to The Conjuring franchise.

What I initially assumed would be a fresh investigation sadly turns out to be more of the same formula we've seen over the past 10 years. There's little here that feels original; most of it either borrows heavily from previous entries or is clearly influenced by familiar tropes. A door left slightly open for the audience to notice... SLAM. A recording or photo reveals a ghostly figure. A quick camera cut - and boom, you're face-to-face with a demon.

My biggest issue with the film is that it simply cannot stand on its own. It leans too heavily on paranormal figures the Warrens have battled before. Yes, there are creepy moments, the buildup often leads to little more than cheap jump scares.

For a film with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes - and a cast of 13 people and one dog - it plays things very safe. Sure there is suspense but, where is the danger? Who is the actual target? These are questions I found myself asking throughout the film. It's an enjoyable however, there's nothing here to challenge the franchise or push it in a new direction.

What starts as a feud between the town's sheriff and mayor over COVID-19 mandates quickly spirals into a chaotic hot mess. Much like the year 2020 itself, the film brings audiences back to the height of the pandemic, capturing the confusion, fear, and absurdity of the time. From social distancing and mask-wearing to blame-shifting and the uncertainty surrounding how long mandates would last, the film effectively recreates the tension in that time. These elements are among the film's strongest, especially throughout its first and second acts.

The petty rivalry between the two characters is what keeps each encounter entertaining. However, what doesn't work are the subplots and side characters, who are introduced but ultimately go nowhere. Their stories feel underdeveloped and don't add much to the main narrative.

The incorporation of the BLM uprising of 2020 feels somewhat distasteful. Yes, the murder of George Floyd was a significant event that shocked the world, but in a town with only one Black person, the outrage and frustration are expressed only by inauthentic characters who seem to be regurgitating posts they found on the internet-more concerned with being on the "right side of history" than expressing genuine emotion. I found this very unsettling.

As the film progresses, it loses its grip on reality and veers into absurdity. The final act shifts from wild to outright ridiculous, with moments that are unintentionally hilarious. It's like John Rambo merged with Yosemite Sam.

This isn't the terrifying, thought-provoking horror or the subtle visual storytelling we've come to expect from Ari. Instead, it's a film that requires viewers to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride.

In the Alien franchise, one thing is always certain: you never trust the synthetic - or in this case, anyone in close proximity. The first episode introduces a wide range of new characters, both on Earth and in space. One moment they're here, and the next... they're gone. Well, a few of them, at least.

Some of the key players include self-absorbed trillionaires, idealistic scientists, and hard-core devil dogs (marines). But the most interesting characters, in my opinion, are the formerly terminally ill children who now have a new lease on life inhabiting undying bodies, thanks to the world's youngest trillionaires. His true motivations? Still unclear.

Of course, the real scene-stealer is the xenomorph. Sadly, we only get a few moments of the creature in this first episode - but have no doubt: She will return.