Given the popularity of the original movie “The Conjuring” a return to this cinematic territory in “The Conjuring 2” was a task that took some special preparation for actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively,
“The Conjuring 2” is based on the lives of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, also played very well the first time around by Wilson and Farmiga respectively,
Farmiga in particular, needed to convey the brunt of the difficult real life events that were weighing down Lorraine Warren at that point in her life.
“We pick up where she’s frazzled and she’s weary,” said Vera Farmiga, giving the quick lowdown on Lorraine’s mental space post Harrisville, Rhode Island.
The subject matter of “The Conjuring,” as well as the events surrounding Ed and Lorraine’s 1976 case involving The Amityville Horror, which is not mentioned directly in “The Conjuring 2,” nevertheless makes it’s presence known.
“She’s had this vision of Ed, and I think she’s caught between that rock and a hard place knowing that this is what she’s meant to do and not necessarily wanting to do it,” stated Farmiga on where the sequel begins.
“This comes at a time where one of their trickiest cases is presented to them, which is Enfield,” Farmiga added.
Indeed, in a refreshing scare twist, this sequel wisely takes the isolation of the desolate farm that was the horror ‘ground zero’ of the first movie and completely turns it on it’s head.
This is accomplished by focusing on a case that the Warrens took in 1977, involving the haunting of single parent family living in a bustling Enfield, North London council (aka public) housing development.
While the change in locale for the franchise was a welcome challenge, stepping back into Lorraine Warren’s skin took some doing for both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
“The first thing we did the closer we got to production given our schedules, together we went to Lorraine’s house and we broke bread with her,” said Farmiga. “It’s just, it immediately gets you into the spirit. You’re there with her.”
Nevertheless, in keeping with the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” Farmiga was still on the fence when it comes to the paranormal, poltergeists and phenomena not traditionally of this plane.
“I have no concrete beliefs [about the paranormal, poltergeists, phenomena.] I’m really flexible and open to other people’s openness about it and experience,” Farmiga revealed.
“I have never been hounded by a poltergeist. I’ve never been destroyed. But I love listening to other people’s testimony and potentially having access to part of the brain that I don’t have access to,” said Farmiga.
Well hooray for being able to conceive of something beyond your own tangible experience!
Don’t we all know more than a few people who could take a page from this book? I think we do.
“The Conjuring 2” starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Frances O’Connor, and Madison Wolfe opened on June 10.