Canon-Strike XI: Never Ending Horror

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 56 - The Conjuring 2
Focusing on the Enfield Poltergeist case, the sequel finds itself navigating a fanciful story based on the real fanciful story. Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to a small London house where over two years a family's daughter is being stalked... but how genuine is the case?



Is this a case of a horror sequel suprassing the original?

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 57 - Annabelle: Creation
The spin-off recieved its own sequel as interest in the franchises continued to hold strong. The sequel presents itself as a prequel, charting the origins of the doll and how it made its way through to the owners of the first film. On a dustbowl farm a little girl is run down and killed, following this a group of young girls stay at the farm and become its focus.



What did you make of this entries expansion of the horror icon's lore?

[Neon Ignition]

I've been adding these but not yet responded to them due to all sorts going on atm.

In regards to the opening four films, personally I've always felt they lack in originality yet I overall rate them pretty strongly due to sheer execution. It's a particular mark of the two Conjuring films that

->Open Spoiler<-

no-one dies

which is a fine act to accomplish in a horror without losing a sense of suspense. They're basically every trope you know, done to an expert level. The first Annabelle is undoubtedly the weak link here, but the sequel is a surprising mark upward in quality.

[Neon Ignition]

Fell behind!

Movie 58 - The Nun
Like the original film, the second entry had included some other forms of demons with the Nun easily taking the forefront in the popularity stakes. This spin-off follows the Annabelle template by taking events back in time to a remote church where contact has been lost with the local Nuns. A priest and an understudy Nun are sent there to investigate. The film was a huge hit, by this point the overall franchise had become the second most profitable cinematic universe after the Marvel universe due to the consistent high returns.




Movie 59 - The Curse of La Llorona
The most fringe installment in the franchise, it hovered between being part of the universe and not for a while during development before eventually landing inside. The connection is very minor with the standalone story following a mother who is trying to protect her children that are being hunted down by an evil spirit.



Fan of either or having Nun of it?

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 60 - Annabelle Comes Home
The spin-off hit its third entry before the main franchise did with this entry in which two girls look after the daughter of the Warrens. One of the girls flippantly explores the locked rom where all of the possessed items are stored, including Annabelle, and unleashes multiple demons upon the household. The film wrapped up Annabelle's timeline and was the closest film in terms of being like the main Conjuring films. Another hit for the franchise, the character does seem to have been rested however.




Worth Coming Home To?

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 61 - The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The third film in the franchise attempted to mix the formula up by spinning it around a court room case where the defendant claimed innocence by virtue of demonic possession. The film was less well received but performed strong during the pandemic era, the third biggest release at the time despite launchign via streaming on the same day.



Did the Devil Make You Watch It?

[QualityChimp]

So very little freaks me out these days that I'd rather watch something more action or thriller based.

I thought "It Follows" was ace, but I'd rather watch something like "You're Next", "Ready or Not", "The Invisible Man", "Abigail" or "Escape Room" than most of the films in these lists.

There are only so many creepy kids or possessed dolls you can make films about, IMHO.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 62 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Stopping off at an old rundown farm, a group of friends find themselves as victims to the crazed family that lives within. Banned in several countries, the film is attributed with the origins of the slasher sub-category of horror and launched another horror icon with Leatherface.



Worthy of its Classic Reputation?

[QualityChimp]

I've only seen the original but it's 'orrible.
The whole mood is just urgh from the furniture made from human bones, onward.

The bit where the girl is exploring the house and Leatherface bounds up to her, drags her away to his abattoir and slams the door shut is terrifying.
The meat hooks are grim.

I don't really like it as it's so unsettling (which is the point, obviously), but it's also pretty cheap and clunky.

However, them meddling kids are trespassing, so my client, Mr. L Face, was merely using his American right to defend his property, M'lud.

[Neon Ignition]

I'm kind of the same, it's a film that celebrates grubbiness. There's not much horror to it, more just revelling in being unpleasant. It's set in Texas too so I guess it's borderline documentary too

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 63 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Dennis Hopper starred in this sequel in which a radio host is hunted by the family whilst the uncle of some of the victims of the first seeks revenge. The sequel upped the violence and placed a greater emphasis on dark comedy which the director felt the audience had missed on picking up from the original. The film wasn't recieved all that well but in subsequent years appreciation for it has improved and it has developed its own cult following.



In for Hopper?

[QualityChimp]

The first one was enough for me.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 64 - Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
Continuing to sneak well known faces into the franchise, the third film featured Viggo Mortensen. The film focuses more on Leatherface as he and his family stalk a couple travelling through the state. The film was unsuccessful critically and commercially with issues coming from how the film was cut down to secure a release.




Revved Up?

[QualityChimp]

[QualityChimp]