“The Conjuring 2” (2016) is a supernatural horror film directed by James Wan, and it is based on the real-life case of the Enfield Poltergeist, a haunting that took place in Enfield, London, from 1977 to 1979. The film follows Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous paranormal investigators, as they travel to England to help the Hodgson family, who are being terrorized by malevolent forces. The film blends supernatural horror with the Warrens’ psychic investigations, and like its predecessor, it draws from real-life events, though with some creative liberties for dramatic effect.
Plot Summary of The Conjuring 2.
The movie begins with Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) having a terrifying vision during a séance, where she witnesses Ed’s (Patrick Wilson) death while investigating the infamous Amityville case. This sets a dark tone for the film as Lorraine grows increasingly concerned for her husband’s safety.
The focus then shifts to 1977, where Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor), a single mother, and her four children begin to experience strange phenomena in their council house in Enfield, North London. The most affected is Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe), who becomes the center of the paranormal activity, including furniture moving, loud knocks, voices, and levitation.
As the situation intensifies, local investigators and media cover the case, and Janet is seemingly possessed by the spirit of an old man named Bill Wilkins, who claims to have died in the house. The haunting draws widespread attention, and the Warrens are called in by the Catholic Church to assess whether the events are real or a hoax.
Once in Enfield, the Warrens discover that the disturbances are more than just a local poltergeist; a demonic entity known as Valak is manipulating Bill Wilkins’ spirit to torment the family. Lorraine realizes that the demonic figure from her previous visions is tied to the Enfield case. She also understands that Valak had been plaguing her all along and is the cause of her visions about Ed’s death.
The film climaxes with Ed risking his life to save Janet from the demon, who tries to force her to commit suicide. Lorraine uses the demon’s name, Valak, to banish it back to hell, ultimately saving Ed, Janet, and the rest of the Hodgson family.
Hidden Truths and Events Not Shown in the conjuring 2 Film.
While “The Conjuring 2” is based on the Enfield Poltergeist case, there are several details and truths that the film either glosses over or modifies for dramatic purposes:
Hoax Allegations in Conjuring 2.
- In real life, the Enfield case had its share of skeptics. Investigators like Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair, who were present during the haunting, believed in the authenticity of the case, but some of the Hodgson children admitted to faking some of the phenomena. Specifically, Janet Hodgson, later confessed that she and her sister did fake some of the incidents to fool the investigators. However, Janet maintained that only about 2% of the events were staged, and that the majority of the paranormal occurrences were real.
Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Involvement in Conjuring 2.
- The movie portrays the Warrens as central figures in solving the case, but in reality, their involvement was minimal. The Warrens briefly visited the Hodgson home and offered their services, but they were not as deeply involved as depicted in the film. According to Guy Lyon Playfair, who wrote the book “This House is Haunted” on the Enfield case, the Warrens’ contribution was exaggerated for the movie.
The Role of the Media in conjuring 2.
During the real case, the British press played a major role in publicizing the Enfield Poltergeist. The Daily Mirror and BBC visited the house, and there were allegations that some of the children may have been performing for the cameras. These media interactions were not shown in the film, although the constant attention from journalists added to the pressure on the family in real life.
Bill Wilkins in conjuring 2.
The spirit of Bill Wilkins, the old man who allegedly died in the Hodgson home, is portrayed in the movie as an unwilling pawn of Valak, the demon. In reality, Bill Wilkins was a key figure in the case, and his son later confirmed that Bill had died in the house of a brain hemorrhage, as described by Janet. However, the connection to a demonic entity like Valak was entirely a fabrication for the movie’s narrative.
Valak in conjuring 2.
The demon Valak is a purely fictional addition. While the Warrens claimed to encounter demonic forces in many of their cases, the name “Valak” and its depiction as a sinister nun are artistic choices made for the film. Valak does not appear in any records related to the Enfield Poltergeist or the Warrens’ brief involvement in the case.
Maurice Grosse’s Role in conjuring 2.
The movie barely touches upon the significant contribution of Maurice Grosse, the Society for Psychical Research investigator, who played a pivotal role in documenting the events at the Hodgson house. Grosse’s daughter had recently died, and he was emotionally invested in the case. His meticulous recordings and observations were crucial to understanding the Enfield case, though the film minimizes his presence in favor of the Warrens.
Is Conjuring 2 really scary?
Guardians need to realize that The Conjuring 2 is the continuation of 2013’s hit blood and gore film The Conjuring and is additionally founded on genuine apparition trackers Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). There’s some horrendous viciousness, fresh injuries, and firearm shots, yet the central concern is exactly the way in which very unnerving it is.
Is Conjuring 2 banned?
The Conjuring 2 pulled from French films after jumble during screenings – IMDb. Various films in France are dropping screenings of The Conjuring 2 following problematic events of “noisy chuckling”, “crazy hollering” and brutal fights.
The Fine Line Between Fact and Fiction.
While “The Conjuring 2” provides an eerie and atmospheric depiction of the Enfield Poltergeist, it takes several creative liberties to heighten the horror for cinematic effect. The Warrens’ role, the demon Valak, and some of the poltergeist activity were amplified or fabricated to fit the franchise’s supernatural narrative. The real story of the Enfield Poltergeist remains a mixture of genuine paranormal activity, skeptical doubts, and psychological factors involving a family under significant emotional stress.
For those fascinated by the true story behind the film, Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair’s investigations provide a more grounded, though still chilling, view of one of the most famous hauntings in history.
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