If there is one thing James Wan has proven with this career so far, it’s that he can make scary movies cheap and hugely profitable. He made his name as the man behind the “Saw” franchise and “Insidious” (with the sequel to that movie coming this fall), and while no official figures have been revealed, it’s probably safe to say that this weekend’s spookfest “The Conjuring,” didn’t cost all that much either. Okay, maybe slightly more than usual given the ’70s setting but beyond that, dude knows how to scare on the cheap and turn that investment into piles of cash. And New Line wants to keep that scary money flowing.
In the quickly growing trend, with just a few days to go before it opens, the studio has announced that they have started working on “The Conjuring 2.” Bet you didn’t see that coming. But unlike Wan’s previous efforts, which may have been audience popular, but critically not so well embraced, “The Conjuring” is riding on some big buzz and positive reviews. Even the editors around here were surprised when Gabe dropped his B grade review this morning, calling the movie “terrifying” and “unlike pretty much any studio horror film this year.”
No word yet on writers or directors (Wan is moving on to the “gritty” “Fast & Furious 7” next) or if any of the cast will return, but there is a narrative direction New Line is already looking at. “The Conjuring” is based on the true stories of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the idea is that future films would draw on their case files (which already inspired movies “The Amityville Horror” and “The Haunting in Connecticut.”) So there you go. There’s at least some reason for future movies to exist.
So while you wait for “The Conjuring,” check out this featurette for the film with the real life Lorraine Warren. [Variety]