By: Shane Joseph Alliew
Running at 112 minutes, Michael Chaves directed The Devil Made Me Do It (also known as Conjuring 3), is based on a story by Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan. It is the eighth installment in the Conjuring Universe.
The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema and also had a simultaneous month-long release on the HBO Max streaming service.
Taking off from the accounts of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, essayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively, this 1981 case documents the exorcism of eight-year-old David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard) in the presence of his family and his sister’s boyfriend Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Connor) who challenges the malignant spirit and invites it to take him in place of the child, which according to the ‘expert couple’ it does.
At this point of time, Ed suffers a massive stroke and is hospitalized whilst Lorraine knows that the demon has found a new home. Tragedy strikes when the satanic spirit takes charge of the young adult and causes him to stab his landlord twenty-two times for which he is indicted and imprisoned.
This case becomes the first American murder trial to claim demonic possession as a defense, resulting in the beginning of an investigation into David’s original possession. The Warrens later discover a satanic curse passed on through a witch’s totem bringing them to research more into the same, not long before another totem also finds its way into their house threatening to bring about dire consequences.
Through their research and findings, the Warrens come across a similar case and know that this is not the first one of its kind, with a larger force at play with ulterior motives – Lorraine tries to build the larger picture and lands at the doorsteps of Kastner (John Nobel), a former priest who previously dealt with the Disciples of the Ram cult.
There is a powerful occultist (Eugenie Bondurant) at play, who needs to complete her curse or else her soul would be taken by the Master of Darkness and herein lies the fight of good versus evil.
With a tight and fast-paced plot, the film does not cause any moments of dullness coupled with good performances by both the leading and supporting actors. Unlike the second part of the film there are no long pauses and silent episodes of darkness, yet it does not have that kind of fear it evokes, like it did in the first part of the series.
There are no mirror reflections, not too many jumps and jerks but a sublime sense of evil that runs through the film with a twist at the end, with regard to the occultist and her origin, which is one bright spot in the film – lies, deception, duplicity are other forms of evil, or are they – perhaps its only a point of view and perspectives.
Watching a horror film is almost like relishing a delicious dish set out for Halloween: it must have the right condiments, in proportional balance or it may hit the palate leaving behind an excess of bitterness or sweetness.
Worth a watch, The Devil made Me Do It will not disappoint, nor will it leave you with sleepless nights.
3.5/5