‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ Review: Same Bag of Tricks

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the third direct sequel in the Conjuring Universe, bringing the total number of films to eight including its spin-offs. The horror franchise has relied on the experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and their cases to strike fear in audiences, and The Devil Made Me Do It is no different. While it’s been six years since a proper sequel, the franchise is up to its same bag of tricks. It’s initially effective but quickly wears off, leaving you with a repeating cycle of scares that ultimately misses the mark.

The Devil Made Me Do It follows Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they investigate the possession of 8-year-old David Glatzel. Following an unsuccessful exorcism, the demon jumps from David and takes hold of family friend Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Connor), who proceeds to murder his landlord some months later and is arrested. Ed and Lorraine are brought on the case as part of the defense to show the world that demons do exist, and that Arne is innocent due to being possessed. Investigating the demon that possesses Arne, however, will put Ed and Lorraine’s relationship to the ultimate test as they uncover the horrors that are lurking in every shadow.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have been the heart and soul of the Conjuring Universe, and it’s made most apparent with The Devil Made Me Do It. Their investigations over the years have taken a toll on them, both mentally and physically, and Ed lands up in the hospital following an incident during David’s exorcism leaving Lorraine to take the lead for the majority of the film. It’s good to see both Ed and Lorraine aren’t these superhero types who can easily brush all demons and monsters aside. It makes the ramifications that much higher, even if they do end up winning the majority of the time. The film does a better job at showcasing their strong relationship, but as far as scares are concerned, that’s where the letdowns begin.

My disappointment with the film comes from how the majority of the scares feel recycled over and over again. It’s always something lurking in the shadows or a character slowly inching towards something mysterious. It’s always dead silent until the very last moment and then the sound effects kick in at full volume. That would make anyone jump regardless of how scary the situation is. I’ll admit that it works for the first few times. The sound design and lighting are fantastic at creating the perfect horror atmosphere. But the gimmick quickly fades after being used time and time again. More so, the film likes to use plenty of direct homages to other, better horror films like The Exorcist, Psycho, and The Shining. It doesn’t quite work, as if it’s telling you, “Hey! Remember these scenes from other horror films that did this effect better?” This is one instance where the thought doesn’t quite count.

The original The Conjuring was interesting and terrifying, and I feel like none of its sequels or spin-offs have been able to come close to matching its horrors. The Devil Made Me Do It is no exception. The third chapter in the franchise is better than many of the other spin-offs received in the years between, but the wait hasn’t been exactly worth it. There are a few frights to be had. They’re just more of the same we’ve come to expect.