The Conjuring 2

In 1977, psychic investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) investigate a poltergeist that is terrorizing a suburban London family. The movie claims to be “based on” a case recorded by the real-life Warrens. Well, maybe, but the “demonic spirit” in this movie doesn’t have much imagination—it takes all its ideas from The Exorcist and the dozens of schlock horror flicks it has spawned in 43 years. Director James Wan (Saw) indulges his usual penchant for grisly chills and jump-scares, and performances are good enough (especially Madison Wolfe in what can only be called the Linda Blair role), but Wan and co-writers Carey Hayes, Chad Hayes and David Johnson fail to build momentum or suspense. The movie drags on for two-and-a-quarter-hours, far too long for this kind of nonsense. J.L.