Few film genres get lumped into more generic stereotypes than the horror category. Yes, many “scary movies” share similar themes and on-screen plot devices – but what genre doesn’t, really? When’s the last time you saw a romantic comedy in theaters that “broke the mold” and was so ingeniously unique that it made you want to shout its praises from the rafters? I sound like a bitter old fanboy, I know, but the fact is: with horror, you either “get it” or you don’t, really.
Director James Wan is a guy who clearly “gets it.” Ever since directing the first ‘Saw’ film back in 2004, fans have taken notice of his talent and ability to infuse excitement and new spins on what are traditionally very classic forms of scare tactics. Wan has gone on to direct the films in the ‘Insidious’ franchise as well as both ‘The Conjuring’ and ‘The Conjuring 2,’ which was recently released in theaters. The fact that he can take films that are based on true events – such as the two ‘Conjuring’ movies – and keep viewers engaged is certainly a testament to his skills.
In chatting recently with CinemaBlend about the new movie, Wan spoke a bit about how he works to keep things new and fresh in his films, but also respecting the fact that, with true-life tales, some of the classic cliches of the genre really have to be included, because – well, because they actually happened:
I’m well aware that I’m working in a very strictly confined sub-genre, that of the haunted house, that of ghost stories, hauntings, right? They come with very stringent tropes, and on top of that I feel like I couldn’t really deter too far. People kind of complain that the movie deals with sort of the classic cliches of banging doors, moving furniture, and I said, ‘Go online, that’s what all these families say!’ So I don’t know. I don’t want the house to implode on itself. That would be very original, but it wouldn’t be true to what has been documented. I kind of needed to partially stay true to the story, quote-unquote stories, that have been documented, but at the same time, I’m trying to find something different still.
Wan’s next major movie project is the probably-slighty-less-scary ‘Aquaman’ film for DC. ‘The Conjuring 2’ is in theaters now.
Tony Schaab saw a sign for a ‘Game of Thornes’ event and got excited to go – until he arrived and discovered that it was just the local Dyslexia Society’s annual gardening event. A lover of most things sci-fi and horror, Tony is an author by day and a DJ by night. Come hang out with Tony on Facebook and Twitter to hear him spew semi-funny nonsense and get your opportunity to finally put him in his place.
