Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Horror sequel is intense, but not as good as previous films.
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 42 kid reviews
Kids say this movie offers some disturbing scenes and a fair amount of gore, but many agree it doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by the previous films. While it features some intense moments and a captivating plot, it tends to lean more towards mystery than pure horror, making it suitable for older teens rather than younger audiences.
- mildly entertaining
- intense scenes
- light on scares
- mystery-driven plot
- graphic violence
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, it's 1981, and paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) are in the middle of the exorcism of a young boy, David (Julian Hilliard), that doesn't seem to be working. Arne (Ruairi O'Connor), the boyfriend of David's sister, Debbie (Sarah Catherine Hook), grabs him and invites the demon into him. Before long, Arne starts to feel strange. While in some kind of trance, he stabs and kills a family friend and goes to jail. The Warrens hope to get him released by reason of demon possession and go to work to find out more about the creature responsible. But their first lead, a strange witch's totem left underneath the house, suggests other forces at work.
Is It Any Good?
With James Wan no longer at the helm, the third Conjuring movie feels more like a weary episode of an old detective TV show than the metaphysical, kinetic, and terrifying previous entries. The Curse of la Llorona director Michael Chaves takes charge this time and offers up a movie that's more about detective work and beating the clock than about the supernatural or the paranormal. Part of what made The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) so special wasn't just Wan's intensely visceral use of sound and space to generate chills, but also the sense that these "true stories" opened a door on what was possible. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It doesn't seem that curious ... or scary.
Chaves serves up some of the usual horror stuff, including contorting bodies with accompanying "clicking" noises, things rushing toward the camera, and "boo!" jump scares. As the eighth entry in the Conjuring Universe, the movie doesn't seem to add much to the series. But at its heart are the Warrens, and Farmiga and Wilson still bring a little extra to make their characters fascinating, lovable, and special. Ed is recovering from a heart attack in this one, making him more vulnerable and sympathetic. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It also digs a little deeper into the couple's storybook romance, including delightful moments like the one in which Ed tries to dissuade Lorraine from exploring a dark crawlspace. "You'll get your dress dirty," he says. "Just hold my purse," she replies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. How did it make you feel? Do the blood and gore make the movie feel scarier? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How scary is the movie? What are the scariest parts? What's the difference between jump scares and other kinds of scares? Does a movie have to be violent to be scary?
How does the "based on a true story" aspect affect the movie? Do you believe that this scary stuff, or something like it, actually happened?
Are the Warrens role models? How do they help out the Glatzel family?
Is Arne a role model? What price does he pay to help out young David? How do things work out for him?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 4, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : August 24, 2021
- Cast : Vera Farmiga , Patrick Wilson , Ruairi O'Connor
- Director : Michael Chaves
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : terror, violence and some disturbing images
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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