Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren returned to theaters this spring with help from director James Wan to scare up a bountiful box office through a cinematic adaptation of one of their scariest cases.
The Blu-ray release of The Conjuring 2 (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Rated R, 134 minutes, 2.40:1 aspect ratio, $29.98) continues to spread the tale of the famous “Enfield Poltergeist,” who caused havoc to the real Hodgson family living in the borough in north London back in 1977.
The Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles from the first film) end up helping the English family after the daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe) becomes possessed by a former elderly occupant of the house, Bill Wilkins.
The ghostbusters realize quickly that they are not simply dealing with a feisty apparition but something much more sinister and potentially deadly.
Once again, Mr. Wan delivers the frights especially through creatures and ghosts that are simply nightmare inducing. A pale-faced, demonic nun (looking look Marilyn Manson in full makeup with sharpened teeth) and an enormous, spindly Crooked Man (of the English nursery rhyme fame) lead the way.
The digital transfer is a bit dark sometimes, to the detriment of plot subtleties, but the overall creep factor clarity will satisfy home theater owners looking for a difficult night’s sleep.
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By the way, sit through the end credits to view actually photos from the real haunting as well as hear the voice of old man Wilkins, recorded by the Warrens.
Best extras: Among a varied selection of featurettes (roughly 40 minutes long), viewers will quickly gravitate to the much-too-short “The Enfield Poltergeist: Living the Horror” (13 minutes) offering current interviews with the adult Hodgson sisters.
A very fragile and emotional Janet and her stoic sister Margaret recount the diabolical events with help from the real Lorraine Warren and touch upon the smothering curtain, moving chair and strange voice that spoke through Janet.
The women visit the working set and — wait for it — the sisters even visit the cemetery where their mom and Wilkins are buried. Let the shivering begin … creepy.
Also, I loved the 7-minute look at the creation of the Crooked Man, a near 7-foot-tall monstrosity pulled from a toy zoetrope and played by lanky, Spanish actor Javier Botet. Makeup and effects artist Justin Raleigh walks viewers through the process of creating his colorful suit and horrifying facial appliances.
And, for a good laugh, Johnny Matook, a self-anointed paranormal investigator, and a couple of his buddies take viewers on a 5-minute tour of one of Warner Bros.’ supposedly haunted sets, Stage 4, where “The Conjuring 2” was filmed.
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It’s a pointless exercise to find evidence of a haunting, but it does feature footage of a priest blessing the set before the movie was shot. Mr. Matook also happens to be a security guard for the studio. Hey, the guy has got to pay the bills between outing spirits.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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