THE CONJURING 2
Masterfully directed horror where faith faces supernatural evil.
Should You Watch It?
This is a masterfully directed horror thriller with exceptional suspense, pacing, and rhythm. James Wan’s fluid camera work, very scary music, mystery, and deeply likable central marriage make it a thrilling ride. Ed and Lorraine Warren’s faith in Jesus gives the film a positive Christian foundation, and the story treats family, love, and marriage seriously.
But the film is also very disturbing. Its supernatural subject matter includes demonic oppression, frightening images, possession, and occult-influenced practices. The movie presents faith as the power over evil, yet it does not show the Warrens turning to God in prayer or encouraging the oppressed family to do so. Some spiritual victories feel more like the use of a weapon than dependence on Jesus.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle intense horror, this is worth seeing for its craft and moral themes. If you are choosing for children, young teens, or spiritually sensitive viewers, skip it.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 1977, Catholic demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate reports of supernatural activity in a house in Enfield, England. A single mother and her four children are struggling with strange happenings that grow increasingly frightening.
The Catholic Church asks the Warrens to determine whether the case is a hoax. As Ed and Lorraine investigate, the case becomes a deeply personal spiritual battle involving a demonic entity determined to destroy Lorraine’s faith and kill Ed.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is top-tier filmmaking within its genre. James Wan brings perfected timing, pace, and rhythm to the suspense. The fluid, immersive camera work and very scary music heighten the mystery and make the film a thrilling ride.
Ed and Lorraine are compassionate, likable characters, and the sequel places their love and marriage at the center of the story. That emotional focus raises the stakes beyond the scares. The film has no explicit gore and very little foul language, but its subject matter and extremely tense moments are deeply disturbing.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong Christian worldview in which faith in God overcomes demonic evil. Lorraine reads her Bible, Christian Christmas carols play throughout, and the demonic entity is described as attacking her faith. Ed calls Lorraine’s visions a “gift from God,” tells a boy, “God will be there for all who need,” and the name of the Holy Trinity is shown as the only power over evil.
The film also has important weaknesses. Faith functions more as a weapon than as a relationship with God. The Warrens are never shown turning to God in prayer, and the people under oppression are not encouraged to do so. The story ultimately gives Ed and Lorraine credit for overcoming evil together, leaving Christian viewers to ask where Jesus belongs in that victory.
Some supernatural elements borrow from occult practices, including channeling in a fashion similar to a psychic circle. Crosses and chants are sometimes used more as weapons against demons than as expressions of orthodox Christian teaching. The film should not be treated as a guide for overcoming spiritual oppression, even though it conveys that demonic evil is real and that faith matters.
The film’s central longing is for faith to withstand evil. Scripture teaches that Christians must stand firm in God’s strength: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian, biblical worldview of fighting against supernatural evil, and the only power shown over evil is the name of the Holy Trinity, woman reads her Bible, Christian Christmas carols are played throughout, woman says the demon is trying to “attack her faith,” and her husband says her visions are a “gift from God,” husband also tells boy, “God will be there for all who need,” and biblical and moral messages about family, love and marriage, with some borrowing from occult practices such as channeling, and children use a Ouija board which is the start to their demonic oppression, and an old man’s spirit haunts a house, and some theologically weak elements where crosses and chants are used more as a weapon against demons, and less of an emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus; four light obscenities, five light profanities, and British slang like “bloody” and “wanker”; moderate violence includes woman sees a vision of man who shot his whole family while they were sleeping, some blood splatter, a vision of a man being impaled by a branch, very scary images of demonic possession and oppression, girl is possessed and speaks in low raspy voice, a demon with a disturbing face wearing a nun outfit haunts characters, furniture is thrown across the house, and girl levitates, multiple people are bitten by demon, and many scary images; no sex scenes, but a reference to a man’s affairs; no nudity; no alcohol use; no drug use, young girl smokes cigarette, but gets in trouble; and, school boy calls a girl a “lesbo.”
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents faith as a power against supernatural evil. What does Scripture say about where spiritual strength comes from?
Ephesians 6:10–18 · James 4:7Children use a Ouija board before the supernatural oppression begins. How can we protect ourselves from dabbling with spiritual darkness?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22The film uses crosses and chants as weapons but gives less emphasis to a personal relationship with Jesus. What is the difference between using religious symbols and trusting Christ?
John 15:4–5 · Romans 10:9–13The movie includes claims of supernatural activity that some people regard as a hoax. Why should Christians practice both discernment and wisdom when evaluating such claims?
1 John 4:1 · Proverbs 14:15The Final Word
This is masterful horror with a serious Christian center, but its disturbing images and weakened treatment of spiritual warfare demand wisdom. Discerning adults who can handle the intensity may find the journey worthwhile. For everyone else, choose another film. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY
