After The Conjuring dominated the summer box office in 2013, it was only a matter of time before a sequel was made. The Conjuring 2, the next film in what is certain to be a Conjuring series, takes paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) to London, where a single mother's four children are being terrorized by ghosts, even possessed. The trailer for The Conjuring 2 has been terrorizing audiences leading up to its June release, and despite the film's title, the period clothing and new setting (the first film was set in the U.S.) have some fans wondering whether The Conjuring 2 is a prequel. In fact, it's not a prequel to The Conjuring, but a sequel, as the title suggests.
The Conjuring 2 is actually set a good seven years after The Conjuring, in 1977 — hence the similar period clothing and style. It's a tough blow to fans who wanted to see the origin story of supernatural hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, a real-life couple whose alleged encounters with the paranormal have inspired many horror films, including The Amityville Horror. Alas, that will have to wait. In the meantime, fans hoping for a Conjuring prequel will have to settle for yet another haunting story.
The Conjuring 2 is a sequel to The Conjuring, but it could also be considered its own entity. Instead of picking up on the horrific events of the first film, the movie moves to an entirely new case based off of the Enfield Poltergeist, a legend said to have terrorized a family from 1977 to 1979. Thus, a new story begins, just with the same two characters at the center.
Fans of The Conjuring series looking for more than just a sequel might consider watching a few of director James Wan's other horror franchises. Wan became a horror legend when he wrote and directed the first Saw movie in 2004. Since then, he's created a straight out horror empire. Not all of his films are connected, and he rarely directs two films from the same franchise — The Conjuring 2 marks the first time Wan has returned to helm a sequel. But, as a producer, he has helped craft many horror films that act as spiritual prequels and sequels to The Conjuring. So, if you really want to watch a Conjuring prequel, check out the first two Insidious films, which also happen to star Wilson, and Annabelle, the story of a haunted doll briefly seen in The Conjuring.
Word of advice: watch these with the lights on.
Images: Warner Brothers; Giphy (2)
