Thanks to films like Saw and Insidious, horror fans were well aware of director James Wan’s mastery of the horror genre, yet when he debuted The Conjuring in 2013, no one was prepared for the impact that film would have on general audiences, as it kicked off not only a multi-movie franchise, but also inspired countless imitators. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It marks the first film in the proper series that Wan didn’t direct, instead handing the reins over to Michael Chaves, who previously directed The Curse of La Llorona, itself being a spinoff from the proper Conjuring series. Similar to La Llorona feeling like a run-of-the-mill ghost story, The Devil Made Me Do It ultimately suffers a similar fate, feeling more like an imitator that managed to borrow its title from the successful franchise, only barely being able to escape the genre’s doldrums thanks to its endlessly charming leads.
