James Wan is one of the most interesting horror directors of his generation. Few have managed to reinvent themselves like he has. After creating Saw, he didn’t stop there, but was able to create several successful franchises that have dominated over the years. All under the umbrella of his own production company, demonstrating that horror cinema, if done well, can be profitable. As much as to make 2 billion dollars in nine films, across three franchises of a shared cinematic universe.
Because we are talking about the universe of The Conjuring. Which includes The Warren Files and Annabelle, as well as The Nun. Beloved horror film franchises that have managed to evolve over the years and, at least these first two, are now coming to Max.
The Warrens, the most paranormal couple
Based on true events, The Conjuring, released in 2013, follows the case where two paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, must uncover the extent to which spirits are involved in the strange occurrences of the Perron family. The film was a success for having a relatively realistic tone, emphasizing the supernatural aspects and the investigation itself, treating the work of uncovering the truth almost like a detective exercise.
The movie performed extraordinarily well, being highly appreciated by both critics and audiences, which led to the green light for the second film in the franchise: The Conjuring 2, released in 2014. In this case, the Warrens, five years later, must investigate a particularly tumultuous case that seems to combine a ouija board, strange events in London, and their own home.
Since the second installment was the most successful, it shouldn’t be surprising that they greenlit a third installment, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
In this third installment, after documenting the exorcism of an 8-year-old boy, things begin to twist rapidly. Mixing supernatural terror with thriller, it may not achieve the same commercial success as the previous installment, but it will be the most intriguing in how it deviates from the classic formula of the franchise. We are yet to see what they do in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, a film set to be released on September 5 of this year.
Annabelle, the doll you wouldn’t want to have at home
But in fairness, the Warren Files would not progress linearly. Between each installment, there would be other movies. Because the protagonist of the first movie would be the doll Annabelle and her first movie would serve as a prequel to the franchise.
Annabelle would premiere in 2014 and would serve to explore the origins of the character. Serving as an origin story, even more than a prequel, it focuses much more on the dramatic aspects and pure horror, making it have a very different approach. This makes it a perfect fit to be the direct sequel to the first Conjuring.
Especially not when it comes to the latest Annabelle movie. Because Annabelle 2: Creation, released in 2017, would tell how Annabelle, the doll, ended up enchanted, in a more formulaic but very satisfying movie for fans.
The latest film in the saga so far is Annabelle Comes Home, released in 2019, which once again crosses the paths of Annabelle and the Warrens. Proving that what they did to end the doll was ultimately not enough, the film feels more like a way to continue exploiting the character’s popularity rather than something that truly adds to the universe. But it is undeniable that it is an enjoyable film that delighted fans.
Where to watch it and in what order
Now that they are all available on Max, it’s possible to watch them as a way to prepare for the new installment of The Conjuring. Or simply to enjoy a good weekend of horror. Although if you also want to see the first two installments of The Nun, you’ll have to watch them on Amazon Prime or Apple TV, although on the latter only for rent.
As for the rest, if you want to see the entire franchise, there are two ways: either by release order (The Conjuring, Annabelle, The Conjuring: The Enfield Case, Annabelle: Creation, The Nun, Annabelle Comes Home, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Nun 2) or by chronological order (The Nun, The Nun 2, Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle, The Conjuring, Annabelle Comes Home, The Conjuring: The Enfield Case, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It). But in either case, a marathon of death awaits you.
