8) The Conjuring 2
*Taken From My Best Of 2016 Horror Article*
James Wan is one of the top horror masters of his generation, and The Conjuring 2 is his Evil Dead II, Dawn Of The Dead or Aliens. It’s a rare horror sequel that meets – or even surpasses – the expectations set by a tremendously haunting original film. The Conjuring asserted Wan as a heavyweight, but to follow up success with such a different and compelling continuation just doesn’t happen anymore…and that’s why Wan is mentioned alongside genre giants.
The film itself follows another possession case for the Warrens to investigate, this time in rainy-old England. Much like Ouija: Origin of Evil, Wan has fun messing around with the aesthetic of a different time period while delivering some nightmare-worthy chills. A lot of critics complained about the The Crooked Man and the presence of a true monster, but those segments mark his biggest accomplishments (to me). Wan has dealt in possessions, serial killings, evil dolls – The Crooked Man just shows his ability to utilize creature physicality, and still be just as witty about telling a true horror tale.
What about that nun painting segment? Tops of the year, horror wise. Wan scares you on so many levels, as a voice the horror world needs now more than ever.