After two first installments directed by James Wan, the Conjuring Universe continues to expand its aura with a third opus: Conjuring – Under the influence of the Devil. For this third episode, James Wan leaves his place behind the camera to Michael Chaves, the director of The Curse of the White Lady. A new chapter that obviously marks the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the skin of the Warren couple. Focus on Conjuring 3: In the Grip of the Devil.
Conjuring 3: a chilling affair
The Conjuring Universe came to life in 2013 when James Wan staged The Conjuring: The Warren Files. Faced with the success of this first film, Warner Bros decided to develop this impressive horror universe through numerous sequels and spin-offs (Annabelle saga, The Curse of the White Lady, The Nun). This Wednesday, June 9, Michael Chaves has just unveiled to the world Conjuring 3: Under the influence of the Devil. A new episode very badly received by professional critics. And even if this third chapter is the least successful of the trilogy, it is nevertheless relatively good. 
This new opus, once again inspired by a true story, focuses on a murder case that took place in the early 1980s. Arne Cheyenne is a young man who kills one of his friends in cold blood with several stab wounds. However, he promises that he has no memory of this barbaric act. The defense decides to plead demonic possession, for the very first time in the history of American justice. Obviously, the Warrens have put their noses in this matter.
The least successful of the trilogy?
Unsurprisingly, James Wan's departure is lacking at Conjuring 3. The absence of its staging is felt. His mastery of space, sound and jump-scares is sorely lacking in this new episode. And even if Michael Chaves offers a licked staging, it has nothing comparable to the talent of his predecessor. So overall, the horror springs are much less impactful than in the two previous films. Conjuring 3 is clearly the least disturbing of the trilogy. The atmosphere is less oppressive and jump-scares are totally ineffective. Similarly, this Satanist story is less mystical and fascinating than previous demonic tales of other games. 
But if not this less explosive horror aspect, Conjuring 3 is not the purge described by critics. Michael Chaves, even if he takes huge liberties with the Warren story, manages to create an effective plot. It leaves the closed-door aspect of previous films, to open the Conjuring universe in a much wider environment. Here, no haunted house (except for the time of a devilishly effective opening scene), but a police investigation that leads the Warrens into new settings within the franchise. The playing field is much bigger, which creates a new dynamic in the Conjuring license. Similarly, Michael Chaves has the intelligence not to pump everything on The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which follows a relatively similar pattern. Thus, the filmmaker avoids repetition, and expresses his police and judicial investigation in a different form than that chosen by Scott Derrickson in 2005. Finally, the film offers some superb flights, like the introductory sequence or the scene of the morgue, excessively delicious. To conclude, certainly Conjuring 3 is the least successful of the trilogy. Certainly the absence of James Wan is lacking in the film. However, this new opus is not the failure announced by the press. It's a pretty interesting paranormal investigation that revives the Conjuring universe. https://youtu.be/tLFnRAzcaEc
