“Based on a true story.” Horror fans are very used to hearing those words by now. But filmmaker James Wan didn’t take the phrase lightly in his latest effort,
Wan’s new thriller, in theaters now, takes place in the 1970s and tells the story of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens were at the heart of several supernatural studies in their time, and “The Conjuring” focuses on one such case, dealing with a haunted Rhode Island farmhouse. Lorraine Warren is still alive today, and was consulted thoroughly throughout the making of “The Conjuring.”
“I wanted to wear the ‘based on a true story’ label with a lot of pride,” Wan told MTV News. “I wanted to be proud of that, I wanted it to be something I could really get behind. So we really researched and talked to the parents and to Lorraine Warren about every little thing, to build a world that I could get their stamp of approval on. If I can convince them, then I’ve done my job making a movie that pays respect to where they’re from.”
As the director of “Saw” and “Insidious,” Wan is more than familiar with the horror genre. He’s created outlandish ghosts and nefarious villains in his time. But with “The Conjuring,” Wan sought something different for his latest form of terror: something real.
“I really wanted to ground the movie as much as I could,” he said. “I honestly really believe that if I ground the movie as much as I can, the scares are much more effective.”
The Warrens were at the heart of numerous paranormal investigations, including the famous Amityville Horror case. With a “Conjuring” sequel already announced, it’s not surprising to hear that Wan has at least thought about further ways to bring the Warren cases to theatergoers.
“I don’t set out to make a movie wondering if there could be two, three, four or five more, I don’t do that,” he said. “But having said that, I do concede that a movie about the Warrens is a very organic way of investigating future stories.”
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