Title: “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it”

Release date: In theaters (wide) and on HBO Max on June 4, 2021

Directed by: Michael Chaves

Written by: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan, based on a true story and the 1983 book “The Devil in Connecticut” by Gerald Brittler

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard, John Noble, Eugenie Bondurant, Shannon Kook, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Keith Arthur Bolden, Steve Coulter, Vince Pisani, Ingrid Bisu, Andrea Andrade, Ashley LeConte Campbell, Sterling Jerins, Paul Wilson, Charlene Amoia

Run time: 1 hour, 52 minutes

Genres: Horror/mystery/thriller

Rated: R (for terror, violence, disturbing images)

Where I saw it: At an area independent theater on a Wednesday afternoon, $9, two other people in theater

What it’s about: A young man (O’Connor as Arne Cheyenne Johnson) brutally kills his landlord, and paranormal investigators/authors Ed and Lorraine Warren (Wilson and Farmiga) try to help his defense team build a case for his innocence, claiming Johnson was possessed by demons.

What I liked about it: Though the third installment of the “Conjuring” movies (and eighth in the “Conjuring” universe) doesn’t match the standards of the first two movies (and, not coincidentally, this is the first to not be directed by creator James Wan), don’t take that to mean it’s not good, scary or entertaining. Because it is. The film certainly has its faults (detailed below), but it does what a horror story is expected to do, though it noticeably drifts into crime drama and character study territory. The beginning and end are particularly strong, and the middle has its moments too, though that is where it functions mostly as a police case that just happens to involve demonic possession. Chaves keeps the pace brisk, most noticeably in the pre-title sequence, with shades of “The Exorcist” and some dizzying camera work and editing. That approach also serves the movie well in its best scene, inside a morgue, and in the climax. This isn’t the scariest horror movie ever made, but it’s not NOT scary, either. … Wilson and Farmiga are back again as the Warrens, who get involved with the Johnson court case when participating in (and filming, of course) the exorcism of a young boy (Hilliard as David Glatzel). During the process, the demonic spirit possesses Johnson, and it turns out an occultist seems to be responsible. The Warrens then try to connect Johnson’s case with others to help his defense. Wilson and Farmiga are the glue that holds the series together. Farmiga, with her special “gift” of being able to “see” supernatural phenomena, does much of the work here as Wilson’s Ed Warren has a heart attack early in the film and seems to be on the verge of another one the rest of the way. Dealing with demons is not good for one’s heart, apparently. Wilson and Farmiga, as usual, have great chemistry.

What I didn’t like about: Though it can’t be helped because of the nature of the source material, the crime drama portion of the movie is rather ordinary. … Some of the jump-scares are effective, but others aren’t, and it’s mostly because they are telegraphed. If the camera is in tight on a character and all goes silent, prepare to jump and gasp, or not. … Though in hindsight it was set up (I did not make the connection until afterward), a “the power of love” angle comes out of nowhere and seems corny for this type of movie. … Most of the film is noticeably dark; it was kind of like watching something on your phone with the brightness setting turned all the way down.

Who it should appeal to: Fans of the first two “Conjuring” movies who can lower their expectations a notch or two.

My score: 72 out of 100.