Whereas James Wan helmed the first two Conjuring movies, he is replaced here by Michael Chaves. With large shoes to fill, Chaves executes the style and tone that is now unique to these movies adeptly enough to satisfy both casual moviegoers and long-time fans of this ever-growing cinematic universe. Casual horror fans unfamiliar with James Wan’s style are sure to be pleased with the scares of this film. Long-time fans, however, may find that these scares, as well as certain points in the story-line, have become familiar. James Wan’s vision was a breath of fresh air when he first released The Conjuring (2013). He delivered yet again three years later with The Conjuring 2 (2016). But, as is the case with plenty of film trilogies, it’s not as easy to up the ante on the third installment. Some scenes of terror may not hit fans the same way because they now border on predictability. The climax borders on cliché almost to the point where the viewer may correctly deduce the ending before it happens. 

Because of the solid plot, the characters, and the unsettling nature, this Conjuring movie is a great summertime scare. Although it may be a bit of a come-down from its predecessors, it still retains the same aggression and flare. If one hasn’t seen the previous two, then they can safely begin with this movie without the risk of spoilers. This film is now in theaters and on HBO Max until July 4.