Hello horror fans, and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube, Top 5 Scary Videos
- that strange, haunted old house up on that pixelated internet hill - where it’s probably
not the greatest idea to linger for /too/ long.
What’s going on guys - and as per usual, I’ll be your spirit guide Jack Finch, as
we ramble on into the deep depths of paranormal cinema, check ourselves for a good old ghost
story - and take a look at The Top 5 Scary Ed and Lorraine Warren Movies.
Roll the clip.
Now, I’m sure you’re all aware - it’s no big secret that all of us here at Top 5
Scary Videos are huge fans of the Ed and Lorraine Warren franchise, and we enjoy nothing more
than tucking into a big plate of spooky Occult Warren glory, be it on the silver screen or
the peculiar paranormal legends that surround them.
Since James Wan first bought The Conjuring to our screens in 2013, it’s safe to say
that the world has been obsessed - and while not all of them have hit the mark - the franchise
has spawned some pretty fantastic horror films.
Let’s take a look.
Before we do that though, horror fans - you know how it is by now.
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On with the show.
Kicking us off at Number 5 - The Conjuring 2
Yep.
Not the first one, or the third - the second, because while it’s not quite what we’re
looking for at the higher ends of this list, it’s still a damn good horror flick - and
portrays the Warrens during some of their more testing times as paranormal investigators.
If you’ve never seen a James Wan Conjuring film, then this isn’t probably the best
place to start - but for fans of the franchise, The Conjuring 2 definitely hits the mark.
Written by Chad and Carey Hayes, and released in 2016 - The Conjuring 2 follows Ed and Lorraine
Warren after the events of the first film, and their journey to Britain to unravel the
strange case of the Enfield Poltergeist.
This is also the film where Valak the Nun gets fleshed out quite a bit more - leading
the way for its own standalone film which was, eh - not my cup of tea - but it made
for a pretty terrifying creature feature for the Conjuring 2.
It plays a lot on what James Wan is good at, as well - long, slow, panning set-pieces - an
almost Hitchcockian use of silence - tied together through the supernatural sheen that
Ed and Lorraine are so famous for.
And next up at Number 4 - The Amityville Horror
And no - not the steaming pile of garbage that was the 2005 remake, but the gloriously
over-the-top 1979 original directed by Stuart Rosenberg and based on the book of the same
name by Jay Anson.
You probably already know the story, as it paved the way for the Ed and Lorraine Warren
franchise long before James Wan sank his teeth into The Conjuring universe, and focuses on
the tragic tale of the DeFeo family, murdered by their oldest son Ronald.
The story takes place later - as the Lutz family move in, otherwise unaware of the events
that had earlier transpired - and witness a series of strange, paranormal occurrences
- culminating in evidence of demonic possession.
Yeah - I get it - this film was torn apart by critics on release, but it’s a horror
treasure - and it was one of the most successful independent horror films of earlier times.
Also frickin’ James Brolin leads the cast - and everyone loves that guy, right?
Not a lot can be said for the story - because in actuality, it’s pretty weak - and doesn’t
even feature the Warrens - but what makes this film great is the delivery by the cast.
They believed the house they were in was incredibly haunted, and it definitely shows on film.
Swinging in at Number 3 - The Haunted
Now - this whole film is on YouTube - so if you wanna take a look, then be my guest - because
although it may not seem it on the surface, this is actually one pretty terrifying horror
flick.
Directed by Robert Mandel, guest director for both The X-Files and Lost - The Haunted
was released in 1991 by Fox and went straight to television, which is why this may have
shot underneath most people's radars.
Starring the awesome Sally Kirkland as the families perturbed mother, Janet - The Haunted
focuses on the story of the Smurl family, a case investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren
in Pittston, Pennsylvania
Allegedly, the Smurl family were under siege by a demonic entity between the years of 1974
and 1989, which assaulted the family by emanating revolting odors, throwing their dog into a
wall, shaking their beds at night, pushing one of their daughters down a flight of stairs
- and even physically and sexually assaulting Jack Smurl, the family’s father.
Which - is probably the most disturbing scene in the entire film so - yeah - I’m just
gonna let that linger there.
Coming in at Number 2 - Annabelle: Creation
You might ask yourself, why didn’t the first Annabelle make this list - and my answer will
be because it was freaking terrible - and you know guys, I’m not in the market for
that - you guys deserve better.
Which is why we have Annabelle: Creation, one of the few films in the Conjuring Universe
that truly stands alone as a piece of horror cinema, rather than just a variation on a
theme of the franchise.
Which is funny really - because in actuality, the Annabelle doll played a very small part
in the Warren’s paranormal career.
I guess we just love getting scared senseless by a porcelain doll, right?
Annabelle: Creation, released in 2017 - was directed by David F. Sandberg - the man responsible
for the awesomely inventive Light’s Out - and who was also responsible for putting
the Conjuring franchise back on track after John Leonetti’s questionable display with
2014’s Annabelle.
I don’t have any more to say than the fact that Annabelle: Creation is a great horror
film, and you should watch it.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - The Conjuring
Yup.
The first one, you knew there was no way we could leave this one out - right?
Not a chance.
Because this is where, what I like to call the Second Warren Wave truly began - and sparked
a creepy little candle in the hearts of young and old horror fans the world over.
It’s pretty crazy for me, because for some of you - this will be the equivalent of The
Exorcist, or The Shining - the movie that made you realise you were a fan of horror
cinema, and I’m fine with it being The Conjuring - because it’s a damn good horror flick.
In a time horror cinema relied solely on jumpscares and cheap thrills - I’m looking at you,
Paranormal Activity - The Conjuring stood up and said, nah - I can make this scarier
with a bit of a story.
A ghost story, in fact.
A creepy, well crafted - slow burning paranormal thriller that sits and lingers in your head,
based on and grounded in folklore, urban legend and demonology.
And it does it well - canonising both Ed and Lorraine Warren as true legends of horror
fiction.
Well - that’s my list guys - what about yours?
Speak your mind in the comment box down below.
Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got time for in today's video - if you’d like to
continue on with your horror binge then feel free to hit that playlist floating shortly
above.
As per usual, I’ve been your host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5 Scary Videos,
and until next time - you take it easy.