The Conjuring – The 4K Blu-ray Edition You Don't Expect

The Conjuring (2013) is James Wan's film that represents a return to true horror, focusing on tension and atmosphere rather than gore. Set in New England in 1971, the film tells the story of the Perron family, haunted by dark presences in their new isolated country home. Coming to their aid are Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), celebrated demonologists who represent the only escape from the malignant and increasingly violent presence.

Already the director of Insidious, Wan demonstrates precise and calculated direction: the camera explores environments with long tracking shots, lingers on shadows and silences, only to strike with sudden visual shifts. He does not rely on an overuse of digital effects nor on "torture porn" gruesomeness: his weapons are editing, Joseph Bishara's disturbing sound, and the play of anticipation that generates palpable unease. While the ending is slightly conventional, the overall package remains compact and incisive, making for a classic and intense horror film.

Shot digitally (Arri Alexa) at a native 2.8K resolution, it then reached a native 2K master, of which this edition is a rescaling. Original image format 2.39:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on a BD-66 dual layer disc. Native 10-bit screens with infinite black are, as usual, advantaged, capable of highlighting background elements that are partially "drowned out," providing further solidity and superior light dynamics due to lower compression, even if only in static HDR-10. Greater prominence across the entire color spectrum, between colorimetric extension and further fidelity to artistic choices.

Remarkable Spectacle Despite Rescaling

The usual Dolby Digital 5.1 channel (640 kbps) Italian track struggles to deliver a scene worthy of Wan's magnificent work and the suffocating atmosphere, which we only find by selecting the original DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (24 bit). Mix and dynamics that challenge you to experience it at night through a true Home Theater system. Here, the sound field, especially the rear, provides exhilarating moments and, overall, directional elements and aggressiveness, even from the bass.

5 extras on the 4K disc, the first 2 of which are new: "Scariest of Them All" (8') with part of the cast and crew returning for a brief retrospective special (mostly) on the first film. "Reflections on The Conjuring" (7') is a second retrospective with additional behind-the-scenes footage. We then find "A Life in Demonology" (16'): director James Wan and participants like the real Lorraine Warren and audio recordings of the late Ed Warren provide an overview of the Warrens' lives, faith, research, and investigative career. "Face to Face with Terror" (7') with the Perrons' memories of supernatural events; finally, "Scaring the '@$*%!' Out of You" (8') and James Wan's art of scaring the audience. Italian subtitles. Steelbook edition.