‘The Conjuring 2’ is scarier (and sweeter) than the first film

Rarely does a sequel outdo the first film, but horror fans have a lot to look forward to in "The Conjuring 2."

James Wan is clearly a fan of the genre and he, along with cinematographer Don Burgess, masterfully executes what would otherwise have been cliches.

Scray nuns, visions in the mirror, objects moving on their own, creepy nursery rhymes doubling as linguistic aids, and spirits leaving marks on the living—they're all there. Wan even threw in haunted dentures.

The movie crawls through an episode of a demonic possession and for two hours, it relentlessly puts the audience through the terrifying and exhausting experience of dealing with nightmarish incidents. There are scenes shot from a first person POV and these effectively make you feel for Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe) and, regardless of your position on the existence of God or ghosts, you start praying for the ordeal to stop.

"The Conjuring 2" is in the league of other horror greats. Wan and Burgess make an effort to create a dreadful mood—the music is unsettling, and the jump scares are not cheap.

Even better, the main characters aren't paper thin and they have enough sense to run when something scary happens. All five residents take to the streets when they see a cabinet move on its own...but of course, they have to go back because they've got nowhere else to live. Mom's trying, but the housing authority thinks her daughter is faking it to dupe them.

Madison Wolfe gives an inspired performance as Janet Hodgson. Photos from Warner Bros. Pictures

There's an uncomfortable feeling that goes along watching someone be accused of lying even when we the audience know that they are telling the truth. Through the conversation between Janet and Lorraine Warren (Vera Famiga), we see a glimpse of the isolation brought by trauma and the frustration of having to prove that something awful has happened and is still happening.

Janet and Lorraine's scene on the swing is poignant, with the young actress Wolfe perfectly portraying a terrified and tired girl. The supernatural phenomena could easily be swapped with mental health disorders or being a victim of assault and even if Wan didn't intentionally build this allegory, the elements lend themselves easily for this interpretation. 

Help is hard to find, which makes us appreciate the Warrens' relationship more. Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) doesn't share his wife's visions, but his faith in her is a thing of beauty. A person who believes in you is all that you really need to take on the evils of the world.

We should all have an Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) in our lives.

A horror film might be the last place you'd expect to see such a sweet sight, but based on true stories, something sappy like that really does help people overcome real horror. —KG, GMA News

"The Conjuring 2" opens in cinemas on Thursday, June 9.