Conjuring the Cult

Conjuring the Cult offers a refreshing take on the horror genre with its unique premise and unpredictable storyline. The film follows David, a grieving father whose desperate quest for closure leads him to a mysterious cult promising resurrection. Despite operating on a modest budget, the film impressively avoids the pitfalls of predictability that often plague similar movies. Clever twists and well-timed reveals keep the audience engaged, making it a standout for its creative narrative and the genuine suspense it builds.

While the film's budget constraints are evident in some technical aspects, the solid storyline and strong performances, especially from the lead, compensate well. Conjuring the Cult manages to deliver an emotional punch and a thoughtful exploration of grief and hope, wrapped in a chilling supernatural plot. It's a testament to how effective storytelling paired with committed performances can elevate a film above its financial limitations, making it well worth the watch for fans looking for something beyond the usual horror tropes.

You will see many knowing nods to other films of the horror genre here. Insidious for the parallel spirit world, Ouija for the .....errr.....ouija board and The Craft for the witchcraft and the coven.

This is a low budget effort that has problems with its direction, cinematography, sound, editing, acting and script that can all be associated with with its thin wallet.

That being said, the first hour of the movie is quite effective at creating a foreboding atmosphere. The dream sequences are well done and the central actor is pretty good as the tormented father.

The movie falls off in the third act, which becomes quite incomprehensible.

With the 2024 movie "Conjuring the Cult" being a horror movie that I had neither seen nor heard about, of course I opted to watch it, as I had the opportunity to do so here in 2025. I found the movie's cover to be alluringly interesting, and sat down to watch the movie with an open mind accessible to impressions, as I virtually didn't know what I was getting into here.

Writer and director Calvin Morie McCarthy put together a rather slow paced narrative. It was a storyline that sort of tried relying on atmosphere and slowly building up tension, but it sort of was too sluggishly paced to be really effective. At one hour into the 93 minute runtime nothing thrilling or particularly entertaining had happened, and I have to admit that my attention was drifting to other things than the movie.

I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, aside from Neil Green and Elissa Dowling, which is actually something that worked in favor of the movie. Yeah, I enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen whenever I sit down to watch a movie. And I will say that the acting performances in "Conjuring the Cult" were adequate.

"Conjuring the Cult" was a swing and a miss of a movie. The narrative was simply too slow paced and uneventful to provide much of any entertainment value.

It should be noted, however, that the production was good, but it didn't count for much as the narrative was killing the viewing experience.

This is definitely not a movie that will grace my screen a second time, as it was quite the struggle to sit through it the first time around. Neither is it a movie that I would recommend horror fans to seek out.

My rating of writer and director Calvin Morie McCarthy's 2024 attempt at a horror movie lands on a generous three out of ten stars.

> Poor scene transitions, unconvincing make-up, weak acting, awkward camera angles, and mismatched music everywhere. The neck of the actress playing the gothic leader seems like it's the same in reality, too.

There's fog everywhere - even indoors, the rooms are shrouded in mist. Every attempt at creating an atmosphere falls flat.

I couldn't tell if I was watching a horror, a comedy, or some kind of experiment. All I know is I watched a disaster. I genuinely don't understand how it has an IMDb rating above 6. It's a movie that lacks direction, creativity, and coherence.

Truly a waste of time.

This film excels in delivering a captivating and suspenseful narrative. One of the film's standout aspects is its cleverly structured buildup to a series of startling revelations involving a mysterious cult. The initial premise of the protagonist, led by grief to a support group, seamlessly transitions into his eerie encounters with a coven poised to enact a sinister plan. This progression is handled with a deft touch, providing just enough foreshadowing to pique interest without diminishing the impact of the surprises that follow.

The storyline weaves together these elements into a compelling tapestry of horror and suspense that keeps the viewer engaged. Although the film occasionally struggles with repetitive sequences, these moments are overshadowed by its strengths, particularly the effective use of haunting imagery and a robust, ominous atmosphere that grips the audience. Overall, Conjuring the Cult provides a thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing experience, marking it as a noteworthy addition to the horror genre.