Movie Monday: The Conjuring Giveaway

Sometimes it’s super fun to be a blogger. Like around this time of year when company reps contact you about helping to promote a product. In this case, a nice person at Warner Bros. sent me a The Conjuring (Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Combo Pack) to review.

I already saw the movie when it was in the theaters, but why not watch it again? It was one of the better horror movies to come out in a while.

I still didn’t like the religious/church part of the storyline. I already ranted about that in the Forum (see the discussion Does religion really have anything to do with the paranormal?), so I won’t rant about it again.

However, I liked that the movie made me think about whether churches and alleged men of God really have anymore “power” to control, deal with, get rid of, or explain the supernatural anymore than mere mortals (a.k.a. the average Joe –or Jane).

And I have to say the scares were superb. The clapping, the actors talking about the smells, the creaking doors, the pictures getting all busted up…disturbing. And when Lili Taylor’s character gets possessed? Yikes, yikes, yikes! Oh, and let’s not forget about creepy Annabelle. Only the clown in Poltergeist gives me the heebie jeebies more. I’d classify The Conjuring as one of the Top 5 haunted house horror movies ever.

SPECIAL FEATURES

I appreciated all the preparation that went into terrifying audiences even more after watching the special feature on the DVD, Scaring the “@$*%” Out of You. It was neat to hear the actors, the director, the writers, even the production designer explain the behind the scenes making of The Conjuring and all the thought and planning that went into creating the chills. Major kudos to James Wan for his “artistry.” (I liked that word. I think during one of his interview segments, Patrick Wilson used it to describe Wan’s insight, foresight, and expertise. Really sums it up.)

I don’t have a Blu-ray player, so I couldn’t play the special features on that disc. But here’s what comes on it:

· The Conjuring: Face-to-Face with Terror

· A Life in Demonology

· Scaring the “@$*%” Out of You

Wish I was able to watch the first two. They sound interesting.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

The other super neat thing this combo pack come with is Digital HD Ultraviolet. I didn’t know what that was before this video. For anyone who may be reading who also doesn’t know, there’s a code you redeem that allows you to watch movies, in this case The Conjuring, anywhere via other devices (TV, computer, tablet, smartphone) using Cloud technology.

I didn’t redeem the code. It’s still intact and ready for whoever wins this video to use.

GIVEAWAY

Because that’s the other part of this post. I’d love to keep this video but it’s Halloween. For me that’s better than Christmas. Since I did the horror writing contest this year, I didn’t have money to do a giveaway too. But Warner Bros. sending me Blu-ray + DVD combo pack of The Conjuring allows me to have something for a giveaway. Thanks, WB!

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN THE CONJURING BLU-RAY + DVD + ULTRAVIOLET COMBO PACK

• Leave a comment below saying you want to be entered. (Newsletter subscriber? You’ll be getting details on how to earn bonus entries. Not a subscriber? Sign up to start receiving it on our Newsletter page.)
• Entries accepted until Thursday October 24, 2013 11:59 p.m. CST.
• Winner will be drawn and announced on Friday October 25, 2013.

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.