Review - Conjurer

I had a friend over the other night and we decided to watch Conjurer. What can I say; I have a soft spot for John Schneider . . .

. . . really, that was my only criteria for choosing it.
So imagine my surprise when it actually turned out to be a decent little film. More in the supernatural realm than horror, Conjurer is the story of a young couple Shawn and Helen Burnett (Andrew Bowen and Maxine Bahns) who have just suffered the miscarriage of their first child. In an effort to help Helen lick her wounds, big brother Frank (John Schneider) helps them purchase a little slice of heaven in the country. Of course he is not without his own stake in the game as this little acreage is going to allow him to develop some high price homes to sell. Everybody’s got an agenda, right?
The big problem with this plan is that in order to develop the property they will need to tear down the old cabin that sits on its edge. You learn pretty early on in the film that it is a safe bet that the witch that used to inhabit that cabin does not like this plan very much, or do you?
There are a couple of good scares and interesting twists in Conjurer (like the back story of Shawn’s mental health), but at the end of the day some things are left a bit lost somewhere in the plot development. Although I have to say that I liked the ending because it left you wondering. I always like it when a movie leaves you wondering . . .
While I was watching, there was this one thing that really annoyed me. The leading man in this flick was like Tom Cruise’s slightly retarded younger brother. It was bizarre, I found myself totally distracted as I kept half expecting him to jump on a couch and start screaming about the true love he had found.
But I digress, all in all this was a slightly better than good supernatural thriller. If you catch it whilst flicking through the channels, give it a whirl. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Directed by
Clint Hutchison

Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Clint Hutchison writer
David Yarbrough writer

Cast (in credits order)
Andrew Bowen ... Shawn Burnett
Maxine Bahns ... Helen Burnett
John Schneider ... Frank Higgins
Tom Nowicki ... Marlin Dreyer
Brett Rice ... Fulton Moss
Edith Ivey ... Mrs. Dreyer
Terrence Gibney ... Dr. Letson
Dolan Wilson ... Sheriff Clayton
Liz McGeever ... Hattie
Nicholaus Teall ... Moss Boy
James Donadio ... Tony Stegman
Donna Biscoe ... Dr. McKenzie
Ryan Puszewski ... Young Shawn
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael H. Cole ... ER Doctor
Lawson Garrett ... Baby Girl
Kelli Mix ... Emergency Room Nurse