James Wan is a household name in the horror genre and has made forays directing action and adventure films, to critical and commercial success. Despite having a few flops (well, what filmmaker doesn’t?), he has a career of nearly three decades creating and directing the most successful horror franchises in movie history.
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From the gory, adrenaline-pumping Saw to the critically acclaimed Conjuring series, James Wan has certainly made his mark in the industry. As such, we’ve picked out the best movies from his filmography for you to enjoy.
8
Aquaman
(2018)
Aquaman is Wan’s first action blockbuster and became the highest-grossing DC film in the franchise. As the title of the movie suggests, the story follows the origins of Aquaman (or Arthur Curry), a half-human half-Atlantean who uncovers the truth about himself and is the only one who can stop King Orm from invading the surface.
The quintessential superhero movie, Aquaman was certainly an entertaining, visual masterpiece despite its story lacking depth at times. Both Jason Momoa and Nicole Kidman were superb in their roles and the CGI was top-notch, making it a delight to watch.
7
Dead Silence
(2007)
Although initially critically panned by critics, Dead Silence has since accrued a cult following nearly two decades after its release. The second movie directed by Wan, its poster has become an iconic fixture in the horror genre. Moreover, the jumpscares are fun and unexpected, and the story has an exceptional twist at the end.
The film tells the tale of Jamie Ashen, who can’t seem to catch a break in life. After the murder of his wife, he is continuously terrorised by the vengeful spirit of deceased ventriloquist Mary Shaw. The latter had a bone to pick with the Ashen family after she was killed by them, refusing to rest until all of them were dead.
6
Insidious: Chapter 2
(2013)
The saga of the Lambert family continues in the sequel to the first Insidious movie. The story focuses more on Josh Lambert’s background, as well as the evil spirit The Bride In Black that killed the psychic Elise at the end of the first film.
Elise’s death sent the Lamberts reeling, with the paranormal occurrences intensifying. Josh has been possessed by The Bride In Black and the family attempts to reach out to Elise’s spirit for help. The film goes more in-depth into the lore of the spirit dimension known as ‘The Further’, along with Josh’s childhood and the history of The Bride In Black. Overall, the movie does exceptionally well in tying loose ends from the first film, making it one of the greatest storylines in horror.
5
The Nun
(2018)
Ever since Valak made its entrance in The Conjuring 2, a standalone film about the demon has been long anticipated. Although the movie was directed by Corin Hardy, James Wan served as the second director and was responsible for writing the movie’s story.
The Nun takes place in 1952 in Romania, where Father Burke and Sister Irene travel to the isolated Saint Cartha abbey to investigate. The movie shows us how Valak ends up escaping its prison and into the wider world to the point we see it in Conjuring 2. Although Sister Irene was more the central protagonist, Valak certainly stole the show every time it appeared, solidifying it as one of the scariest monsters in horror.
4
The Conjuring 2
(2016)
The second instalment of the Conjuring franchise takes you across the pond to England. Centering on the real-life case of the Enfield poltergeist, the movie features spookier jumpscares and the nun demon Valak’s first appearance.
One of the children of the Lutz family, Janet, becomes the target of possession after playing around with a ouija board. Her case becomes a media sensation, drawing the attention of paranormal investigators. The Warrens come in to check if Janet is lying but quickly become embroiled with an entity far more powerful and malicious than expected.
3
Saw
(2004)
Saw was James Wan’s official debut as a director and it is indeed a memorable one. The movie is a refreshing spin on the horror genre and introduces the iconic Jigsaw Killer and the even more iconic Billy the Puppet.
The story centres on Adam and Lawrence, who find themselves stuck inside a room with a bloodied corpse. The two are chained to opposite corners of the room and quickly realise they’re in the grip of the Jigsaw Killer and his demented traps. The movie maintains the tension and danger, and explores the human struggle with morality and survival, with brilliant performances from the actors.
2
Insidious
(2010)
Insidious is one of the most popular horror series out there, and its first film is a trailblazer. The Lambert family is beset with one difficulty after another. Not only did their son Dalton fall into a coma, but they’ve been having extreme paranormal encounters as well.
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Instead of a mere haunted house format, the ghosts plague the family due to Dalton’s astral projection ability, which spirits his soul away to a purgatory-like realm called ‘The Further’. With the help of a paranormal investigating team, Josh, who also has astral projection powers, travels into the realm of the dead to save his son from the demon who seeks to keep him. The movie ends with a spine-tingling twist, which builds up perfectly to its sequel.
1
The Conjuring
(2013)
The crowning jewel of horror films, The Conjuring presents one of James Wan’s best works. The first film of The Conjuring franchise, the story focuses on one of the most notorious cases of paranormal investigator couple Ed and Lorraine Warren’s careers.
The movie follows the Perron family, who is bright-eyed and optimistic as they move into a farmhouse in the countryside. However, they are in for the horror of their lives as they’re terrorised by an evil spirit. The Conjuring is the perfect blend of spooky tension and iconic, utterly clever jumpscares that are guaranteed to set your heart racing.
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