My Magical Place: The Conjuring

I've been watching quite a lot of movies in genres I don't usually dabble in because I now live with a crowd of people who aren't into the things I am and because I like to be open minded about things I watch some of the stuff they do and it's been interesting. I found that I liked features like The Great Gatsby (I could never finish the book) and Dark Zero Thirty. Anyway, I also started watching some horror movies like VHS with one of the guys, which eventually lead to The Conjuring. I'm not the biggest fan of horror movies but some of the B-grade stuff like Slither amuse me to no end.

I approached The Conjuring with an almost fresh set of eyes for what it sets out to do. I vaguely remember seeing The Exorcist and other than that my closest experience with this ritualistic, possession stuff is the Supernatural TV series. The story centres around a married couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), who make their living as paranormal investigators. They help a family who are being plagued by a creepload of spirits in the creepy looking house they've just moved into and invested all their money into. It's not like they can move anyway because the spirits haunting them have some powerful dark juju and can follow them around. They are pretty much screwed, really. Ed and Lorraine come in to save the day and shoot a few videos in the process. I actually enjoyed this movie a whole lot: it's well paced and scares you when you least expect it or when you most expect it and still gets you. It is also very beautifully shot. Every scene is hauntingly beautiful, if that makes sense in this context. The music is also brilliantly done and adds a cool ambiance throughout the scary proceedings. I enjoyed watching The Conjuring and then I found myself lying in bed in the dark later on and I realised my wardrobe looks a lot like the one in the movie... I had difficulty sleeping for a few nights.

I recommend this movie and I suggest watching it at midday.

Just as a side note can we all just step back and look at how Patrick Wilson's hair's combed all neatly in every movie he's in. It's quite eerie.

I was struck by a thought whilst watching this movie with the Christian symbolism used to ward off evil spirits or exorcise them. What are the procedures in other religions when demons and other evil spirits decide to take up residence in your home or body? I know from reading The Historian that Islam has a tradition of vampire defence wards. Someone should tell a story about a demon possession scenario from a Jewish or Hindu perspective.

Letters to God #1

Pieces of Letters God

Dear God,

Hello there, it's me, Charlie, You know, that guy who never really calls. Well, I'm in the mood to talk with You today - it's raining outside and that might have something to do with my sombre mood. I'm awfully worried about my life of late, my days have been broken and I need some help in fixing them, I really do. I'm sorry that I'm that guy who only talks to You when I'm down and need Your help. I try harder each day to do better and be better.

Your mission, should You choose to accept it, is to send me some inspiration in a bottle. You, know so I can put it on a shelf and use a drop on days like these, when my brain and body don't feel the urge to actively participate in the happenings of daily living.

There is so much that I need to be doing and I seem to lack the energy and enthusiasm of youth. I need to make Jo'burg libraries realise that they need me on-board with their Big Five literacy programmes, no one else can do it better than me. I need to convince NAG that I should be writing for them and that my whimsical style will fit in perfectly with their style. Big G, I need loads of inspiration to actually get things done - all the big plans I have and whatnot. I'm such a lazy guy and it's not good for my health. So please just drop me a vial of that inspiration elixir tonight. That would be nice.

"...they need me on-board with their Big Five literacy programmes" 

Anyhoo, enough about me and my somewhat tedious life (loads of its aspects are really nice though), how are You? What with having to deal with the running of the multiverse and listening to all the sentient beings you created complain about one thing or another. I was watching some Supernatural (great show that) and watching Castiel run around trying to be You was fun, he's got badassery down (yes, Thato, it's still a real made-up word) for a usually mild-mannered guy in a trench coat. I know this is not the sort of thing You usually do but could You please send me that bottled inspiration in the pocket of a Castiel  trench coat. I'm kidding... Or not if you're really going to do it.

"...please send me that bottled inspiration in the pocket of a Castiel trench coat"

Tell me, what's the deal with cockroaches? You made so many of them! I just don't get it, they annoy everyone. You made lots of ants and I get that, those little guys are super useful and they work very hard to do whatever it is that they do. I just don't get cockroaches though; they make no sense to me.

Okay, I should get going now. I'll write You more, I promise. It's always cool chatting with You and picking Your brain. Have a good day. Goodbye.

I love You.