Den of Geek: This is a very scary film.
I think I actually liked it better than the first one.
Patrick Wilson: Really?
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I think you were just able to delve into some different areas… Its so hard for me to separate the two.
Its nice to hear.
Not that you attempt to outdo yourself, but you do attempt to dig deeper.
Its kind of unusual for the good guys to recur in horror films.
They usually tend to be about the monster.
Does that set these films apart, you think?
You get to attach yourself to the Warrens, which is something this genre doesnt do often.
I think the great ones do.
And its not even necessarily to do with budget.
I call it Carburetor Scene.
This scene should never work in a horror movie.
You never get two people talking about something else.
You are fixing my car.
Just a really great scene that happens to be in a horror movie.
You are invested in those people and whats going to happen to them.
I think thats the trap that not so great horror movies make.
But you are sort of like, Yeah, OK. And then its gone.
And maybe you get a weekend out of it.
I think the movies that last, I do think they are like that.
And I say this defending even the really low-budget, micro-budget movies.
Even that firstPurge, you know, you are invested in that family.
Thats the trick, is getting people you care about and then you put them in peril.
Thats what makes the audience go, No!
I dont want it to happen to them!
Were you surprised to see a musical number come up in the middle of this?
Im not surprised by anything anymore with James.
[laughs] I just expect, like, You tell me, man.
What are we going to do?
I will say thats the first scene that he wrote when he came back on board.
I get a text randomly one day: Hey, do you play guitar?
I was like, Yeaaah….Why?
I was like, Im a hack.
Im a rhythm guitarist.
Hes like, Perfect.
It shouldnt be great.
I want you to sing Elvis.
I went, Can we get the rights?
And hes like, Yeah, yeah.
Dont worry about that.
And that just shows you James.
I think hes always going to push himself with the scares, but its those moments.
Thats when I can sort of take his idea and help bring it to fruition and say, OK.
If were going to do that, then lets record on the day.
Lets not click track it.
I can play it decent enough.
It shouldnt be great anyway.
You shouldnt look like this amazing Elvis impersonator.
It shouldnt look like an amazing guitarist or singer.
Lets just keep it simple and real.
Im so glad its stuck in there.
I mean I wouldnt call this my tour de force of singing by any stretch.
I like to sing whenever I get the shot, so whether its in a band or whatever.
Im happy to do it.
Where are you on the scale of belief about what the Warrens and these families have experienced?
Dont judge what youre doing, because its a very slippery slope.
The more you read, you do find yourself going, Really?
Did it really happen like that?
And you know the payoff for me?
You tried to help us.
It was so helpful.
Then, to me, everything else can go away, because it becomes very simple.
It becomes about a real human emotion.
Whatever your belief in the paranormal is, it doesnt even matter.
[laughs] Thats funny.
That Im most surprised at?
Theyll be some random ones in there that are like, Really?
Im like, Thank you!
The Conjuring 2is out in theaters this Friday (June 10).
