Director James Wan has firmly established himself as a contemporary icon of horror filmmaking, a feat that few directors can boast. While he has ventured into other genres with titles such as Furious 7 and the Aquaman franchise, Wan’s true mastery shines through in his horror projects, which have garnered immense popularity. Ranging from gritty low-budget films to large-scale supernatural thrillers, Wan has crafted horror franchises that resonate with fans across various demographics.
Wan’s influential journey began with the acclaimed horror film Saw, which expanded upon a short film he co-created with fellow industry visionary Leigh Whannell. This initial effort caught audiences off guard and propelled his career into high gear. Though he faced some challenges with standalone projects after Saw, Wan quickly regained momentum with hit films like Insidious and The Conjuring. As several of these works evolved into sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, a critical evaluation of Wan’s horror franchises leads to an intriguing discussion about their respective standings.
3 Insidious (2010-2023)
In 2010, James Wan, teaming up again with writer Leigh Whannell, released Insidious, a film that marked a departure from the “torture porn” genre. This supernatural horror focuses on the Lambert family, who must confront malevolent forces attempting to pull their comatose son into a sinister dimension known as The Further. Wan returned as the director for Insidious: Chapter 2, continuing to explore the family’s struggles with their eerie connection to the supernatural.
In the subsequent films, Insidious: Chapter 3 and Insidious: The Last Key, Wan transitioned into a producer role while Whannell remained as writer. These entries shifted to a prequel format, centering on Elise Rainier, the psychic initially portrayed by Lin Shaye. The third film narrates a case Elise confronts prior to her involvement with the Lambert family, while the fourth installment takes place in the timeline before the original film. The latest addition, Insidious: The Red Door, reunites the Lambert family as they grapple with dark secrets from their past.
Despite the franchise’s promising premise, many fans feel that Insidious, particularly its original installment, remains the most compelling entry. Subsequent films have struggled to match its freshness and intrigue. While the performances, especially by Lin Shaye, Patrick Wilson, and Rose Byrne, have been consistently strong, the later entries often lacked the exhilarating direction seen in the first two films. The absence of the Lambert family in Chapters 3 and 4 also detracted from the overall experience, though there is cautious optimism for the upcoming Insidious 6.
2 Saw (2004-2023)
Saw represented a significant evolution in horror, marking the feature-length expansion of Wan and Whannell’s earlier short film and igniting their careers. Initially conceived as a low-budget production, the first installment popularized the “torture porn” subgenre, as it features two men trapped in a basement forced to participate in twisted games orchestrated by the notorious Jigsaw killer. This installment solidified the character of John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell, into a horror legend.
Although Wan directed only the first film, its gripping plot twists and gruesome traps emphasized his adeptness in low-budget horror storytelling, paving the way for a successful franchise. Subsequent sequels, particularly the first six installments, adhered closely to the continuity established in the original, crafting a rich and complex mythology. Characters often transitioned from supporting roles to leads, and Kramer’s legacy continued even after his character was seemingly eliminated.
The later films attempted mixed narrative techniques, such as Jigsaw, which introduced new characters while revisiting Kramer’s story, and Spiral, which featured Chris Rock as an unanticipated lead in a narrative focusing on a copycat killer. Despite this long-standing legacy, the quality among the Saw movies tends to fluctuate, with some installments reveling in excessive gore and others weaving more compelling character narratives. Recent entries, like Saw X, have reignited fan interest, although it’s worth noting that plans for Saw XI have been delayed.
1 The Conjuring (2013-2021)
The The Conjuring franchise showcases James Wan’s ability to blend horror with elements of real-life inspiration, regardless of the film’s authenticity. The inaugural film brings together Wan with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who portray Ed and Lorraine Warren—paranormal investigators who confront sinister forces. Although the Warrens’ legitimacy has faced scrutiny, their cinematic cases present a captivating dive into the supernatural.
In addition to the main films, the Conjuring universe has expanded through spinoff movies like Annabelle and The Nun, which explore the origins of various demonic entities encountered by the Warrens. The franchise’s ability to produce sequels, including three installments of Annabelle and two of The Nun, showcases its commercial success. Notably, The Curse of La Llorona is tangentially related, featuring characters that cross into the larger Conjuring narrative.
If The Conjuring series were to consist solely of its three main entries, it would stand as one of the most consistently remarkable horror franchises. Though some spinoffs faltered, the overarching narrative managed to prevail. Following Annabelle‘s lackluster performance, The Conjuring 2 revitalized the series, and Annabelle: Creation followed suit with improvements. Though Wan directed the first installment, his influence as a producer resonates throughout the series.
The unique charm of The Conjuring franchise lies in its ability to present relatable fears, allowing viewers to believe in the plausibility of the supernatural. However, as the series branched away from the Warrens, it began to lose some of its novelty, evolving into conventional supernatural horror with predictable plot lines and jump scares. With the Warrens set to return in the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites, fans eagerly await their final adventure.
Standalone James Wan Horror Movies
In addition to his renowned franchises, James Wan has contributed notable standalone horror films. One such example is Dead Silence, a supernatural thriller that often slips under the radar. The story follows a man returning to his hometown after his wife’s death and uncovering sinister connections with a local ventriloquist.
Dead Silence reflects Wan’s passion for supernatural storytelling and features eerie doll motifs, though it struggled financially and didn’t receive the same acclaim as its predecessor, Saw. Wan later reflected on his motivation behind creating this film, recognizing the divergence from the audience’s expectations that were largely rooted in the violent elements of Saw. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he stated:
“Dead Silence, my second movie and first studio film, was really me responding to the reaction that Saw was getting, meaning that people were harping on the torture aspect of Saw. So I made a very conscious decision to move away from that style of film and into something that was more of a haunted house, ghost story, which is a genre I love. But, of course, Saw made such a strong impression that it carried into Dead Silence. A lot of people were expecting something similar to Saw, but it wasn’t. Ultimately, it didn’t do that well, financially, and at the time, people didn’t really like it. But now, strangely, so many fans reach out to tell me how much they love Dead Silence.”