While the first installment of The Conjuring captured the story of the Perron family of the Harrisville haunting case, The Conjuring 2 focuses on a case of haunting in Enfield, England. This time, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) traveled to Enfield to help the Hodgson family in handling the unexplained phenomenon happening in their house.

The Jakarta Post had the opportunity to exclusively interview Patrick Wilson about The Conjuring 2, the strange phenomenon experienced by the crew during filming and the cast’s relationship with the Hodgson family.

When The Conjuring 1 was filmed, there was already talk about a sequel. Were you immediately interested to reprise your role back then? Why?

You know, I was. I wouldn’t have taken the job with the first one if I didn’t think there would be at least one more. You know I realized there were a lot of stories to be told and the way that these movies were structured, with finding out a little bit more about Ed and Lorraine Warren, and also there’s going to be a different taste every time. I think that’s a good recipe for a couple of movies, at least and I knew I love working with Vera (Farmiga) and James (Wan), so I had a feeling that we would be back for at least one. So we’ll see what happens beyond this.

Is this sequel more intense than the first one? How do you think James Wan did this time?

I do think it’s more intense. It’s a much more emotional ride. I think it can be more terrifying, but I think it at times can also be more romantic. I think there’s a lot of characters in the movie as well as all the scares. The one thing about James is he doesn’t "walk" through anything. He pushed himself a lot and you can see that on screen. We came back and re-shot some stuff. He wanted to be perfect. He told me when he signed back on he wanted to make a great film and I think he’s really done that.  

Vera Farmiga had claw marks when you guys were finishing the first Conjuring.

Yeah, they were from me (laughs). 

But have you or any of the cast experienced supernatural activities while filming the second Conjuring?

Nah, not really. I wish I have some crazy story of somebody flying through the air, but then again we didn’t have [somebody to] bless the set on the first one and we did on the second one. But I did get a video. It happened after I left one night, there was a video of giant curtains blowing pretty violently by themselves. There were no door open, no fan, no air conditioning. There was nothing. It was very strange. It’s like the wind came out of nowhere and was blowing very violently. That was very unexplained, I just have to say. 

You guys filmed The Conjuring 2 in England. Was it at the exact spot where the poltergeist happened? 

It was right around the corner. We did shoot in Enfield. We didn’t shoot in the actual house. I’m sure the last thing those people want to do is relive anything that went on there, but we shot at a place that looks identical and it was literally just a few blocks away. We did shoot in Enfield and it was pretty great. 

So did you get to visit the original house?

Yes, I got to see it, but I did not go inside. 

What was the relationship between you guys and the Hodgsons? Did you get to meet them?

We did, yes. It’s funny: Different people get different sorts of reactions about how much they want to talk to them. They were very sweet and very thankful that we’re sort of honoring their story, but you could also tell that it’s something that -- even though we’re making a movie about it -- they’ve struggled with this and lived with this for a long time now. And whatever your view is on the paranormal -- let’s say you don't believe in any of it, then it’s a woman who had a severe mental problem. You’re either someone who gets possessed by a ghost, or you’re someone who had a real mental breakdown or something. And either way, that’s someone that needs help and someone that’s going through something really tragic. So that’s the way that I looked at it. Ed and Lorraine would’ve helped them, so I was fascinated and respectful and wanted them to know that we were there to honor their story, not to just make a movie about it. 

What are your favorite horror movies of all time?

Let’s see, I loved Poltergeist when it came around. I was a kid when I saw it. I love The Shining, although that’s just more creepy, I think, than a horror movie. When I was a kid I used to be terrified at this TV version of Salem’s Lot, which in hindsight wasn’t very scary but it was to me when I was about 6 years old. 

Have you heard about the ghosts and paranormal activities we have here in Indonesia? 

Not specific cases, but I heard there’s a lot there. Yes. Would you like to tell me one? (laughs)

Would you like to visit and check them out?

I would love to. Oh, I’m not afraid. I’m fascinated. Yes.

So, is there already talk about The Conjuring number 3? 

We’ll see the day after it comes out. I think there’s definitely stories to be told, so it’s definitely up to the audience. The audience have to go see this one first. 

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