I also liked that it had a very brief documentary-like atmosphere where you felt part of the investigating ghost-crew with the rolling camera. There was only a couple of instants where director James Wan let that slip, primarily at the end. I liked that the Conjuring more centered on atmosphere than with a lot of excess blood and gore and superficial CGI effects. The way the film started out did remind me very much of the Amityville Horror, but unlike that film and it's ghostly encounters, it was well explained in this film why the terrified family group could not just pack up and leave. And I thought the whole haunting demonic origin was well told. unexplained physical yanking and bruises. Speaking of which, in terms of it being a demon-possession flick, it ( nor any other "entity" movie will ever be in that class) Slowly creaking opening doors. Much like the room the possessed girl Regan was tied up in the Exorcist. With the Conjuring - which I tip my hat to the director James Wan and writers - because not only did I think this film had some creepy and jittery "jump-scare" moments in the film, but I also liked the way the dark areas of the house, the rooms, the corners, basement, stairs dark areas were displayed, they made it look eerie and macabre ( that's been an missing element in horror films for decades, IMO) But I have to at least say that I found the Conjuring definitely to be " creepy" enough to enjoy. Everyone may have their own view as to what is considered really " scary" to themselves.
And I had to admit that I enjoyed myself and thought it was well worth seeing.
I had heard so much about based on true story film, " the Conjuring " from word of mouth that I finally decided to check it out.