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{{about|the 2008 film|the unrelated 2013 film|The Conjuring}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Conjurer
| image          = Conjurer FilmPoster.jpeg
| caption        =
| director       = Clint Hutchison
| producer       = Lance W. Dreesen<br>Clint Hutchison
| writer         = Clint Hutchison<br>David Yarbrough
| starring       = [[Andrew Bowen]]<br>[[Maxine Bahns]]<br>[[John Schneider (screen actor)|John Schneider]]
| music          = Dana Niu
| cinematography = Ken Blakey
| editing        = Otto Arsenault
| studio         = Red Five Entertainment
| distributor    = Monarch Home Video
| released       = {{Film date|2008|9|11}}
| runtime        = 90 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         =
| gross          =
}}
'''''Conjurer''''' is a 2008 supernatural [[horror film]] directed by Clint Hutchison and written by Hutchison and David Yarbrough.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trailer, Poster, Stills For 'Conjurer'|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/12074/trailer-poster-stills-for-conjurer/|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref> The film had its world premiere on 11 September 2008 at the SoCal Independent Film Festival and was released to DVD on 25 November of the same year. It stars [[Andrew Bowen]] as a photographer caught up in a haunting.
==Plot==
For the past year, photographer Shawn Burnett ([[Andrew Bowen]]) and his wife Helen ([[Maxine Bahns]]) have been grieving the loss of their first child, which [[Miscarriage|died in Helen's womb]] before it could be carried to term. They're hoping that a move to the country will help them both heal and move on with their lives. Shawn is somewhat irritated that the move involves him taking charity from Helen's brother Frank Higgins ([[John Schneider (screen actor)|John Schneider]]), but he's willing to do whatever he can if it will give Helen solace. Frank promises that he will build the two of them a brand new house, but until the construction is done they must stay in an older house with a decrepit cabin in the backyard. Shortly after they move in, Helen becomes pregnant again.
Shawn is fascinated when he discovers via some neighbors that the cabin is reported to be haunted by the ghost of a [[Witchcraft|witch]] that curses anyone trying to get pregnant, seeking revenge against a husband who murdered her own child years ago. While investigating the legend, Shawn injures himself on a tooth left in the cabin and develops a severe infection. As the infection worsens Shawn begins to experience strange visions and events, unsure if they are real or [[delusion]]s triggered by the infection and a possible latent [[mental illness]], as his own father murdered his wife and then killed himself. This worries Shawn as either way this poses a potential threat to Helen, either by the witch's hand or by Shawn's possible mental illness, and he decides that he will get Helen out of that place. This puts him at odds with Frank, who believes the land to be completely safe.
As things grow more strange and Shawn becomes more unstable, things culminate in a chase scene that ends with Shawn firing a gun at his wife. Authorities are called to the scene and Shawn tries to explain the story of the witch, only to be told that there is no witch and that the neighbors (who had told him the story) never existed. He's then taken to a mental institution, leaving Helen to live in the house by herself. The film ends with Helen listening to a phone message from Shawn and then turning to the camera with a malevolent look, leaving it up to the viewer to decide if the events in the film are the result of Shawn's [[psychosis]] or if there actually is a witch and that she has possessed Helen at some point during the movie.
== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Andrew Bowen]] as Shawn Burnett
* [[Maxine Bahns]] as Helen Burnett
* [[John Schneider (screen actor)|John Schneider]] as Frank Higgins
* Tom Nowicki as Marlin Dreyer
* [[Brett Rice]] as Fulton Moss
* Edith Ivey as Mrs. Dreyer
* Terrence Gibney as Dr. Letson
* Dolan Wilson as Sheriff Clayton
* Liz McGeever as Hattie
* Nicholaus Teall as Moss Boy
* James Donadio as Tony Stegman
* [[Donna Biscoe]] as Dr. McKenzie
* Ryan Puszewski as Young Shawn
}}
==Release==
{{expand section|date=April 2017}}
''Conjurer'' was released on [[DVD]] by [[Monarch Home Video]] November 25, 2008.<ref name="dvdrelease">{{cite web|title=Conjurer (2008) - Clint Hutchison|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/conjurer-v465758/releases|website=AllMovie.com|publisher=AllMovie|accessdate=27 April 2017}}</ref>
== Reception ==
{{expand section|date=April 2017}}
Critical reception for ''Conjurer'' has been positive.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weinberg|first1=Scott|title=The Scary Bits: Pieces, Timecrimes & Conjurers|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2008/10/28/the-scary-bits-pieces-timecrimes-and-conjurers|publisher=Moviefone|accessdate=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113510/http://news.moviefone.com/2008/10/28/the-scary-bits-pieces-timecrimes-and-conjurers|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Dread Central]]'' gave the film three out of five blades and praised the movie's acting and directing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/conjurer-2008|title=Conjurer (2008)|last=Siebalt|first=Joshua|work=[[Dread Central]]|date=2008-08-17|accessdate=2014-04-04}}</ref> ''[[LA Weekly]]'' also praised the movie, which they stated had "a thick mood of gothic dread".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2008-07-24/film-tv/dances-with-films-all-independent-all-the-time/|title=Dances With Films: All Independent, All the Time|last=Hardy|first=Ernest|work=[[LA Weekly]]|date=2008-07-23|accessdate=2014-04-04}}</ref>
===Awards===
*''Best Horror Film'' at the [[Action on Film International Film Festival]] (2008, won)<ref>{{cite web|title=Official AOF 2008 Results|url=http://media.wix.com/ugd/28ac82_d84039d3931c475e845597d0c3750bd6.pdf|publisher=AOFFEST|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref>
*''Best Feature Film'' at the Dixie Film Festival (2008, won)<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 winners|url=http://www.dixiefilmfest.com/2008winners.htm|publisher=Dixie Film Fest|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref>
*''Honorable Mention'' at the Louisville Fright Night Film Fest (2008, won){{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
*''Directorial Discovery Award'' at the [[Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival]] (2008, won)<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL|url=http://www.film-festival.org/Horror_WINNERS08.php|publisher=WIIHFF|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[List of ghost films]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0896533|title=Conjurer}}
* {{AllMovie title|id=465758|title=Conjurer}}
* {{Rotten tomatoes|conjurer|Conjurer}}
* {{Official website|http://www.conjurer-movie.com/}}
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2008 horror films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]