Horror Movie Review: Conjuring Tapes (2025)

An inventive idea transformed into a solid anthology film; Conjuring Tapes does a decent job of delivering found-footage style frights with some twists on well-worn formulas. However, while the over-arching idea and strong acting from the leads are notable, the film doesn’t have the staying power to be a great horror film.

Coming from directors Robert Livings and Randy Nundlall Jr., Conjuring Tapes stars Brenda Yanez, Samantha Laurenti, and Nora DeMello. The latter plays Sarah, who recently committed suicide, whereas the former two play her friends, Molly and Sam. While sorting through Sarah’s things, the pair come across her journal and through that. Learn about ‘Mr. Magpie’.

Who or what is ‘Mr. Magpie’ and how is it connected to Sarah’s death? That’s what Molly and Sam want to know and upon finding some VHS tapes, decide to watch them in the hope of finding answers.

This is the anthology part of the film, yet, in a twist, the three leads (Samantha Laurenti, Brenda Yanez and Nora DeMello) all play different roles in each tape. Creating a more surreal environment for the viewer and allowing the actors to show off their range. Which each has plenty of. If there’s one area that Conjuring Tapes doesn’t deserve to be criticised, it’s the acting of these three.

They hold the film together and help make sure the wraparound is as important as each individual story is.

This is more than just a collection of horror tales though. Everything is connected, and the ominous character of Mr. Magpie is always at the forefront of the film. Done in a way to let the viewer’s imagination run wild, and to allow the creep factor to really build and build. Unfortunately, as enjoyable as that is, the film doesn’t pay it off. In fact, it’s fair to say it’s a film that goes out with a whimper, rather than a bang. Ambiguity is fine, but this is a film that could have benefited from being a little more direct at the end.

It’s this, the lack of memorable secondary characters, the odd story that doesn’t quite hit, and a distinct ‘cheapness’ that stops the film being great. Still, it’s worth a watch because there’s a ton of talent involved, there’s a real attempt to do something different, and it has some genuinely creepy moments.