This research aims at giving an overview of the evolution of the haunted house horror genre, particularly by looking at the case of The Conjuring (2013), directed by James Wan in 2013. First, I look at the haunted house in American popular culture, and then I go over its origins in Gothic and Victorian literature. Then, I give an overview of horror films through history while focusing on the haunted house sub-genre. I go on introducing the work of director James Wan, and I focus on his haunted house film The Conjuring. I analyze how he uses the conventions of the haunted house genre: narrative, characters, sound, suggestion and tension. The purpose of the research is to show how James Wan uses the conventions of the horror genre to maintain the tradition of the haunted house, and at the same time manages to subvert the audience’s expectations.