If the horror genre is a classroom, James Wan is the valedictorian, and Michael Chaves is the student copying his homework but forgetting to write down the answers. He sucks the life out of franchises that deserve better caretakers. Unless he drastically changes his approach, I’ll be avoiding his name on a poster from now on.

It sounds like you're frustrated with direction, specifically within The Conjuring Universe . Many fans and critics share this sentiment, often comparing his style to the high bar set by James Wan . To provide helpful context, Common Criticisms of Chaves’ Work

The Curse of Diminishing Returns: Why Michael Chaves Represents Horror's Laziest Era

With three entries in the Conjuring universe and a résumé of recycled jump scares, director Michael Chaves has become a symbol of franchise horror at its most uninspired.

It’s not just that his movies are "bad"—it’s that they are boring . They look like expensive CW episodes. The CGI is often noticeable in a way that breaks immersion, and the scares rely too heavily on volume rather than vision.

Despite the criticism, Chaves has become a primary architect for the later stages of the franchise:

Michael Chaves doesn't "suck" because he's incompetent. He sucks because he represents everything corporate horror has become: risk-averse, over-reliant on IP, and terrified of silence. His films aren't crafted—they're assembled. And in a genre built on atmosphere, that's the real curse.