Short Circuits: 'Conjuring' on video, Field Trip app

The impressive ghost story "The Conjuring" also is a well-above-average thriller. If it isn't quite up there with such classics of the genre as "The Haunting" (1963 version) or "The Others," it isn't far behind.

Set in 1971, the story is said to have been inspired by the files of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a husband-wife team of paranormal investigators. The action takes place in a 150-year-old Rhode Island farmhouse, where almost immediately upon moving in, Roger and Carolyn Perron (Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor) and their five daughters start to experience disturbing events. When things get out of control one night — about the time a female poltergeist tries to body slam one of the daughters from the top of a haunted antique wardrobe — the Perrons invite the Warrens over to have a look-see.

The DVD and Blu-ray (New Line, $29-$36) include ­featurettes.

Washington Post

Colin Covert says: Director James Wan ("Saw") delivers a ruthlessly intense haunted-house ride, conjuring the chill of a demon breathing down your neck.

Also out Tuesday

Movies: "Almost Perfect," "As Cool as I Am," "Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale," "Before Midnight," "Dead in Tombstone," "I Give It a Year," "The Internship," "Only God Forgives," "Red Clover," "Standing Up," "Storm Rider," "The Waiting Room," "The Wall," "The Way, Way Back."

Blu-ray: "John Cassavetes: Five Films," "Snuff," "The Uninvited," "The Vincent Price Collection."

Looking for a quick getaway, but have limited time to research options? Consider Google's "Field Trip" app (free for Android and iOS devices), which runs in the background and highlights points of interest in your immediate area.

The app's not for everyone — people who get annoyed about push notifications, for example, or those not keen on sharing their location information. But for those who don't mind sharing, Google offers everything from restaurant recommendations and pieces of local history to unexpected festivals and events you might enjoy. The app pulls from a number of content sources, including Zagat and Thrillist, for its unusual pieces of info, and lets users choose how frequently they want updates.

For the best experience, use Field Trip when you're in a densely packed area. It has limited use in rural areas.