Scares and creepiness abound as Annabelle demonstrates just how unnerving a demonic doll could possibly be.
Out of a total of seven Conjuring universe movies, Annabelle has been given three. When Annabelle was given the first movie, it seemed like a joke and a terrible idea. After making $250M on a $6.5M budget, the creator of the Conjuring universe were the only ones laughing all the way to the bank. After a second movie showing Annabelle’s origin, the third was taking her home to her glass case.
Going into this movie, it seemed we were finally going to get the face off between the Warrens and Annabelle that we were promised. It wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for as the Warrens, played for what is essentially cameos by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, go hunt some other evil spirit leaving their daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace) home to stay the night with their trusted babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman). The disappointment for the lack of Warrens in this movie are soon forgotten as Mary Ellen’s friend, Daniela (Katie Sarife) decides to snoop into what can only be described as the Warrens basement reminiscent of the basement in Cabin in the Woods. Like the aforementioned movie, the results are remarkably similar.
Grace shines as the Warren’s daughter. She brings a bit of the strangeness expected from somebody who has grown up in the environment of living with ghost hunters. It should be interesting to see if they decide to involve her on future Conjuring movies. It seems this movie has set that up as a possibility. The rest of the cast does an admirable job of being terrified on the events that Annabelle brings.
This movie leans on the old horror stand byes that every Conjuring universe movie lives on: tension and shock/jump scares. Many people think dolls are creepy and Annabelle cranks this up to the nth degree. With the decision to add other ghouls and goblins to the mix, it keeps one on their feet at what horror will be unleashed. The Warren’s basement and the haunted/cursed artifacts within could most likely make another hundred movies and each could be fascinating.
If you are fan of the Conjuring universe, this movie delivers more than La Llorona did earlier this year. It is very much in the vain of the Conjuring movies proper. The creepiness and jump scares keep this movie moving and interesting.
This movie is definitely two flippers up.
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