Annabelle (Mini Review Series)

Initial release date: October 3, 2014

Studios: Warner Bros. New Line Cinema Safran Company Atomic Monster

Tagline: Before The Conjuring there was Annabelle

Plot: John Form thinks he’s found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia: a vintage doll in a beautiful white dress. However, the couple’s delight doesn’t last long: One terrible night, devil worshippers invade their home and launch a violent attack against the couple. When the cultists try to summon a demon, they smear a bloody rune on the nursery wall and drop blood on the doll, thereby turning the former object of beauty into a conduit for ultimate evil.

Cast

Annabelle Wallis (Hulu’s Boss Level) - Mia

Ward Horton (Ford v Ferrari) - John

Tony Amendola (The Curse of La Llorona) - Father Perez

Alfre Woodward (The Lion King) - Evelyn

Kerry O’Malley (The Little Things) - Sharon Higgins

Brian Howe - Pete Higgins

Eric Ladin (Disney Plus’ The Right Stuff) - Detective Clarkin

Ivan Brogger - Dr. Burgher

Writer: Gary Dauberman (It: Chapter Two; The Nun; Annabelle trilogy)

Director: John R. Leonetti (Netflix’s The Silence)

Rated R for intense sequences of disturbing violence and terror (99 min)

Continuing on with re-watching the terrifying ‘Conjuring’ franchise, it’s time to take another look at it’s spin-off series - starting with 2014s ‘Annabelle.’

Horror fans were introduced to the creepy Annebelle doll in the beginning of the first ‘Conjuring’ movie. This 2014 spin-off does feature a few effective scares. The entire first twenty minutes or so of the movie features some decent scares and a few predictable parts. But, even with the predictable moments, this opening works.

The first ‘Annabelle’ movie’ is definitely not as scary as the main ‘Conjuring’ series. Not a lot of good scares and even has a couple dull and slow moments. At least the spin-off series got better with the next two ‘Annabelle’ movies, which I will be re-watching soon. Even a few of the “scares” that show the demon weren’t that scary.

So, if you’re looking for a decent horror flick featuring a creepy doll - check out the original ‘Child’s Play’ instead. Yea, this movie has a few okay scares. But, it’s really forgettable and is bland. Also, just because this movie wasn’t the greatest, don’t skip ‘Annabelle: Creation’ or ‘Annabelle Comes Home.’

Here are a few interesting tidbits about ‘Annabelle’:

• The movie portrays the Annabelle doll as a porcelain doll, but the real Annabelle doll is a large “Raggedy Ann” Doll. The Warrens had a special case built for Annabelle inside their Occult Museum, where she resides to this day.

• The baby mobile hanging over the crib plays the same tune as the music box from ‘The Conjuring.’

• Unlike ‘The Conjuring’ which purports to be based on true events, this prequel is a fictional narrative of the previous owner of the doll before it was given to the two nurses shown at the beginning of the 2013 movie (and reprised in this prequel). The only “theory” as to the origins of Annabelle comes from a medium the nurses hired who claimed that Annabelle Higgins had been a child in the 1860s whose body was found in a field which the house now occupied.

• Director John R. Leonetti’s first theatrically released film since 1997s ‘Mortal Kombat: Annihilation’ which was released 17 years prior to this film.

• The movie was designed to be a stand alone yet collectively catering to fans of ‘The Conjuring’ who would already be familiar with the latter movie.

• ‘Annabelle’ grossed $84.3 million in North America and $172.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $257 million, against a production budget of $6.5 million.

• The spin-off has two follow ups: a prequel (Annabelle: Creation) and a sequel (Annabelle Comes Home).