ANNABELLE
DIRECTOR: John R Leonetti
CAST: Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Tony Amendola, Alfre Woodard, Eric Ladin
CLASSIFICATION: VH
RUNNING TIME: 98 minutes
RATING: ***
HORROR buffs are intrigued by Annabelle, which is a cleverly timed release with Halloween around the corner.
With this movie being a prequel and spin-off of The Conjuring, the urge to compare – especially with regards to the plot, execution and those jump-in-your-seat moments – has been understandably amplified.
In this film, the origins of the demonic doll that was seen in a glass enclose in the home of husband and wife paranormal investigating team, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who dealt with some rather prominent cases of haunting, is revealed.
Although the supernatural horror doesn’t feature the Warrens, it does, however, open with the same opening scene as The Conjuring.
The story then shifts to John Form (Horton) and his heavily-pregnant wife Mia (Wallis). A doll collector, she can’t contain her excitement when her hubby gifts her the doll she has always wanted.
That night, everything changes for the Forms. After being violently attacked by Annabelle Higgins – their neighbour’s satanic daughter and equally crazy boyfriend, Annabelle latches herself to Mia’s new doll.
Strange, spine-chilling occurrences continue to plague the family – even after moving, the doll, which was thrown out, makes its way back to the Forms.
When the haunting becomes more forceful, a terrified Mia does some investigating. With the help of Father Perez (yes, there is always a priest) and Evelyn (Woodard), she realises her baby might be in danger. And so she battles to save her baby from this demonic force. The supernatural battle isn’t without casualties…
From an artistic perspective, director Leonetti dips into his vault of experience, having worked on Insidious, the TV series Sleepy Hollow and The Conjuring, as a cinematographer. As such, he marvellously creates an ambience of unadulterated fear. And this pulses through every scene.
Wallis is the bedrock of the movie. In her Stepford Wives-like role, she effortlessly flits from doting wife and mother to a terrified, bordering on a bit crazy, woman. Horton, for the sporadic moments he appears on screen, plays his patriarchal part well.
Woodard, as Evelyn, comes across as enigmatic. Viewers end up building this false sense of belief that she has a greater role to play in the lives of the Forms.
While the movie plays to the predilection of its audience, especially with those ghostly and evil images that jolt, the script could have delved deeper into the demonisation of the doll.
After all, Annabelle is about the birth of evil in this inanimate object and yet, most of the story dwelled on the terror it unleashed in its wake.
As a horror addict, you will be placated by this sequel. But it won’t leave that haunting impression like The Conjuring.
If you liked The Conjuring, Insidious or Bride of Chucky… you should enjoy this.