Annabelle: Creation Movie Review

First in 2013 came ‘The Conjuring’, which later brought ‘The Conjuring 2’ and a movie called ‘Annabelle’, which was a spooky possessed doll first seen in ‘The Conjuring’. Now this movie ‘Annabelle: Creation’ goes way back to determine the reason this doll is so evil. It is basically an excuse to create a non-stop scare machine that runs in turbo mode. And it does that very well.

Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) and Esther Mullins (Miranda Otto) have a little girl nicknamed ‘Bee’. Samuel is a dollmaker by trade and he is the one who created the ‘Annabelle’ doll. But the daughter dies tragically at a young age. Their house is empty for twelve years, until they open it up for new guests. The people moving in are orphans and a young nun named Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman). One of the orphans is named Janice (Talitha Bateman) who suffers from polio and is crippled in one leg. Another orphan is Linda (Lulu Wilson), who is close friends with Janice.

All the orphans are told to stay out of a locked room, which was the dead daughter’s bedroom. Of course, this being a horror movie, Janice goes in there and (JUMP SCARE!) finds a secret locked room containing the ‘Annabelle’ doll. Soon things go very haywire (LOUD SCREECHING STRING NOISES!) and soon Janice is fighting off a demon (DOOR SLAM!). Linda wants to protect her friend but (QUICK CUT TO GLOWING EYES IN THE DARK!) the monster comes after her.

Mr. Mullins thinks he can control the evil (SOUND OF BONES CRACKING!) but that does not end well. Mrs. Mullins, who was attacked many years ago, by the creature, is set up for another attack (BLOODY IMAGES!). Also, that does not end well. Sister Charlotte does her best to protect the children (FLASH OF A SHARP KNIFE!) and ends up knocked out on the floor. Janice may have become a victim of the ‘Annabelle’ horror (JUMP SCARE!). Will the orphans and Sister Charlotte be able to get to safety and (SCARY SCARECROW ALERT!) contain the horrible monster?

This movie follows the basic formula of what a horror movie should be. It does follow the guidelines very well. All the dark backgrounds with a glimmer of movement are there. All the rising string crescendos that get louder and louder as the screen slowly zooms into a scary image are there. All the normal, standard common things are there, but they are done really well. This movie does not break any new ground, but the results are spooky and effective.

The acting is perfectly fine, with most of the good shots saved for reacting. Reacting to sounds, to quick sudden events, to all the weird paranormal things that are going on around them. As it always goes in these movies, everyone does the least logical thing to keep the scary stuff going on. Not supposed to go into that room? Sure, get in there – why not? Not supposed to open a locked door? Hey, here’s the key, go and get that possessed evil doll – that’s ok…

Yup, there is the normal amount of (JUMP SCARE!) and (BLOODY IMAGES!) that you would expect in a horror movie. “Annabelle: Creation” does not disappoint.