Annabelle: Creation Continues The Conjuring Universe w/ Familiar Scares (Movie Review)
Now I want you to ask yourself the following question. I really want you to think about this for a minute before answering too. Let it seep in and stew within your brain. Did we really need anther movie about this Conjuring spinoff, supernatural doll Annabelle? Um…no! The correct answer is absolutely not! What the world needs is probably less of these kinds of horror flick cash grabs, but like it or not here we are. I might as well get the introductions out of the way so we can get started here. Ladies and gentlemen put your hands together in wild applause as we have a treat for you tonight with the 2017 supernatural horror film Annabelle: Creation.
So here’s the real deal and yes I know how stupid this already sounds. Annabelle: Creation is not a sequel to 2014’s Annabelle (reviewed here by yours truly). It is instead a prequel. Also, it is now the fourth film in what I guess you can call The Conjuring Universe and ultimately sets up a fifth (the nun one). They are really milking this baby. This one if you could not guess it, tells the story behind the origin of the possessed Annabelle doll. It’s directed by David F. Sandberg off a screenplay written by Gary Dauberman. The movie stars Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia and Miranda Otto. And oh yeah you’ll see that freaky Conjuring 2 nun in this one too!
The film opens by introducing us to Samuel Mullins (LaPaglia), a dollmaker, and his wife Esther (Otto). They lost their daughter some twelve years ago in a tragic accident (probably the biggest jump they got from me even though I saw it coming). They are also really nice people. I say that because they opened their home to Sister Charlotte (Sigman) and six girls of varying ages from an orphanage that had recently been closed. You would think they would have good karma from that act of kindness, but once found the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle, sets her evil sights and malicious grip on the orphaned girls. In essence Annabelle turns the girls’ shelter into one of sheer terror. It’s a big house to play in, but no space is safe at all when Annabelle is on the loose.
The film has so far received many positive reviews, with most critics noting it as a strong and vast improvement over its predecessor. However, I beg to differ. I missed the lovely, soft spoken Annabelle Wallis from the first film. At least she was something to look at throughout. That basement storage scene in the apartment was cool too. Here though I was honestly bored throughout. I did not jump once and I so wanted to! The scares while atmospheric and really cool sounding all felt forced upon me and ultimately cliche. I was waiting for something really bold and different to happen during the whole runtime, but alas nothing. Sure it’s a step up from the first Annabelle flick, but is that really saying much? Not to me it isn’t. I fail to see why the critics are head over heels for this one.
The single thing I loved most about this Conjuring entry is its ending. I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way, but quite the contrary. The ending was a brilliant twist. Too bad the rest of the movie puts me to sleep as your every day run of the mill, monster in the house, horror film. That’s not to fault the actors though because I think the young girls did a great job with their roles. The adults were a little less convincing, but the children sold the frights hands down. Finally, the practical effects looked great. There was minimal use of CG and anytime you can pull that off effectively in today’s day and age it’s always a good thing!
Ultimately Annabelle: Creation makes me want to put the doll back in the box and not touch it. Annabelle haunting a big house and scaring little girls is a very unimaginative way to continue the Conjuring universe/franchise. Not that I’m looking forward to it, but bring on the nun movie already (make sure to stay after the credits on this one). Call me crazy too, but the fact that we never really see Annabelle move is not creepy to me either. It’s boring in my opinion. I know I’m probably the minority in this way of thinking, but give me an animated, wise-cracking Chucky (Child’s Play) any day of the week. Your results may vary with Annabelle: Creation. Not a single film in this so far 4-film “universe” has impressed me yet. I’m just saying. Enjoy!
Brian White
Owner/Writer/Reviewer/Editor, Dreamer, Producer, Agent of Love, Film Lover, Writer of Screenplays and a Devoted Apostle to all things Ford Mustangs (the real ones with V8's!). Some of my favorite films include FIGHT CLUB, MOULIN ROUGE, THE DARK KNIGHT, STAR WARS alongside television shows such as SEINFELD, 24, SANFORD & SON and even the often loathed in the geek community BIG BANG THEORY. Outside of my three lives I live I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend and our three girls (of the furry kind).
