Annabelle (2014)

Tis time to move on from conduit demons.

*** This review contains minor spoilers ***

It doesn't have James Wan's name on the director's chair, but it's every inch a James Wan film. There seems to be a rut that has emerged where this new brand of horror film makers can't see that recycling the same ideas is, well, kinda dull.

Insidious, Dead Silence and The Conjuring have their critics (not me, I like them all very much), but the timing was right for them to hit the mark of many a horror film lover. Tapping into the fear of the doll and the demon hadn't been done for some time, certainly not with any conviction, so all good there for the fans.

Annabelle spins off from The Conjuring, and Dead Silence to a degree, but just comes off as a lazy cash-cow. The doll is a spooky monstrosity (most unlike the real Rag-Dolly-Anna version), but it's all a bit of a con, the makers resorting to another demonic being, only Red Darth Maul has now been replaced by Blue Lagoon The Loon.

Character's actions are often preposterous, stretching credulity to breaking point (I know you are being menaced by the unknown, but I got a conference to go to, sleep tight babe!). Elsewhere, while everyone acknowledges that what scares you is subjective, but the scares here are very thin on the ground, not helped by a dull script and bland lead actors.

It's tidy enough a production, granted, but familiarity breeds contempt and it's hoped that Wan's return to the director's chair for The Conjuring 2 (where we revisit the realm of poltergeist activity), signals a return to form for his horror stable. 5/10

Mar 21, 2015

I personally am of the opinion that _The Conjuring_ was pretty overrated, but I at least I could see why some people thought it was okay. _Annabelle_ on the other hand, was never at any point anything other than hackneyed, unoriginal garbage. No saving graces to be found here.

_Final rating:★ - Of no value. Avoid at all costs._

Nov 28, 2017

The movie isn't really that scary. It's still a good movie. Just that dam porcelain doll looks creepy as hell.

Apr 18, 2023

<em>'Annabelle'</em> disappoints, it's unexpectedly extremely uninteresting. For a 90 or so minute movie, it sure does drag its feet to its conclusion. After a decent set-up in <em>'The Conjuring'</em> for a creepy-looking doll, I thought this was going to be entertaining. It's not.

Those on the cast are also a little underwhelming, not helped by what's around them of course. I know Annabelle (nice) Wallis is a better actor than shown here, same goes for Alfre Woodard; not that either are bad, but if I didn't already know them I wouldn't even be noting them to be honest.

There are like two watchable moments in this, though they are literally few and far between as one's neighbourly at the beginning and the other wraps the story up. I'm possibly being a touch generous with my rating, if the run time was any longer then I'd probably not be so. Poor film.

Jan 26, 2025