Annabelle (2014) | My Review
As a fan of James Wan, the man who brought us Saw, Dead Silence, Insidious and The Conjuring, I was absolutely ecstatic when I heard he was making a film about Annabelle, the creepy-as-hell doll introduced in The Conjuring.
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| Annabelle the doll as seen in The Conjuring |
Annabelle tells the story of a couple in 1967, John (Ward Horton) and Mia (Annabelle Wallis), who begin experiencing supernatural occurrences after their home is broken into by a duo of satanic cultists. Annabelle, the doll given to Mia as a gift from her husband, develops terrifying abilities which antagonise the couple and their newborn baby.
The film is typical of Wan, known for his ability to unnervingly exact fear from his viewers through effective use of music and editing. There are quite a few jump-scare moments in this movie (as evidenced by the people sitting in front and behind me in the cinema). It also manages to maintain your level of unease through a number of anxiety-building scenes, for instance, the basement elevator sequence. Horton and Wallis' performances are believable as they uncover the truth behind their evil doll.
Given the fact that Annabelle is based on an actual doll believed to be possessed, it delivers on the thrills and chills. The only negative thing I can say about the movie is that, unlike its predecessor The Conjuring, Annabelle doesn't quite manage to continue its psychological affect on the viewer afterwards. That said, I still enjoyed watching this movie and recommend it to anyone who is a horror fan.
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| The real Annabelle doll with its keeper, Lorraine Warren |
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| Annabelle is kept in the Warren's Occult Museum |
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