When a dollmaker and his wife welcome a group of orphaned girls into their home, a frightening presence quickly makes itself known. A presence that has latched itself onto a doll from the couples emotional past. Annabelle: Creation is a horrifying prequel that explores the demonic dolls origins. Once again bringing together the team behind horror franchises Insidious and The Conjuring, further expanding their supernatural universe.
Twelve years after losing their young daughter in a terrible accident, Samuel and Esther Mullins welcome Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman) and her orphaned girls after the closing of their orphanage. Although beridden, Esther hopes to finally regain some normalcy in their lives after their tragic loss.
Biological sisters Linda and Nancy are often left out by the other girls, with Nancy struggling from the effects of Polio. All the while they dream of a day when they can be adopted together. As they begin to settle in, their charming new residence is also housing a malevolent doll. When young Nancy (Philippa Coulthard) curiously discovers the doll, made in the likeness of the Mullins deceased daughter, she has no idea what entity she has just unleashed. One that will leave them all fearing for their safety.
Director David F. Sandberg, of last years hit Lights Out, takes on the origin story of Annabelle in only his second theatrical directing effort. Just as his previous film, Sandberg perfectly utilizes the aspect of darkness to leave the audience with a constant sense of unsettle. Proving you don’t always have to see the horrors to induce a spine-tingling reaction. In some way, the darkness of this film, and the secluded nature of the location, improves on the initial story of Annabelle. While the first film is undoubtedly a spooky flick, it is much brighter visually, sometimes effecting the tone.
With Annabelle: Creation, the doll is often seen in peaks of spotlight, very rarely making a fully lighted appearance. The vacant stare of the doll is only heightened by the fact that your eyes play tricks between the shadows. And just as its predecessor, the doll is often motionless, with movements highlighted by camera cuts. The subtleness in many of the scares is what makes these two films so enjoyable. Most impressively, Sandberg and his team were able to come up with unique frights that will send shocks through your body. So many fresh and exciting new ways to stir up jumps and screams by viewers. It will leave you sinking into your seat.
In this film, the cast is a great improvement from the couple in the first. Not to say they were at all bad. However, you’re given a bigger cast with more room for scares in this movie. It’s full of young, new talent, including Lulu Wilson, who you’ll recognize from Ouija: Origin of Evil. She is such a breathe of fresh air in all the torment and the young actress is quickly making a name for herself in the horror industry.
While you grow to care for the orphaned girls, there isn’t an overwhelming sense of exposition. Time is not spent telling the history of each one, or even much about their caretaker, Sister Charlotte. Although there is a wonderful connection to another James Wan produced spin-off that audiences are sure to love.
Now for the elephant in the room – How can this be a prequel? I, like many others, sort of scratched my head at the notion of a prequel to 2014’s Annabelle. After all, we saw everything we needed to see in the first one. Wasn’t that the origin story?
Saying anything regarding the links between the two films would be instant spoiler territory and you would never forgive me. What I will say is to have faith in Sandberg and producer James Wan. It’s perhaps one of the most exciting connective twists I’ve seen in a horror film.
Annabelle: Creation hits theaters August 11th
On another note, don’t miss your chance to win my Annabelle Giveaway! Head over to that post to learn all the details on how to enter. The contest will end on the films release date.
Just the movie I need to take my mind off the horrors of the newsmakers.
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Looks great, I would love to watch this with my husband for date night.
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big fan of demonic dolls.
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Thanks for the chance, this is so awesome! Would love to win!
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I can’t wait to see this!
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Looks good like a good evil movie Thanks
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I LOVE me a good scary movie! This looks great!!
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sounds like such a good movie. loved the first one and excited too about the new cast.
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wow this looks sIIICK.
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I’d like to see this! Haven’t seen a good scary flick in a long time.
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Thanks for the review. 🙂 Sounds like a fun watch. Kind of wish the movies Annabelle a Raggedy Ann doll as would have been cool to she them making that creepy instead of one that looks like it’s evil to begin with, can’t imagine they could ever get the rights for that though. :p
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I have been waiting for a good new horror film. Maybe this will be the one!
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hope it’s scarier than the 1st one
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I think you’ll enjoy it! A totally different dynamic than the first. I thought it was a great improvement.
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It looks really creepy I can’t wait to see it
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I would love to see this movie!!!
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Omg… great review. I can’t wait to see this I loved the first one so I’m sure this one will be just as good.
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Thank you! I definitely loved the first one too, so I was surprised I liked this one even more.
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This movie looks real Good!! Can’t wait
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this movie looks so scary! Defiantly going to watch it!
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i can’t wait to see this movie, it looks really good.
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A twisted horror film, like this, will make my toes curl!
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These movies scare me to death. My granddaughter wants me to go see it with her….this one and it..I will not sleep for a week. 😉
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Haha, sleeping the night after seeing this was difficult. Maybe suggest seeing it in the daytime.
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Oh Dolls scare me and this movie looks terrifying! I cannot wait to see it! My friends and I are going to see it this weekend, we all have hubbies and kids who do not watch scary movies. But we do!!
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I have a fear of dolls as well. I can’t believe I enjoy these haha. I hope you and your friends have a spooky time this weekend 🙂
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This looks better than the first one. I liked that one a lot.
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This looks better than the first one. I liked that one a lot.
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I love horror films and this one looks like a really good one.
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My son loves scary movies and he is looking forward to this. Can’t wait to take him.
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Have a spooky time!
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My boyfriend and I want to see this!
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I love the creature as it is a cute demonic doll. The terrifying movie is one to be left desired, so I will just have to see the whole movie.
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great review! i love annabelle and that necklace looks so cool!
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i love scary movies. Thanks for a great review
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I can’t wait to see this movie tonight!
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Sounds like it will be a great movie, my husband and kids can’t wait to see this.
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I didn’t know there was a second one coming out. Good, that doll really creeps me out and I like it!
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Wow this movie looks creepy but I love it! The perfect film for a Friday night great review too!
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Great movie to watch on Halloween
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It definitely got me in the mood for the season!
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I love movies like this. I have seen all the Chuckie movies.
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The first one scares me!
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Ok….this looks pretty scarey. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Thanks for the review.
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I can’t wait to see this one! Excellent review!
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It looks like an interesting movie, that’s for sure.
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We have been waiting to see this movie can’t wait
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Thank you for the excellent review. I can tell that you’re a fellow movie lover. I always watch the newest in this series because they’re good for a creepy good time.
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Thank you! I love this series and all the people involved. They’re making some amazing films.
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I can’t wait to see this, I loved the other two.
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I like the occasional creepy movie, sadly it’s my 5 year old daughter that wants to see this movie, lol
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Oh no! What a brave little one.
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I would love this. Thanks for the chance.
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I cannot wait to go see this with my daughter on Sunday afternoon! Thanks for the review! I hope we win the giveaway!
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My wife would love to see the cool scary Annabelle: Creation today.
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A fascinating, sinister Annabelle: Creation, my wife wants to watch, would be an amazing gift.
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My lady friend likes scary movies, and the Annabelle: Creation would be marvelous to see, now.
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I would really like to watch the spooky Annabelle: Creation, and it would be wonderfully scary.
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A captivating Annabelle: Creation, as a fabulous, scary gift for my girlfriend to see, would be just great.
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The awesome, eerie Annabelle: Creation is a prize, that is just right, for the day and my wife.
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we enjoy horror movies with dolls. thanx 4A chance
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Horror movies that involve dolls are always awesome!
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