[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nnabelle, the much-anticipated supernatural thriller from the makers of The Conjuring, is finally here, and if any fears that this is another tired spin-off cashing in on its predecessor linger, you can relax.
You may remember Annabelle, the creepy doll in the glass case from James Wan’s seminal possession picture last year. Now we learn how she came to be.
A young Santa Monica couple in the late 60’s (the time of the Manson Family), John and Mia (Ward Horton and Annabelle — seriously — Wallis), welcoming their first child buy the titular collectible as a gift.
Everything is hunky-dory until Satanists kill their next-door neighbors, and invade their home. Police shoot and kill the intruders, but life subsequently becomes a battle for the couple’s very souls.
This all sounds familiar, and the film borrows many tropes from producer Wan’s previous films, Insidious and Conjuring — as well as Rosemary’s Baby. The setup is also by-the-numbers and a tad predictable (a door is unlocked, someone is bound to break in; someone sewing, their finger gets cut in close-up), but don’t check out just yet.
In the second half, Annabelle really finds its footing. The tone and palate get much darker and the atmosphere a lot moodier. Tension rises considerably when Mia and her baby get stalked in the dark by a truly scary demon.
It goes for the jump scares and creep-and-stalk early, as you might expect, but never fails to engage — particularly at the climax. As Mia becomes more desperate, the entity is able to manipulate her senses more, leading to some blindsiding swerves.
The film is based on a true story, albeit nothing this extreme. In fact, the real Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann Doll whose occult connection is only speculative. Death follows it but no children have been sacrificed to her (that we know of).
Annabelle certainly takes liberties, as far as story, but it has punch as paranormal horror. Consistent with The Conjuring, and other brethren in Wan’s ghostly canon, this movie offers a sense of hope — that with a little faith, love, and sacrifice you can conquer evil.
Modern horror widely lacks such themes and resolve, and could learn from James Wan, his people, and their eerie playthings. Annabelle is worth it for those who want a good old scare, and if you want to remember what you love about the genre.
