Review of Annabelle (2014) by Wayne K — 20 Sep 2018

Failing to reach the relatively high mark set by its predecessor, Annabelle sadly regresses to the clichés which have so long plagued the genre to the point that the lead actress being named Annabelle might be the smartest part of it.

The titular doll itself rarely features, and the film does an unconvincing job of explaining that it's the one responsible for all the demonic shenanigans. She sure does love her sewing machines though.

Rather than being based on purported true events like The Conjuring, Annabelle is mostly fictional, but the filmmakers haven't managed to make up a story with any originality or convincing elements.

But thank God the banging doors are back! The screenplay is uninspired, and the acting, while not terrible, isn't especially convincing, largely because the actors have to go through the same motions that every tired horror movie requires of them.

There might be a few spooky moments, but there's never a sustained sense of menace or fright, just short, sporadic bursts of what nowadays passes for scares. It earned a prequel without in any way deserving one, but since it cost virtually nothing to produce, it makes complete financial, if not logical, sense.