Annabelle Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: After a bizarre and ritualistic attack, a family is tormented by a demonic force seemingly connected to a doll.

Review: Don't worry, I'll get back to reviewing Halloween horror films after this--just taking a minor detour. I really can't believe the plethora of negative reviews regarding this movie. While I'll be the first to admit this was not as good as "The Conjuring," and it was a tough act to follow, this film was still great in its own right. As a reviewer discussed on imdb, people seem to judge horror films unfairly these days with the notion of "it didn't scare me, therefore it sucks" mentality. This has been a persistent criticism for, at least, the past 15 years, and it's a stupid way to look at horror; like this reviewer mentioned, you don't watch a drama and say this wasn't dramatic enough or a kid's film wasn't kiddy enough. There are many aspects to horror to appreciate beyond the main elements of fear (like atmosphere, tension, suspense, etc.) which this film presented excellently. Why are these aspects overlooked so easily along with the awesome production values of what was an otherwise low-budget film? We know what is considered "scary" is a subjective concept, but "Annabelle" appeared to be much different than people thought it would be. For me, I'm glad the trailers were deceptive since it lowered my standards significantly. I was seriously worried this would be Chucky with a girl doll. While I love "Child's Play," "Annabelle" is on a whole different level of scares in comparison.

Let's take a look at what worked first. I do take into consideration the possible validity to the doll being possessed. I don't necessarily believe in the supernatural, but I am open to anything if there is enough proof. This movie is fiction, of course, but the real Annabelle doll is out there as we speak. This leads me to what the movie did the best: the demon. It's said the real doll is possessed by an especially malevolent demon biding its time to escape. Assuming this is true, it is interesting to imagine the circumstances that led to the demon inhabiting the doll. This movie tries to fill in those gaps, and I think they tell a decent story. The main characters are interesting, their plight is compelling, and I liked the '60s feel. Plus, Annabelle Wallis, playing Mia, is a mega-housewife-milf; but did they seriously cast her just because her name was Annabelle? Anyway, the demon looks fantastic! My god, this is how you properly use lighting to enhance an already awesome makeup design. Forget Darth Maul from "Insidious;" this is the kind of creature you truly imagine would be seething in the depths of hell. That scene where Annabelle stands up and you realize it's the demon picking her up--whoa--time to change your pants if that were real. And when Mia is trapped on the elevator...aaahhh! I don't know why people said all the scares were cheap, jump scares when there were plenty of atmospheric moments like this. Granted, there were jump scares, but I thought they were done well enough like that little Samara/Sadako wannabe running around. More so, what about when Mia seemingly beat her own baby to death? That wasn't disturbing in a primal way? I can't accept the criticism that the film wasn't scary, but I can accept that it wasn't the type of things that scare everyone. But, as you may have noticed, I am more scared of unstoppable forces than random humans who I could easily dispense with myself. Lastly, the look, production value, and cinematography are top-notch. The film looks gorgeous and that lighting is clutch. The primary usage of practical effects should also be mentioned as contributing to the aesthetics.

Okay, let's take a look at where the film falters and its flaws. By far, the weakest aspect for me was the ending. It doesn't even make sense if you think about it, it's lackluster and forced, and doesn't actually explain how the doll ended up at the thrift store; they were kind of like, "well, we can't beat a demon so...the end." I was totally on the edge of my seat and then it sort of ended out of the blue; the final shot of Annabelle herself was a nice touch though. Speaking of which, Annabelle surprisingly plays second fiddle. Yes, the demon is the star, since that is what is allegedly inside of the doll, but I expected more usage of the doll for scares. I can understand the parallels others make with films like "Insidious" and virtually every satanic-themed film out there. I would agree it is a fair assessment to say you have seen most of these scares before, BUT I would not agree that those films did them better; this is easily the best demon depicted thus far. Likewise, the story does contain a certain, by-the-books sensation as it progresses; this does hinder excitement a bit as you know what direction the story will go.

Forget the critics, judge this film for yourself, and consider its merits beyond whether or not it scared you. If you're going into this expecting "The Conjuring 2" or a female Chucky movie, you may be sorely disappointed. However, if you have researched the real Annabelle, and have an understanding of the manipulative demon that is said to reside within that unassuming-looking doll, this film puts a face to that evil. The story does have its problems, especially in regards to the ending and predictability, but it's not anything significantly detrimental to the overall experience. I greatly applaud the technical accomplishments and wish more horror films had this level of polish and sheen. I'm on the fence with recommending to run out to the cinema to see this, but "Annabelle" is a definite rent without a doubt.

Notable Moment: There are a lot of cool scenes, but the first time you see the demon lurking in the shadowy basement of the apartment complex is near perfect usage of lighting. And that's how you pull off intimidation in a villain. Uh oh--looks like you've got some competition, my dear Natre!

Final Rating: 7/10