A gripping, underrated horror film that relies on it's characters and old fashioned cinematography to step up it's game. Leonetti coming up being the camera operator for many old and new classic horror films like Poltergeist and The Conjuring, uses that now plain direction to his advantage. I miss horror using simple tricks and basic blocking to deliver the scares, all too many now rely on stylish or even action direction to create it's jumps, but Annabelle opts for looks that reminisce 70's and 80's horror, fitting for the story's time period. No offense to James Wan, but this is the best looking (and sounding) out of the Conjuring series. The leads and film's social commentary though are what really strike with me. Many fail to understand the point of the Annabelle trilogy, being it's all a story of the destruction of the family bond and even the nuclear family image. Repeatedly at the start of the film, it's made clear that times have changed, it's not okay to keep your doors unlocked anymore, and the innocence of the American family has been destroyed. The nail in the coffin is their attack by the occult members and a fire damaging the house, prompting the couple to leave it behind and have their newborn baby in an apartment. All a great metaphor for the changing times. The importance of religion to the story can not be understated, that every action has it's roots deep in biblical and satanic text, the film is built around the idea of the corruption of innocence, the separation of a mother from her child, and the sacrifice to save a life, even if it's resolution is twisted. God honors sacrifice, and our sacrifices touch God's heart, and move his hand. Something simple as the demon waiting for Mia at the end of a staircase, shrouded in black is an unforgettable image. I love the bevy of details like Mia trapped on the basement floor of her apartment, but the elevator won't go back up. She hits the floor 6 button 3 times, by which point, the demonic activity rapidly increases and she's forced to ascend the staircase herself. As Mia had stated earlier in the film to Father Perez, there are some things we have to do ourselves.

The best I can give this one is "Fair"...and that's being generous. For one thing, I'm old and getting more and more jaded not only to "scary" movies but to people in general, and there were just too many *stupid* things in this movie that made me sit back and think _"You deserve whatever's coming to you, you brainless moron."_ When I can't connect with any of the characters in a movie, it's not going to get a good review, and in the case of this movie, not only did I _not_ connect...I actually was hoping for the demise of the idiot wife who can't slobbering all over herself and her poor husband about how bad she had it. Guy was working himself to death to provide for her and their infant, but all she was worried about was _"I never get to have any adult conversation."_ Wahhhh... Boo hoo, you sniveling little twit. It's a shame [spoiler] she got interrupted before she could jump; the husband and child would have fared a lot better off without that self-centered little snot.[/spoiler] The movie has some "jump" scenes in it that will scare you, but it is, overall, dull, plodding, and makes you root for the doll than for the people. Yay, Annabelle! They're too stupid to get rid of you, so they deserve whatever mischief you can wrack up. Come to think of it, I should change my rating to "This movie blew chunks and I would caution against anyone ever sitting through this slop." I'm still mad [spoiler] that the stupid mother didn't die. [/spoiler]

The movie isn't really that scary. It's still a good movie. Just that dam porcelain doll looks creepy as hell.

Tis time to move on from conduit demons.

*** This review contains minor spoilers ***

It doesn't have James Wan's name on the director's chair, but it's every inch a James Wan film. There seems to be a rut that has emerged where this new brand of horror film makers can't see that recycling the same ideas is, well, kinda dull.

Insidious, Dead Silence and The Conjuring have their critics (not me, I like them all very much), but the timing was right for them to hit the mark of many a horror film lover. Tapping into the fear of the doll and the demon hadn't been done for some time, certainly not with any conviction, so all good there for the fans.

Annabelle spins off from The Conjuring, and Dead Silence to a degree, but just comes off as a lazy cash-cow. The doll is a spooky monstrosity (most unlike the real Rag-Dolly-Anna version), but it's all a bit of a con, the makers resorting to another demonic being, only Red Darth Maul has now been replaced by Blue Lagoon The Loon.

Character's actions are often preposterous, stretching credulity to breaking point (I know you are being menaced by the unknown, but I got a conference to go to, sleep tight babe!). Elsewhere, while everyone acknowledges that what scares you is subjective, but the scares here are very thin on the ground, not helped by a dull script and bland lead actors.

It's tidy enough a production, granted, but familiarity breeds contempt and it's hoped that Wan's return to the director's chair for The Conjuring 2 (where we revisit the realm of poltergeist activity), signals a return to form for his horror stable. 5/10

I personally am of the opinion that _The Conjuring_ was pretty overrated, but I at least I could see why some people thought it was okay. _Annabelle_ on the other hand, was never at any point anything other than hackneyed, unoriginal garbage. No saving graces to be found here.

_Final rating:★ - Of no value. Avoid at all costs._