LoginTo be honest, I didn’t expect much from this sequel but, since it was available on Netflix, I thought I might as well check it out. Well, to be honest, pretty much like the previous sequel from this franchise, I have to admit that I was actually rather positively surprised by the damned thing. First of all, it was pretty neat to see again the charismatic Ed and Lorraine Warren, even if they were involved only at the beginning and at the very end. Furthermore, unlike with the first instalment which turned out to be so underwhelming, once again, they didn’t focus so much on this evil doll which was a smart move. Instead, they explained that she was some kind of vessel or magnet for other spirits which was not a bad idea since it allowed the makers to unleash a whole bunch of ghosts, spirits and other demons in the Warrens' house. The downside was that it did make the whole thing seriously random. However, a bigger issue was that the whole setup didn’t make much sense whatsoever. Indeed, the Warrens had a room full of very evil and dangerous artifacts but what do they do when they go on a business trip? Well, they just leave this responsibility to an underaged baby-sitter… However, it actually got even worse. Indeed, Ed Warren actually LEFT the freaking keys to get to this room on his desk which was just completely unbelievable… Sure, I understand that they had to find a way to get Annabelle out of her closet but I wish they did find something slightly more convincing. It was also rather bewildering how much the Warrens completely downplayed what happened when they got back home. Anyway, to conclude, in spite of its flaws, I still think it was actually a decent horror flick though and it is worth a look, at least, if you like the genre.
Annabelle Comes Home Reviews
An average movie
Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 25 October 2021 09:08
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Fun, creepy and heartfelt threequel
Posted : 4 years, 6 months ago on 28 October 2019 10:46
The second Conjuring-Verse feature of 2019 (after The Curse of La Llorona), Annabelle Comes Home caps off the first trilogy within this larger franchise, and demonstrates that these spin-offs are still worthwhile in the hands of the right filmmakers. Once again scripted by veteran Gary Dauberman (It, The Nun), who also grasps the directorial reins this time around, Annabelle Comes Home is a far cry from 2017's relentlessly dark and sinister Annabelle: Creation, as this sequel will not exactly scare the living daylights out of you. Instead, Dauberman concocts a suspenseful, ominous follow-up which plays out as more of a funhouse-style thriller, though it's still armed with an R rating for good measure. In addition, a surprising and welcome sense of heart complements the scares, instantly elevating this above 2018's repetitive, soulless and forgettable The Nun.
To contain the relentless evil of the cursed Annabelle doll, demonologists Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) lock her inside a glass case within their secured artefact room. Months later, when the Warrens head out of town for an overnight trip, they leave their young daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace) in the care of responsible teenage babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman). However, their quiet evening of cake-making is soon interrupted by the arrival of Mary Ellen's friend Daniela (Katie Sarife), who seeks to snoop around the Warrens' supernatural possessions, desperate to find a way to make contact with her recently deceased father. Ending up in the artefact room, Daniela ignores all warnings and opens Annabelle's case, in turn unleashing the doll's supernatural malevolence on the three vulnerable girls.
The Annabelle doll continues to function as a spiritual conduit, more or less a WiFi Hotspot for demonic entities, awakening the artefact room's various haunted items. Dauberman delights in dreaming up inventive scenarios for the characters to endure, including an unplugged TV that displays what will happen thirty seconds into the future, while Mary Ellen's poor would-be boyfriend Bob (Michael Cimino) is stalked by a werewolf outside the house. Creature and demon designs are inventive, with Dauberman even making use of The Ferryman, who looks wonderfully creepy with coins over both eyes. Dauberman never goes bonkers with the adult rating, with the movie feeling PG-13 for long stretches, but the edge in terms of violence and language is appreciated. It's all beautifully captured with slick cinematography courtesy of Michael Burgess (The Curse of La Llorona), while frequent James Wan collaborator Joseph Bishara (Insidious) devises an idiosyncratic, effective original score. However, some obvious CGI mars the experience. The movie is undeniably more agreeable during set-pieces featuring elaborate make-up and practical effects.
Despite the misleading trailers, Annabelle Comes Home is not an unofficial Conjuring 3, as the Warrens only appear in bookend sequences at the start and end of the movie, and we do not get to finally see the demonologists properly battle the Annabelle entity. Admittedly, too, the stakes never feel overly high since Dauberman refrains from actually killing any of the girls, but there is an appreciable sense of tension nevertheless, and Annabelle does her best to terrorise her victims to ensure they will never sleep again. Refreshingly, there is no hostility or resentment among the leads; Mary Ellen genuinely likes Judy, while Daniela and Judy quickly bond through activities and chat. Furthermore, although Daniela's actions are careless, she has a genuine reason for venturing into the Warrens' artefact room beyond pure curiosity or simply wanting to point and laugh, as she blames herself for her father's death and is desperate to relieve her guilt. Some clichés are present, such as Mary Ellen's romantic interest, but Dauberman happily avoids many of the hoarier genre tropes.
With Judy being given a meaty role for the first time in the franchise's history, Mckenna Grace is actually a replacement for Sterling Jerins, who plays the Warrens' daughter in the main Conjuring films. Although a re-cast seems unnecessary, Grace (late of 2018's The Haunting of Hill House) is effortlessly charming, vulnerable and keenly intuitive, justifying her presence in the movie and showing that she's a talent to watch. Alongside her, Iseman (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) is agreeably down-to-earth and amiable, while Sarife capably handles the emotional requirements of her role. It's easy to care about the trio, thanks to effectively concise character development as well as the actors' innate likeability. Meanwhile, it's a pleasure to see Farmiga and Wilson reporting for duty, reprising their respective roles for the first time since 2016's The Conjuring 2.
Admittedly, Annabelle Comes Home is a touch long at 106 minutes, and begins to wear out its welcome before the end credits begin to roll. After all, these types of funhouse horror flicks are usually more agreeable at a taut 90 minutes, but at least Dauberman adequately builds the main characters before Annabelle escapes her case. All things considered, this threequel easily bests 2014's Annabelle but falls short of the legitimately inspired Annabelle: Creation. In spite of its shortcomings, this instalment is fun, creepy and unexpectedly heartfelt, even if it doesn't necessarily make a lasting impression or get under your skin like the best horror movies can.
7.0/10
0 comments, Reply to this entry