Last night I headed over to the Scala in Prestatyn to check out Annabelle Comes Home. Those of you that have been reading the reviews here on Blazing Minds will have seen my love for the Conjuring Universe, which started back in 2013 with the original The Conjuring movie when we were introduced to The Warrens and the introduction to Annabelle, the doll that puts fear into those that see her on the big screen.
The films over the years have followed a varied timeline in the Conjuring Universe and Annabelle has featured in two movies, the first set in 1967 and Annabelle: Creation set in 1955, in Annabelle Comes Home we are taken to 1967 shortly after the Warren’s obtained the Annabelle doll, when a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll while they babysit Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren’s daughter, Judy (Mckenna Grace), all hell breaks loose!
The third movie in the Annabelle series and seventh in the Conjuring Universe starts as the Warrens take possession of Annabelle and make their way home to lock her up safely with their other artefacts, but on root they come across an incident that those have seen The Curse of la Llorona will recognise as Patricia Alvarez is at a tunnel near the viaduct where La Llorona drowned her sons in the 2019 movie, the Warrens are told to take a detour on the way their car breaks down, Lorraine is visited by a spirit that tells her, “I like you doll”, then she sees many spirits wanting to use Annabelle as a vessel.
Upon returning home, we are introduced to their daughter Judy, we skip a year later, which I think makes it 1968 in the Conjuring Universe timeline when Ed and Lorraine are heading away and they leave Judy with a babysitter.
With the introduction of the nosey friend (Katie Sarife) that has ulterior motives for wanting to stay over with her friend and Judy, things are about to get weird in the Warren household as Daniela (Sarife) makes her way into the room with all the creepy stuff and touches almost everything and releasing Annabelle from her church glass case!
Annabelle Comes Home – Thoughts
My first thoughts for Annabelle Comes Home was please be better than the first movie and thankfully it is, I think Annabelle Creation was better, more jumps in that one, this latest movie in the franchise is slightly different when it comes to the “bang scares”, with the previous movies in the franchise they have been overused and you know exactly when they would come along, but with Annabelle Comes Home, they have been reduced down to the point of the movie becomes more of a movie that doesn’t so much scare you but has you watching the darkness in the scenes, or expecting something to happen and then nothing happens.
It’s certainly not the best movie in The Conjuring Universe, but it is better than The Nun and The Curse of La Llorona, personally, for me, I enjoyed the movie for the lighting effects etc, it became more of a technical watch more than watching a “horror” movie.
As an example, there are some coins that are used for “The Ferryman”, the lighting used as you see the coins in the shadows where they cover the deads eyes is nicely shot and those moments of something just out of the corner of your eye in the dark of the room, which certainly brings up the atmosphere of a movie to set you at state of unease.
I’m not sure if it’s just me, but over the years, horror movies have changed so much, with them opting for those jump scares over the stuff that really used to make us jump in the 80/90s, it’s rare these days we get an 18 certificate horror, maybe it’s down to getting bums on seats and getting younger folk in the cinemas, but it is interesting to see how The Conjuring Universe is going to movie along after Annabelle Comes Home.
What I’m really looking forward to now is The Conjuring 3 which is out in 2020, the first movie was one that I loved and scared me, so hopefully, the third instalment will bring some of that back, then, of course, there is the eagerly awaited “The Crooked Man” and “The Nun 2“, which I am hoping will be an improvement over The Nun.
If you are a fan of The Conjuring Universe, they check out Annabelle Comes Home which is in Uk Cinemas now.
Annabelle Comes Home and brings all hell with her!
Movie title: Annabelle Comes Home
Movie description: While babysitting the daughter of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll.
Date published: July 13, 2019
Director(s): Gary Dauberman
Actor(s): Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mckenna Grace
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
