Annabelle 2: Creation

A prequel of Annabelle, which was the prequel of The Conjuring. Absolutely nobody asked for this. Nobody wanted this. No one. But, thankfully (surprising, right?) we got it. 

Annabelle: Creation has no business being this good. Funny enough, the same can be said about 2016's Ouija: Origins of Evil. It is strange that these two bizarrely similar films were released within a year of each other. Both follow up on terrible first films. Both are prequels of those terrible first films. Both shouldn't have been made. Both are extremely effective horror films. Oh, and both star the excellent child-actor Lulu Wilson. The similarities don't even end there. 

After the film ended and I saw who directed this, everything made more sense. David F. Sandberg has the reins here–who you might remember from directing Lights Out, another surprisingly great 2016 horror flick. The work done in that movie with the use of lighting and repetition is just as suspenseful here (if not more so, in some scenes). Sandberg thankfully stamps what could have been run-of-the- mill horror scenes with his signature creativity. Horror largely relies on the talent of the director, and this is a case of the direction only elevating the film. 

While Lulu Wilson is a definitely a standout in her second straight horror movie role, her counterpart Talitha Bateman also gives a great performance. As in most horror movies, most of the scares are seen through the eyes of the children in the film. Luckily, the two youngest actresses here–Wilson and Bateman–practically act circles around the rest of the cast. In fact, there were quite a few moments when I felt as though these two actresses deserved a better script. The pair definitely do the best they can with what they are given however, adding a great deal of character to this film. 

The bar is low when it comes to horror film scripts. Even the best of the genre still have the occasional cringe-worthy line or plot hole (The Conjuring 2, I'm looking at you). All this to say, I'm going to go easy on the faults of Annabelle: Creation's script. The writing here is not bad by any means. There are cringy lines here and there, but that is to be expected. The characters make extremely poor choices, but even that is to be expected. The problem rests almost solely in the dull first 30 minutes of this film.

Look, I'm all for slow burn horror movies. But when the star of your horror film is an inanimate object, you just can't afford to have a slow opening act. However, once this film starts picking up with the scares in the latter half of the film, much of that first act can be forgiven. The film goes in some unexpected directions towards the end of the film which adds some surprising creativity.

No spoilers of course, but the way the first Annabelle is tied in to this film is outstanding. So outstanding that it almost makes up for the 90 minutes I wasted sitting through the garbage that was that first film. Almost. 

Credit to director David F. Sandberg for rescuing this franchise from a tedious first film. Annabelle: Creation is legitimately scary, which is all you can really ask for from a horror film.

I didn't expect a sequel to a movie I loathed to be watchable, let alone sort of fantastic, but here we are and I'm ready to say that Annabelle: Creation is a surprise in many ways. A lot of the scares work and I got a few chills here and there. Even better, many of the characters are somewhat interesting and easy to root for. I doubt it'll become some classic in the years to come, but I'm almost positive it'll be put on that rare list of movie sequels that are better than the originals.

I'm not sure if you're like me, where every new horror feels as if someone is flogging a dead horse, but that's exactly how I felt about Annabelle Creation. Here we go again, it's a prequel to the original. That doll is dug out, sat stationary, and all manner of nasty events happen.

It's a very nicely made film, it's very well acted by the largely young cast, it's a good, if sad story, and there are a few decent scares. The trouble is, those scares have been done so many times, even, dare I say it throughout the franchise.

It lacked the interesting side story that was present throughout the Conjuring films. As I say it's a good movie, but come on, give us something other then doll scares girl.

Annabelle: Creation is a massive step-up from Annabelle. With great performances by the young cast, and some excellent scare sequences, Creation has more than enough to keep you up at night.

The film starts with a happy family formed by a Doll manufacturer Samuel Mullins his wife Esther and their daughter Bee , until an unfortunate accident takes place. Twelve years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll-maker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife (Miranda Otto) welcome a nun (Stephanie Sigman) and several little girls (Samara Lee, Lulu Wilson, Eliana Bateman, ...) from a shuttered orphanage into their home , where they become the target of the doll-maker's possessed creation, Annabelle, an evil spirit trapped in a doll . Eerie events in which some little girls start to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll and other ghastly appearances , who violently attack them . Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc . The Next Chapter In The Conjuring Universe . You don't know the real story. Welcome to the home of The Conjuring Universe. Possess them all . Don't go alone . Before The Conjuring there was Annabelle.

This is a fantasy movie that contains restless horror as the doomed doll kept in an exorcited room with warning signs is escaping , then horror emerges and threatening beings attack . Third movie in the Annabelle film series and eighth in The Conjuring Universe . This is the prequel to Anabelle (2014) based on characters created by Gary Dauberman and blending in the Conjuring universe , in fact it takes place at a countryhouse after a terrrible accident and the subsequent apperance of the eerie doll Annabelle. Tension , creepy atmosphere , genuine chills , suspense are continued and appearing lurking and menacing into, dining room , stairs , hallway , rooms and at a stable with a horrible scarecrow included . Great loads of screams , shocks , exploitation and terror abound with the usual poltergeister phenomena caused by the weird ghosts . It's recreated with magnificent make-up and high grade plethora special effects which are frightening and horrifying the spectator when some little girls begin to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after escaping from a locked room . Stars unknown little actresses , exception for veterans Anthony LaPaglia and Miranda Otto who appear secondarily at the movie , the remaining main cast are hardly ever known , they're kiddies with brief careers but giving passable interpretations . It displays eerie musical score by composer Benjamin Wallfisch creating a spooky and sinister atmosphere. Likewise, dark as well atmospheric cinematography by cameraman Maxime Alexandrre.

The motion picture well produced by Hamada and James Wan , saga's usual , being well directed David F. Sandberg . It belongs to Annabele trilogy formed by ¨Annabelle¨ (2014) by John R Leonetti with Annabelle Wallis , Tony Amendola , Alfre Woodard ,Ward Horton ; ¨Annabelle Comes Home¨ (2019) by Gary Dauberman with Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and this ¨Annabelle : Creation¨ (2017) written by Gary Dauberman . The latter is an American screenwriter who is best known for writing The Conjuring Universe spin-off horror films Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation and The Nun, and co-writing the 2017 film adaptation of It, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. Annabelle: Creation (2017) being original and adequately shot by David F. Sandberg. He is a Swedish film director , a fine craftsman who is known for directing the superhero comedy film ¨Shazam¨¨ and the horror films ¨Lights Out¨ and this ¨Annabelle: Creation¨. David lives on the autism spectrum and he also provided the voice of Mister Mind at the end of Shazam and made several short horror films throughout his career. Rating : 6/10, decent prequel that will appeal to horror buffs and Annabelle saga fans .