All Rise...

Judge Erich Asperschlager is a doll, baby.

The Charge

"Since the beginning of civilization, dolls have been beloved by children, cherished by collectors and used in religious rites as conduits for good and evil."

Opening Statement

Mainstream horror is in a rut. While hardcore fans turn to indie scares, multiplex horror continues to chug along, catering to the whims of teen mallgoers. As it has for years, that means found footage, franchises, and sequels, sequels, sequels. Paranormal Activity and Saw were the heavy hitters, but with one series done and the other fading the search is on for the next big thing.

James Wan's The Conjuring might not have seemed like the beginning of a horror franchise, but its crossover appeal has studio folks salivating at the prospect of annualized dollars. Because nothing great can exist on its own, The Conjuring has retroactively become the first chapter in an new horror series.

Facts of the Case

The first post-Conjuring movie is Annabelle, a 1960's spin-off about the origins of the creepiest of dolls. Before she found her way into the evil artifact room in demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren's house, Annabelle was a gift from a young doctor (Ward Horton, The Wolf of Wall Street) to his pregnant wife (Annabelle Wallis, X-Men: First Class). Following a horrific event, the new mother notices strange things happening in their apartment. Something evil is in the doll, and it wants their baby.

The Evidence

Annabelle is more spinoff than prequel. Minus some awkward hooks into The Conjuring, it exists as a standalone story. The film explains how the doll became possessed, but that's where its duties as prequel end. Rather than tease The Conjuring's doll-centric intro to feature length, Annabelle keeps the title character at the periphery for much of the film. A lazier movie would cram the doll into every shot. This one focuses on the young family being targeted by the demon, and the ways that's slightly scarier than having a new baby.

The film's performances match its workmanlike quality. The distractingly clean-shaven Ward Horton is pure All-American as John, a husband who spends much of the movie at work and off screen, though he deserves credit for not dismissing his wife completely. Annabelle Wallis does most of the heavy lifting as disturbed mother Mia. Her role isn't as meaty as Lily Taylor's in The Conjuring, but she makes the most of it—screaming and fleeing demon pursuers like a pro. The beleaguered couple find kindred spirits in cliched places with the introduction of a Catholic priest (Tony Amendola, The Mask of Zorro) and demon-savvy neighbor (Alfre Woodard, Primal Fear) to guide them and provide exposition—thankless roles elevated by the veteran actors.

Annabelle draws inspiration from horror films like Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist, mixing an older slow-burn approach with modern jump scares. The end result is fine, but it doesn't have the punch of The Conjuring. I left the lights on at night after watching that movie. This sort-of prequel has some spooky moments but all of the scares are telegraphed so there are few surprises. Where James Wan is able to squeeze tension out of camera movement and claustrophobic interiors, director John Leonetti takes a by-the-book approach with Annabelle. It's shot in a way that keeps the audience at a distance.

That's not to say Annabelle is poorly made. There is a competence to the writing, direction, and performances that lands it smack in the middle of the horror spectrum. While I prefer a rough-edged film with original ideas over the safe middle ground occupied by movies like Annabelle, don't underestimate the power of basic competence in a genre with more than its share of garbage. The film is a trifle—predictable and familiar—but it doesn't pretend to be anything more. Though it's one more example of formulaic horror, I'd rather have more stories set in the Wan-iverse than another round of Paranormal Activity movies.

Annabelle comes to Blu-ray with a slick 2.40:1 1080p transfer. Detail and color are strong, with only a hint of softness in the dark scenes. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is up to modern horror snuff, from the low-end rumble that signals impending attacks to the aggressive surround effects and score. The movie might be middle-of-the-road but the presentation is top notch.

The bonus features aren't as impressive, split between four surface-level featurettes and a collection of deleted scenes…

• "The Curse of Annabelle" (5:31)—A general discussion of the film featuring the cast and crew.

• "Bloody Tears of Possession" (5:33)—A closer look at the home invasion sequence, with James Wan, the director, screenwriter, and cast.

• "Dolls of the Demon" (4:04)—This featurette focuses on the design and creation of the creepy title character, and the even creepier collection of mutilated dolls that makes an appearance late in the film.

• "A Demonic Process" (4:59)—Director Leonetti talks about his decision to focus on the demon (played by composer Joseph Bishara) more than the doll.

• Deleted Scenes (20:35)—Eight excised sequences, including new Annabelle attacks, alternate versions of a few scenes, and the remnants of a skeezy landlord subplot.

• DVD Copy

• Digital Copy

Closing Statement

Annabelle may not be as impressive as the movie that inspired it, but it's better than most spin-offs. Director John Leonetti and screenwriter Gary Dauberman avoid easy piggybacking, creating a story that exists apart from The Conjuring. It's a smart decision, and not just because Annabelle is nowhere near as good as that film. The twists and turns in this period thriller are predictable, but its limited ambitions keep the movie from going off the rails. Annabelle doesn't take any chances, but it knows what it is.

The Verdict

Worth possessing.

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