By Chelsea Faler |Staff Writer|
“Anabelle,” the highly anticipated spin-off of “The Conjuring,” keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat for the entire film.
John R. Leonetti, the director of “Annabelle,”is also known for his work on other horror films such as “The Conjuring” (2013) and “Insidious” (2010).
As someone who thoroughly enjoys this genre of film, I found this production to be one of the best horror films that has hit the big screen in quite some time.
Leonetti continues to display wonderful work as he utilizes everything from suspenseful music, creepy props, and camera angles to keep your heart racing.
The frightening film is allegedly based on a true story, and centers on a young couple, John (Ward Horton) and Mia Gordon (Annabelle Wallis), who are expecting their first child in 1970.
The story begins as the couple spends their Sunday at a Catholic church, mingling with their neighbors the Higgins’ family (whose daughter, Annabelle, had recently run away).
That evening John surprises his wife with another collectors doll that she has had her eye on.
John goes to the Higgins’ home later that night after Mia wakes him claiming she heard a scream coming from next door.
Mia frantically calls the police, and shortly after she learns that their home has been invaded by a couple of crazed strangers.
The police fend off the male intruder first, and then the woman, who is in the nursery cradling Mia’s new collectors doll, who is now covered in blood.
The woman they soon discover is Annabelle Higgins.
Mia realizes after the incident and more frightening and unexplainable occurrences, that she cannot move on from what happened while living in that house.
After the Gordon’s welcome their first child and move somewhere new hoping for a fresh start, Mia learns that she cannot move away from her fearful past nor get rid of the doll as easily as she had thought.
Although there were not many well known actors in this film, the entire cast did a superb job.
The actors performance was convincing and made the audience feel as if what they were watching was real.
In comparison to “The Conjuring”, it was indeed scary, but not nearly as intense.
There are definitely moments during the film where the two stories connected however, they each served as separate tales.
The idea of being scared of the doll’s demonic character was a much different than the fear of a demonic spirit.
If you love a hair-raising scary movie at Halloween or are just in the mood to watch something with a good, frightful story line, then I recommend grabbing some tickets and going to check this one out.
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