Film Review: Annabelle 2: Annabelle Creation

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Cert: 15 cert

Director: David F. Sandberg

Screenwriter: Gary Dauberman

Starring: Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Lulu Wilson, Anthony LaPaglia, Talitha Bateman, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Kerry O'Malley, Philippa Coulthard, Joseph Bishara, Adam Bartley, Samara Lee, Brian Howe, Grace Fulton, Brad Greenquist, Lotta Losten

Running time: 1h 49min

Parents advised reading before viewing a film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: None

Violence & Gore: Certain scenes push this film to an R-rating not suitable for anyone under 18 cert.

Profanity: Mild to strong

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: None

Frightening/Intense Scenes: Scene involving the doll are extremely intense and frightening, not suitable for under 16's to watch.

Story: Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll-maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the doll maker's possessed creation, Annabelle.

Likes: She’s back- the doll that will haunt your dreams forever in a very dark way! This seems to be the trend lately- an origin story that is better than the first, making the first film a sequel. For example, Ouija was bad, using jump scares to frighten the audience, whereas Ouija: Origin of Evil was better in scaring the audience with natural jump moments.

Annabelle: Creation is not the same as the first Annabelle film that didn't quite have that edge it needed to be naturally creepy enough where the audience would immerse themselves into the film to get scared; Annabelle’s origin story naturally folded itself into a well and truly dark film that will give you chills.

What's great about this is we're given scenes of a happy family, which sets up a strong family unit for the film; suddenly, this family’s lifestyle is transformed, giving the audience this shocking moment which sets up the whole theme. This is where this film starts getting this creepy, dark tone, which gives the horror film a grounded concept to work from as it builds the tension up perfectly through the first and second acts of this film.

There are a few moments in this film which get really intense- when there is no music, but you are waiting for something to happen but it doesn't, but then a few seconds later makes you jump out of your skin- that is something that most horror films are missing. It’s these moments in the film that truly make this frightening,  especially with its tension building. The way certain rooms are set up with the lighting helps carry the ambience.

The acting side of this film is great, especially coming from the girls’ one child star, Lulu Wilson (Ouija: Origin of Evil star). She does a brilliant performance as a very brave little girl trying to protect her friend as she notices something wrong. Talitha Bateman’s transition role is brilliant and creepy, as some of the scenes involve some pretty dark and off-putting moments that will put chills down your spine.

The pacing side of this film is perfectly done to maximize the movie, giving the characters some depth to build that tension as the film starts getting very dark. The realism and use of shadows have your imagination and inner fear of what lurks in the darkness really playing tricks on your mind throughout the film, as it uses that fear of the darkness and the shadows to seriously chill you to the bone in the most effective way.

It does try to set you off balance, though some moments you might see coming, there are moments that this film gets under your skin with its visual effects of the darkness of the evil spirit haunting them. This is what ultimately give this film it's edge in a psychological way, which is what I found great about this film, personally, as these moments gave me chills that I was on the edge of my seat for.

This is the thing about this film, it draws you to those moments where you can feel your heart pounding in fear, wondering what’s going to happen; it's waiting for moments for something to happen, but it doesn't- then, seconds later, "Bang!" out of nowhere, making you jump. This is a great offset to make the audience completely jump and scare the living crap out of them. This is how you make a truly frightening film.

I can honestly say that this is a recommend watch as it is better than its first film, especially in the frightening concept that builds tension to truly chill you to the bone. Although this is a great horror film, there were moments where this film kind of lost momentum toward the end, which is a shame as the first and second acts are brilliant. But it’s well worth a watch for any horror fan, setting up the ending perfectly to the first film that came out.  

  

Dislikes: One thing that pulls the momentum of this film down is the third act of the film. Though the first and second acts of the film were great, this is because it gives the audience a really creepy, dark undertone that truly chills to the bone.

This is because the creepy moment with the doll itself gives the audience this cold evil staring doll eyes with an innocent smile, yet we know evil is attached to it to make it even more frightening. Here the problem with the third act not that it wasn't good, I feel showing the demon that was playing the twist game of cat and mouse with the girls took the flow out of this film.

I think the film toward the end should have been kept with the doll being the main focus, it would've of had a better third act, that just my personal opinion.

Question to anyone that has watched this film do you agree the third act of the film lost momentum or do you think it was perfect or do you have other opinions on the film?

Overall: Great tense build up, Genuinely creepy and dark, great performance.

Rating: 5 out of 5 for Entertainment / 8 out of 10 for a concept.