Movie Review: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Directed by Gary Dauberman, Annabelle Comes Home is the seventh installment in The Conjuring Universe and the third focused on the infamous cursed doll, Annabelle. The film serves as a bridge between the Annabelle prequels and the events of The Conjuring, providing a contained but chilling tale that focuses on the Warren family’s efforts to contain supernatural chaos. With a mix of atmospheric tension and jump scares, the movie delivers a satisfying, if somewhat predictable, horror experience.

Plot Overview

Set shortly after the Warrens acquire the cursed Annabelle doll, the film begins with Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) locking the doll in their artifact room, surrounded by protective measures. However, when they leave for a trip, their young daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace) is left in the care of babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman).

Things take a dark turn when Mary Ellen’s curious friend Daniela (Katie Sarife) secretly enters the artifact room, inadvertently unleashing Annabelle and a host of malevolent spirits. What begins as a seemingly innocent mistake spirals into a night of supernatural terror as the trio battles to survive the unleashed horrors.

Performances

• Mckenna Grace is a standout as Judy Warren, bringing both vulnerability and strength to her portrayal of the young girl grappling with her family’s unusual legacy.
• Madison Iseman as Mary Ellen provides a relatable, grounded performance, making her an effective counterbalance to the escalating chaos.
• Katie Sarife as Daniela adds emotional depth to the story, with her character’s guilt over a personal tragedy motivating her reckless curiosity.
• Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have limited screen time but provide their usual warmth and gravitas as Ed and Lorraine Warren, anchoring the film within The Conjuring Universe.

Direction and Atmosphere

Gary Dauberman, making his directorial debut after contributing as a writer to other Conjuring Universe films, focuses on creating an atmospheric and claustrophobic setting within the Warren household. The artifact room, filled with haunted objects, becomes a playground for the supernatural, allowing the film to showcase various entities and expand the lore.

The pacing is deliberate, with a focus on building tension before delivering well-timed scares. The use of lighting, shadows, and sound design effectively amplifies the eerie atmosphere, though some of the jump scares feel formulaic.

Themes

1. Family and Legacy: The film explores Judy’s struggle to embrace her parents’ work and her own connection to the paranormal.
2. Guilt and Redemption: Daniela’s arc centers on her grief and her desire to communicate with a lost loved one, adding an emotional layer to the horror.
3. Curiosity and Consequences: The story serves as a cautionary tale about tampering with things beyond one’s understanding.

Scares and Creatures

Annabelle Comes Home introduces several new supernatural entities, including:

• The Ferryman: A terrifying specter tied to coins for passage into the afterlife.
• The Bride: A cursed wedding dress that compels violence.
• The Black Shuck: A demonic werewolf-like creature.

While Annabelle remains the focal point, these entities add variety and expand the universe’s roster of chilling spirits.

Criticism

1. Predictable Formula: The film relies heavily on jump scares and familiar horror tropes, which may feel repetitive to seasoned fans of the genre.
2. Limited Stakes: The self-contained nature of the story minimizes the sense of broader danger, making it feel more like a spin-off than a major entry in the franchise.
3. Underutilized Warrens: While the focus on Judy is effective, fans of Ed and Lorraine Warren may be disappointed by their limited involvement.

Conclusion

Annabelle Comes Home is an entertaining addition to The Conjuring Universe that delivers plenty of scares and expands the franchise’s lore. While it doesn’t break new ground, its focus on Judy Warren and the haunted artifact room provides a fresh perspective and memorable moments. Fans of the series will appreciate its connection to the larger story, though casual viewers may find it to be a standard haunted-house thriller.

Rating: 7/10