In 1969, John Form (Ward Horton) buys his pregnant wife (Annabelle Wallis) a special doll for her collection; later, a gruesome murder takes place next door… One of the creepiest ingredients in The Conjuring (2013) was a doll called Annabelle. This prequel/spin-off builds a background story inspired by the Charles Manson cult. A good idea, and the filmmakers bring a few shocks along the way as well as an eerie period feel. But neither the cast nor the story in its entirety bring much satisfaction, and Annabelle herself is perhaps a tad too static to carry her own movie.
2014-U.S. 99 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by John R. Leonetti. Screenplay: Gary Dauberman. Cast: Annabelle Wallis (Mia Form), Ward Horton (John Form), Tony Amendola (Father Perez), Alfre Woodard, Kerry O’Malley, Brian Howe.
Trivia: Followed by two sequels, starting with Annabelle: Creation (2017).