Annabelle Comes Home, called Annabelle 3 here, is the third part of the Conjuring universe’s B series (a digression will follow in October), but chronologically it’s the second movie with the horrific doll.
Actually, I wanted to wait until blu-ray release on the movie but my wife mother is a huge fan of the franchise and the parents can refuse any wish. Therefore, my review comes much sooner than expected. Have fun!
Facts of Horror
Title: Annabelle Comes Home
Director: Gary Dauberman
Time: 105 minutes
Release Year: 2019
Genre: Horror
The plot is actually explained in a simple way. After the events in Annabelle and Annabelle: Creation, the doll is in the care of two nurses. When they are struck by paranormal events, they turn to Ed and Loraine Warren, who have a lot of expertise as demonologists when it comes to hauntings, obsessions, and co.
The two take the doll with them to keep them in their „security room“ in a blessed showcase. When the two drive away for a weekend and release their daughter Judy with her babysitter Mary, Annabelle is freed by a stupid coincidence. As a supernaturally gifted child, Judy is the ideal victim for Annabelle. The horror returns …
Annabelle Comes Home manages to fit into the Conjuring universe, at the same time building a bridge to the main line and closing the arch that Annabelle once started. Timed after the two predecessors, the third Annabelle film picks up on the „introductory scene“ from The Conjuring and builds exactly on it.
For newcomers meaningless not to disturb the rest of the experience but for veterans of the franchise a nice detail in the plot. The characterization of the doll is intriguing anyway, because it is not really obsessed, but is haunted by an evil spirit, it is always from the primary mischief. Furthermore, it is the perfect catalyst for evil spirits and calls them to themselves or awakens them from their dull sleep.
Away from it, the film offers all sorts of exciting ghosts who, thanks to the stupid coincidence mentioned above, in and around the Warrens‘ house are now up to mischief. For spoiler reasons I will do without a detailed description but further spin-offs of the franchise were made possible with this film. I have to praise the atmosphere, which is composed of several elements and likes to take the time to build up the shocks. As a result, the voltage curve rises and one waits anxiously for the horror finally to break over people like a tidal wave. In addition, a lot of work is done with light and shadow, fog, whispering and ambient background noise. Unfortunately, the finale breaks something with this concept and goes the way of the demon horror.
Basically I have no problem with that, after all, The Nun followed the same path, but a little less would have been more atmospheric. At the same time, the finale is short enough not to be discreetly stretched as in the The Conjuring films.
Furthermore, Annabelle Comes Home succeeds in establishing the three main female characters and even deepening their personalities. Needless to say, no unbelievable depths, but enough to understand the characters.
All in all, Annabelle Comes Home is a successful offshoot of the franchise, clearly outperforming the first Annabelle, but subject to the second film about the doll in the atmosphere. Thanks to a high tempo, a dense atmosphere and the successful use of the source material, in combination with quite logically acting figures, the film knows how to entertain throughout the entire duration and logically bridges the bridge to the main series.
The franchise is definitely on the right track! I forgive Annabelle Comes Home or Annabelle 3 for the rating worth seeing +, as genre fans in particular will have fun because of the existing strengths and newcomers will not be overwhelmed! That’s it from my side. We read in the next post!
DerStigler 