Annabelle: Creation: Movie Review

At this point, one thing is pretty clear with the release of "Annabelle: Creation", "The Conjuring" film series has found its stride and a great formula that more or less ensures frightening success. While "Annabelle: Creation" doesn't bring anything new into the mix, there's no denying that it was still one heck of an enjoyable and terrifying experience.

Several years after the tragic death of their little girl Annabelle (Samara Lee), a Dollmaker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife (Miranda Otto) welcome a nun (Stephanie Sigman) and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home. While the Mullins thought that the orphans might remove the pains of the past it soon becomes apparent that the complete opposite is happening. The girls find themselves the target of the Dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle, that is out to get their souls.

Lets' get straight to the point "Annabelle: Creation" is a terrifying film. It still has the perfect mix of visual and aural suspense that the film series has been tapping into since "The Conjuring". Four years later, there's nothing slowing down this formula and even better, it seems that in every iteration, the Conjuring team has been finding creating ways in making sure the audience never feels comfortable. Story-wise, there's little substance in "Annabelle: Creation". It does explain more on who Annabelle is, how the evil came to be and why a creepy doll in the first place but it's easily the weakest link with little or no surprises as an end game and some plot holes near the beginning. It was also a bit frustrating how it seems lazy that the young girls that are being haunted seem to do the most illogical things just so audiences get a terrifying result. It feels a little heavy-handed honestly. On the acting department, the very young team of actresses were surprisingly great and brings much of the terror with their outstanding performances. Talitha Bateman and Samara Lee were revelations and we hope to see more of them in other future films. Overall, "Annabelle: Creation" isn't perfect but still brings in much surprises and terror. It is a heart-pounding race that will leave you breathless throughout its two-hour runtime.

Rating: 4 reels





Why you should watch it:
- terrifying and will leave you cluthcing your seat from start to finish
- superb acting even from the very young cast

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film's terror devices are getting formulaic but still effective as ever
- the story was thread bare