In 2013, James Wan brought us the critical and commercial success that is, The Conjuring. The film followed real life demon hunters, Ed and Lorraine Warren, on one of the many cases they worked over their career, The Perron family haunting. The film would also introduce the creepy doll Annabelle if only playing a minor role in the film. Annabelle would then of course gain a less than well- received prequel spin off a year later. Now after Wan's second successful venture with the Warren's in The Conjuring 2, we now have a universe on our hands. The Conjuring Universe, or Conjuring-verse if you will, has expanded with side characters from The Conjuring 2; The Nun and the Crooked Man, getting their own spin offs, similar to how Annabelle initially did. 2017 marks the release of the fourth Conjuring-verse film and second Annabelle film, Annabelle Creation. Directed masterfully by Lights Out director, David F. Sandberg, Annabelle: Creation defies all expectations one would have for a prequel to a prequel spin off that wasn't any good
It's actually decent.
Annabelle: Creation proves what Ouija: Origin of Evil proved, good filmmakers will make good films, regardless of the quality of franchise they make their film within. David F. Sandberg directs Annabelle: Creation with confidence and proves that he is a competent horror film director. He has obviously learnt from and taken note of James Wan and his films, as Annabelle: Creation feels like a James Wan film. Sandberg knows that jump scares aren't the only scare tactic out there, he actually attempts and succeeds at building tension and suspense to nail biting levels, understanding the importance of the build, rather than simply working towards the payoff, aka jump scare moment. Similar to Wan, Sandberg generates the majority of his fantastic scares through the art of misdirection. Sandberg will crank up the suspense, building or alluding to a particular scare and then not doing that, but instead, the scare comes in from a blind spot, catching you off guard. Wan has said before that when trying to create a scare, he'll build to something the audience expects, but the scare should/ will come from something they didn't see coming at all, as that will truly surprise the audience. Sandberg does this numerous times in Annabelle: Creation and is hence why I attribute this film's surprise success to him. The film is truly terrifying.
As well as approaching horror in the same, mature way James Wan does, Sandberg also directly pays tribute to James Wan through a number of visual homages to The Conjuring franchise. Sandberg features the long take, tracking shot around the haunted house which Wan used in both Conjuring films. Although the shot serves very little purpose in all three films, there is pleasure in recognising Sandberg's homage to Wan and it does help make Annabelle Creation feel like a Wan movie. There is also a shot of a girl in a chair with Annabelle on their lap, similar to the Conjuring's poster and almost recreating Annabelle's scene with Bathsheba in the Conjuring. As well as this, Sandberg further attempts to connect the films and create the universe, those who have seen the first Annabelle will get a kick out of the film's end. Sandberg also features one subtle reference to The Nun within a photo frame. The reference is so eerily subtle that it's outstanding, and the film does feature a post credit scene for the Nun, however, I believe few have actually stayed around long enough to see it. Seeing as there is a mid credit scene and this isn't Marvel, I thought it was done, alas I was wrong.
However, Annabelle: Creation's story is your standard possession movie cliché, but the film manages what many cliché horror films fail to do, and that is creating characters to root for. The film is essentially about two of the orphans, Janice and Linda, whose friendship is tested and torn apart by this demonic being. Janice has polio and so is outcast and seemingly targeted by the demon due to her condition, this really made me sympathise and root for these girls and so an another layer of anxiety and suspense is added to the film. This being said, once the focus shifts away from polio ridden Janice, to her able bodied friend Linda, I didn't seem to care as much, as I only really cared and rooted for Janice. As well as this, the film really fails to develop anyone else. There are attempts, but they amount to nothing, especially the Mullins, who I believe are a wasted opportunity and kind of pointless for the most part.
In the end, Annabelle: Creation is a film that is far better than a prequel to a sh*tty prequel spin off deserves to be, and puts the Conjuring universe three for four. Although your standard possession movie formula is at play, director David F. Sandberg proves that with characters you care for, and a competent horror film director at the helm, your standard possession film can be a great thrill ride start to finish, no matter if everything in the world points to it being sh*t. Good filmmakers make good films and Annabelle: Creation proves just that.
Annabelle: Creation proves what Ouija: Origin of Evil proved, good filmmakers will make good films, regardless of the quality of franchise they make their film within. David F. Sandberg directs Annabelle: Creation with confidence and proves that he is a competent horror film director. He has obviously learnt from and taken note of James Wan and his films, as Annabelle: Creation feels like a James Wan film. Sandberg knows that jump scares aren't the only scare tactic out there, he actually attempts and succeeds at building tension and suspense to nail biting levels, understanding the importance of the build, rather than simply working towards the payoff, aka jump scare moment. Similar to Wan, Sandberg generates the majority of his fantastic scares through the art of misdirection. Sandberg will crank up the suspense, building or alluding to a particular scare and then not doing that, but instead, the scare comes in from a blind spot, catching you off guard. Wan has said before that when trying to create a scare, he'll build to something the audience expects, but the scare should/ will come from something they didn't see coming at all, as that will truly surprise the audience. Sandberg does this numerous times in Annabelle: Creation and is hence why I attribute this film's surprise success to him. The film is truly terrifying.
As well as approaching horror in the same, mature way James Wan does, Sandberg also directly pays tribute to James Wan through a number of visual homages to The Conjuring franchise. Sandberg features the long take, tracking shot around the haunted house which Wan used in both Conjuring films. Although the shot serves very little purpose in all three films, there is pleasure in recognising Sandberg's homage to Wan and it does help make Annabelle Creation feel like a Wan movie. There is also a shot of a girl in a chair with Annabelle on their lap, similar to the Conjuring's poster and almost recreating Annabelle's scene with Bathsheba in the Conjuring. As well as this, Sandberg further attempts to connect the films and create the universe, those who have seen the first Annabelle will get a kick out of the film's end. Sandberg also features one subtle reference to The Nun within a photo frame. The reference is so eerily subtle that it's outstanding, and the film does feature a post credit scene for the Nun, however, I believe few have actually stayed around long enough to see it. Seeing as there is a mid credit scene and this isn't Marvel, I thought it was done, alas I was wrong.
However, Annabelle: Creation's story is your standard possession movie cliché, but the film manages what many cliché horror films fail to do, and that is creating characters to root for. The film is essentially about two of the orphans, Janice and Linda, whose friendship is tested and torn apart by this demonic being. Janice has polio and so is outcast and seemingly targeted by the demon due to her condition, this really made me sympathise and root for these girls and so an another layer of anxiety and suspense is added to the film. This being said, once the focus shifts away from polio ridden Janice, to her able bodied friend Linda, I didn't seem to care as much, as I only really cared and rooted for Janice. As well as this, the film really fails to develop anyone else. There are attempts, but they amount to nothing, especially the Mullins, who I believe are a wasted opportunity and kind of pointless for the most part.
In the end, Annabelle: Creation is a film that is far better than a prequel to a sh*tty prequel spin off deserves to be, and puts the Conjuring universe three for four. Although your standard possession movie formula is at play, director David F. Sandberg proves that with characters you care for, and a competent horror film director at the helm, your standard possession film can be a great thrill ride start to finish, no matter if everything in the world points to it being sh*t. Good filmmakers make good films and Annabelle: Creation proves just that.