Anabelle Comes Home
review by Bobby Blakey
When James Wan unleashed The Conjuring on audiences back in 2013 fans hoped for a sequel which they got in 2016, but never expected it to spawn and entire new horror universe. Already we have gotten two films focusing on the possessed doll Annabelle as well as The Nun, but it isn’t stopping there. In 2020 we are getting the next Conjuring film, but this year alone we are getting the film The Curse of La Llorona which is rumored to be loosely connected as well as the next chapter of the possessed doll with Anabelle Comes Home starring McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, and Katie Sarife with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Could this next chapter have more haunting to deliver or will it fail to possess audiences?
Annabelle Comes Home follows Ed and Lorraine Warren, determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her "safety" behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest's holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target - the Warren's ten-year-old daughter Judy and her babysitters. I admit that I love all the movies in the Conjuring Universe even the first Annabelle which I admit is not very good. Bringing this one back to the connection with the Warren’s had me pretty excited and I was not disappointed.
While I did love the film it isn’t without its issues. The entire films direction is hinged on yet another character making dumb decisions, but I will give them props for at least making it make sense later in the film. One interesting thing about the Annabelle character is that she never really physically does anything which allows them to really have fun with the other artifacts in the famed Warren home. No back story is needed outside the ones you already know, but you will no doubt want to see some them after seeing them but lose here.
Early on before the film really gets going it limps a long in parts with the exception of the opening with the Warrens, but once things finally start happening it is a pretty good time throughout. Like most of these films they are going for the jump scares and despite them not really doing much in that department for me still makes for some creepy fun. They make great use of the visuals and allow a wide variety of elements to come into play to keep it feeling fresh around each corner. With the bigger array of cursed props to deal with it kept it from ever feeling predictable to what was going to be haunting them next.
There isn’t any big standout moment here that will make this movie one of the best in the Conjuring Universe or anything, but it does its job well. This is my favorite of the Annabelle trilogy only by a small margin of the Annabelle Creation. As expected they of course connect it to the rest of the Conjuring Universe with a great moment you might miss at the beginning and more along the way. If you love any of the films in the franchise then give this one a shot and decide for yourself. I for one enjoyed it and eagerly await the Conjuring 3.
In addition to the film this release features bonus content including deleted scenes and numerous featurettes taking you behind the scenes of bringing this latest chapter of the Conjuring Universe to the big screen. Prepare to be tormented again with Annabelle Comes Home available now on digital and then on Blu-ray and DVD on October 8th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
