Annabelle Comes Home

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

Overall a fun popcorn flick that falls somewhere between Annabelle (for which I didn’t really care) and Annabelle: Creation (which was loads of fun). I have criticisms, but not really any major complaints. My only disappointment rests in direct comparisons to The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016) and Annabelle: Creation (2017).

With Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) returning as main characters, this feels almost as much like The Conjuring 2.5 than an Annabelle film. And with how randomly tropey the supernatural entities and their actions have become, it measures a bit shy of being worthy of either. But hold on, I’m not saying it’s a bad movie—just not a great franchise installment.

Babysitting for Ed and Lorraine’s daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace), Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman) and her nosey friend Daniela (Katie Sarife) end up freeing Annabelle’s demon to unleash her evil influence on those unlucky enough to be nearby. At first it’s just a little startling. But eventually we get some good atmosphere and scares.

A wolfen beast attacks from the annoyingly thick and abundant mist, a murderous spectral bride terrifies the household, empty rocking chairs rock on their own, spirits pace out of focus in the background, evil animated shadows, oddly prophetic TVs, and then there’s the Ferryman… that dude is creepy! This Annabelle doll is, of course, also incredibly creepy. Influenced by a demon and serving as a beacon for lost spirits, Annabelle is a magnet of malady. Seeing her under the sheets of the bed (with you in it) was a joyous shock.

First-time director Gary Dauberman (writer; Annabelle: Creation, It, Swamp Thing) seems to have tried to capture the more varied and flavorful threats of The Conjuring 2 (2016). The demon Valek, the Cooked Man; both were well-storied additions to that 2016 sequel. Yet here our varied additions’ introductions held less gravity, and their subsequent sightings less impactful (beyond the excellent jump scares). But make no mistake. I may criticism, but this becomes a rollercoaster of dreadful frights and engaging jumps. It’s just that… remember when the shadowy silhouette of the dog transmuted into the Crooked Man? That will stick with me! Nothing really from this film will… at least, not too much.

Overall a fun popcorn flick. I have criticisms, but not really any major complaints. My only disappointment rests in comparisons to The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016) and Annabelle: Creation (2017).

-John’s Horror Corner

This is a pretty decent movie as long as you’re familiar – even a little bit – with the Conjuring universe. If you don’t know about the mythology behind the Annabelle doll, this will not be as satisfying as it could be. Of all the entries in the franchise, I think this one is least able to stand on its own.

Good stuff about the movie would be the excellent characterization for the Warrens’ daughter, Judy. Same goes for newly introduced Mary Ellen (babysitter) and Danielle (Mary Ellen’s friend who tends to get in trouble). These girls are likeable, and that makes the movie more compelling to watch. Technically, the movie is also good. Cinematography is a bit above the standard horror movie fare, and there are a number of chills that arise from things other than jump scares, and that is very welcome. I’ll confess a preference for creepy over jumpy. Not that we don’t have plenty of jump scares here too, of course.

On the not-as-good side, we have lots and Lots of vague hints regarding other artifacts aside from the Annabelle doll, but with only one exception, they are not explored. That’s a disappointment. Another issue I have (and this may be just me personally) is that I’m getting fed up with the eye-roll inspiring slow-walk-in-the-dark trope. If you’re going to answer the door, then go answer the door! If you’re going to look in the closet/under the furniture, then go look already! Stop approaching absolutely everything as if it were situated on a patch of thin ice!

Anyway, I enjoyed this movie, but then, I’ve seen all the other movies that help this to make sense. I question whether someone would hasn’t seen at least some of the previous movies would have the same experience.

-Jane b.

DVD Wholesale Main Features :   

Actors: McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Michael Cimino, Samara Lee
Directors: Gary Dauberman
Writers: Gary Dauberman, James Wan
Producers: Richard Brener, Peter Safran, Dave Neustadter, James Wan, Victoria Palmeri
Format: NTSC, Subtitled
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: Spanish, French
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: R-Restricted
Studio: WarnerBrothers
DVD Release Date: October 8, 2019
ASIN: B07STGZM6Y