With ‘The Conjuring’, director James Wan laid the foundation for the most successful horror franchise of all time. In total, the successful producer managed to raise more than $2.13 billion at the worldwide box office with the main series and spin-off films. One reason for its success is the sheer number of demonic creatures and ominous stories that have already been coherently introduced as part of the ‘Conjuring’ stories and told in corresponding spin-offs. In addition to the terror nun terrorizing righteous religious brothers and sisters in “The Nun” films, there is another successful brand from the horror universe in the “Annabelle” series.
The Cursed Doll has now made it to three cinema entries – and even though the first two parts received good reviews in the FILMSTARTS reviews, in my opinion they are just lame stories about one of the most uninteresting characters of the “Conjuring” cosmos. Unfortunately, due to the constant scare sound and the somewhat idiotic appearance of the doll from the start (but that’s a matter of taste of course), there isn’t even any real scary fun to be had.
However, the criminally underrated ‘Annabelle 3’ is completely different. Even though no one should expect a horror revelation, this film is genuinely entertaining. Here, “Conjuring” fans finally get what’s been teased since the first on-screen encounter with the Warrens: a deeper look into the ghost hunter couple’s artifact room, which is full of interesting stories and terrifying supernatural figures.
Anyone who (like me) may have previously ignored the film because of its two predecessors, but now wants to take a look, today has the perfect opportunity to do so. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the horror film will be broadcast at 12.35 pm on SAT.1 – the best witching hour. If you’re not into linear television, you can also buy the scary fun on DVD or Blu-ray from Amazon:
And that’s what “Annabelle 3” is about
Early 1970s: Demonologists Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) come into possession of the doll Annabelle, who is not possessed herself but has the power to give power to other spirits. A powerful tool that ends up in the wrong hands. The Warrens stored the scary toys in their artifact room with special security.
But when teenagers Daniela (Katie Sarife) and Mary Ellen (Madison Isemann) have to take care of Warren’s ten-year-old daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace), they become obsessed with taking a look at this mysterious room. Daniela hopes to contact her recently deceased father Anthony (Luca Luhan) in the demonologists’ house, but unfortunately she also wakes Annabelle and her creepy friends in the process.
“Annabelle 3” is like a ride on a ghost train
‘Annabelle 3’ feels less like a spin-off of the creepy doll series and more like a fun ‘Conjuring’ addition. Ultimately, the focus here is less on the grinchy Annabelle; instead, the collection of cursed artifacts, creepy relics, and possessed objects is the occult star of the film. Once Pandora’s box of horrors is opened and Annabelle is let out of the closet, the demonologists’ house quickly turns into a scary and entertaining ghost train, where new villainous and ominous characters await the audience at every turn.
And so the curious teenage girls soon have to deal with the ‘bride’, the ‘ferryman’ or other evil spirits who want to get to them. And then there is the demonic Annabelle, who can really shine here again as one of the many scary characters. Despite some nasty moments, this sinister potpourri of ghosts is, simply by the choice of young protagonists, tailor-made for a young audience and is ultimately an easily digestible horror film. Yet ‘Annabelle 3’ can certainly provide a humorous and, above all, entertaining horror evening.