MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Genre:

Horror/Thriller/Mystery/Suspense

Supernatural

Release Date:

June 26, 2019

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

October 8, 2019

Run Time:

1 hr 46 mins

Rating:

R

Directed by:

Gary Dauberman

Screenplay by:

James Wan, Gary Dauberman

Producers:

James Wan, Richard Brener, Michael Clear, Victoria Palmeri, Peter Safran, Dave Neustadter, Michelle Morrissey, Judson Scott 

Production Co.:

Atomic Monster, New Line Cinema, The Safran Company

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros.

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Cast:

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Michael Cimino

See Full Cast List on IMDB

Plot Summary:

Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” 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 Warrens’ ten year- old daughter, Judy, and her friends.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

The third installment of the Annabelle series is here and available for streaming through your television company, but it is only worth the watch for the sake of continuing the Annabelle series. Annabelle Comes Home starts with the famous Demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bringing home the demonic porcelain doll. The Warrens lock the doll up in their evil artifacts room, behind a container made from cathedral glass. Ed and Lorraine leave for another case, leaving Judy in the care of Mary Ellen, but an intrusion from Mary’s curious friend Daniela accidentally releases the evil power of Annabelle. The main story of Annabelle Comes Home follows an evening of survival with Judy Warren, the child of Lorraine and Ed Warren, Mary Ellen, and Daniela.

The plot of the movie itself has ongoing storylines, not only focusing on the power of Annabelle but also the childhood experience of Judy and the trauma of Daniela. Judy’s introduction into the story line is a humanizing experience because the movie series no longer relies on spooks from a possessed doll but Judy’s experiences and her babysitters. The darkness of the night and the bombardment of different possessed artifacts attacking the three is no impressive feat. As a horror movie, the three girls’ being frightened throughout the night is slightly entertaining but relies heavily on jump scares. While they do come close to facing death, for example Judy being attacked by a werewolf ghost creature and Daniela being possessed by the demon in the wedding dress, and Mary Ellen being slashed up by said wedding dress demon, their frantic cries for help were left unheard. With their combined efforts, the girls escape the night unscathed and are capable of trapping Annabelle back into her glass case.

Annabelle Comes Homes is not all just an empty scare. Due to Daniela being a supernatural enthusiast after the death of her father, she ended up being the catalyst for the night. While she did help release Annabelle from her prison, Daniela also added a small subplot that helped Judy realize she does have friends. And by the end of the movie, Daniela learns to stop blaming herself for her father’s death. The movie overall ends with this happy note.

Annabelle Comes Home is not the best movie to take your date to if you want them to get scared, but it is entertaining for the short hour and forty-six minutes.

My Rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Genre:

Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Suspense

Rating:

R

Run Time:

2 Hr 14 Min.

Release Date:

June 10, 2016
Distributor:
Warner Bros. Pictures
New Line Cinema

Directed by:

James Wan

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Plot Summary:

New Line Cinema's supernatural thriller The Conjuring 2, with James Wan once again at the helm following the record-breaking success of The Conjuring, brings to the screen another real case from the files of renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Reprising their roles, Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, star as Lorraine and Ed Warren who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.

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Cast:

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Lauren Esposito, Benjamin Haigh, Patrick McAley, Simon McBurney, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Simon Delaney

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

*My Thoughts*

Considering The Conjuring 2 and its predecessor were “based on true stories,” what makes these movies thrilling is “What if this happened to me or someone I knew?” Creative liberties and a bit more fictionalized in comparison to its real life counterpart, The Conjuring 2 was a fairly enjoyable movie. Like many other horror films, the soundtrack is an important feature. The eerie visuals were matched by music that gives the audience anxiety until the face of the antagonist appears. Well timed but sometimes overdramatic, I would say this movie relied on jump scares and properly lit rooms. Despite these clichés, The Conjuring 2 was a fascinating horror flick as long as you remember, just remember the background is also important.

A topic that I would like to bring up is the debate between believers and cynics in this movie. This is seen as an ongoing struggle in the movie through the media, talk shows, and university professors. As an ongoing scuffle between the two, the Warrens (depicted by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, respectively) particularly Lorraine find difficulty in trying to educate others in the possibility in the existence of the supernatural. Any hint of man-made paranormal activity, had turned the church away and increased cynic belief. When it comes to helping a family in need, the Warrens couldn’t possibly say “No.” It doesn’t matter if it would end up as bad reputation or a hoax, The Conjuring 2 put the lives of those involved with the malicious spirit before any of that. As a horror flick, I think that message could easily be overlooked.

The cinematography was overall fluid with the exception for cut scenes between the Warrens in America and the Hodgsons in London. The director James Wan was clever in his use of the setting, placing the antagonistic demon’s name in the background of various shots until it was canonically revealed. It took a good 5 minutes of staring to figure it out. What looks like a normal family room hides important elements in plain sight.

The Conjuring 2 doesn’t focus on chilling the audience with a variety bloody or psychological scenes. It was a story and a family in need. It relied on cheesy jump scares but the director was clever in building the story and in tying the first one into this one. The Conjuring 2 was fairly suspenseful but tastefully done.

My rating: