Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody "Conjuring" prequel is scary, if not too original.
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Annabelle
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Parents say the film elicits mixed feelings, with some considering it entertaining and appropriate for older children, while others find it lacking in genuine scares and depth, criticizing its plot as unoriginal and overly reliant on clichéd horror elements. The consensus suggests it may be too intense or frightening for younger viewers, though some parents noted that children aged 12 and up could handle it without major issues.
- entertaining popcorn flick
- mixed reviews
- not genuinely scary
- appropriate for older kids
- some violent scenes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 121 kid reviews
What's the Story?
ANNABELLE's story takes place before the events of The Conjuring, following the titular evil doll. In the late 1960s, young couple Mia (Annabelle Wallis) and John (Ward Horton) are expecting their first baby. As a gift, John gives Mia a creepy doll for her collection. With images of the Manson Family murders showing on the television, two murderous creeps break into Mia and John's home; while John fights them off, Mia is stabbed, and Annabelle is caught in the fray. Soon terrifying things begin to happen. The baby is born, and the couple moves to a new apartment, but the disturbances continue, and the ghosts and spooky disturbances give way to images of a demon. With the help of a bookseller (Alfre Woodard), Mia learns that the doll won't stop until it possesses a human soul.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is probably fairly forgettable, though horror fans will get a quick kick out of it. The Conjuring was an excellent horror film that introduced two real-life ghostbusters, the Warrens, who seemed poised to be the subjects of many good sequels. But instead/in the meantime, this quickie spin-off/prequel was devised, directed by the cinematographer of the previous film, John R. Leonetti, without any of the original cast. Annabelle doesn't bring a single new idea to the screen, and most of the scares are of the jump-shock variety.
But some of the old standbys still work, and Annabelle is certainly well-made; it's directed with patience, a sense of space, and incredible period detail. The performances are fine, especially Woodard as a grieving mother who runs a helpful bookshop, and the characters are sympathetic and intelligent. (The husband could take offense to his wife's experiences, but he chooses to support her.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Annabelle's violence. How did it affect you? How much is shown, and how much is withheld?
Is the movie scary? How does it compare to other horror films you've seen? What makes something scary -- and what's the appeal of scary movies?
If The Conjuring was based on a true story, does Annabelle also feel like a true story? Does it make you believe in ghosts?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 3, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : January 20, 2015
- Cast : Alfre Woodard , Annabelle Wallis , Ward Horton
- Director : John R. Leonetti
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of disturbing violence and terror
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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