Before I start this review, I’d like to thank Tribute.ca for the chance to win a pass to go see this movie.
Release Date: August 11th, 2017
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
MPAA: 14A (Violence)
I was intrigued with this movie as I enjoy this directors other film Lights Out (2016), and I felt like the first one was merely okay, but there was a lot of room for improvement. So when I heard that there was going to be a sequel, I was interested but I wasn’t going to bother with it until I was able to see it cheap, however when David F. Sandberg signed onto direct, I knew I needed to see this movie and I’m glad I get to do an advanced screening review. I also didn’t see any trailers, so this was a blind watch for me.
Annabelle: Creation is a sequel to Annabelle, it is a Horror, Mystery and Thriller film that takes place 12 years after the death of their daughter, a doll maker and his wife welcome into their home a nun and several girls from an orphanage…soon they become the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.
Annabelle: Creation is directed by David F. Sandberg. His filmography consists of Lights Out (2016). David F. Sandberg is quickly becoming a director to watch out for in Hollywood. He has a lot of cool ideas that I’m slowly picking up on his style and where his strengths are. His use of lighting and shadow is absolutely magnificent, he will slowly pan through the darkness , where the audience is looking for a shimmer of light or movement, but then will show nothing, and will build up the tension until the next scare that hits you from around the corner. He also has a thing for these really really creepy eyes. If you’ve seen Lights Out (2016), you know what I’m talking about, it even shows it in the trailer. Its just this weird effect that all you see is the outline of a shadow of this figure, and then these bright bright white eyes, that are so sinister looking, you’d have nightmares just thinking about it. I thought this was Sandbergs best film so far.
Annabelle: Creation is written by Gary Duberman. His filmography consists of Annabelle (2014), and the upcoming It remake (2017). Honestly I thought the script for the original Annabelle in 2014 was pretty good, I just think where it fell flat was an inexperienced director. Annabelle: Creation really made me concrete in that feeling on the original. I really liked the script for Creation, I thought it was a nice mix of horror elements with this bonding element that was carried throughout the whole movie (the bonding theme all makes sense now…). Duberman is a good writer and I’m now after seeing Annabelle: Creation even more excited for the remake of It (September 8th, 2017… GET YOUR DIAPERS PREPARED!)
The film stars Stephanie Sigman as Sister Charlotte, Miranda Otto as Esther Mullins, Lulu Wilson as Linda, Anthony LaPaglia as Samuel Mullins and Talitha Bateman as Janice.
Stephanie Sigma’s filmography consists of Spectre (2015). I thought she was really good in this movie. In my opinion, playing a nun in a movie is very hit and miss for me, sometimes it comes off as flat and cheesy and other times its too preachy for me. I found that Sigma’s performance in this movie striked a great balance between those two ends of the spectrum for me.
Miranda Otto’s filmography consists of What Lies Beneath (2000), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (2003), and War Of The Worlds (2005). I like this actors performances usually, I haven’t seen What Lies Beneath in many, many years, but I remember enjoying it. I thought she did a good job in this movie, she seemed creepy and she definitely added to the overall tone of the film. I have no complaints.
Lulu Wilson’s filmography consists of Deliver Us From Evil (2014). This young woman is destined to be someone a lot larger one day, I thought she was excellent in Deliver Us From Evil (2014) and she really was fantastic in this movie. I thought she did a wonderful job, and did a great job overall. Her bond that she had with Janice in the movie was something special and it seemed very genuine; the chemistry they had was exactly what was needed for this movie.
Anthony LaPaglia is an actor I am not familiar with at all. I thought I recognized him but after looking at his IMDb, I’ve heard of some of the movies or TV shows that he has been in but haven’t seen any. I didn’t get enough of a feeling of him as an actor to determine if I wanted to see more of his films. However, I somewhat liked his character and even he gave off a genuine creepiness and almost silentness where you didn’t know exactly what he was thinking and he made me feel unnerved. However, he was a weaker point in my book, however he wasn’t in enough scenes to be entirely the weakest point.
Talitha Bateman is an actor I am not familiar with at all. I haven’t heard of any of the roles she’s been in. I thought she was fantastic in this movie though, she made me feel emotionally connected to the character (much like Lulu Wilson did with Linda, I felt for both these characters, but without ruining anything, Bateman definitely steals the spot…lights…out (terrible joke). Her chemistry with Linda was superb. I see her being a big star some day, she’s definitely gifted.
I really liked the acting in this movie, I had no issues with the characters or the story.
There were some weird pacing issues, but I feel like they were absolutely deliberate to draw tension, and the more tension the better in my opinion.
Also, the song – You Are My Sunshine, has taken on A WHOLE NEW MEANING FOR ME. It will never be the same.
I was on the edge of my seat, clinching my fists, I jumped and my heart was in my throat for mostly the entire runtime… I think thats a recipe for success.
Overall, I give Annabelle: Creation a 4.5/5, If you’re a fan of horror, give this a gander. If you didn’t like Annabelle and had no intention of seeing the sequel, give this a look.
Go in with an open mind, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, its much better crafted then a lot of horror movies these days, and its leaps and bounds, BOUNDS better than the original Annabelle.
Until next time!
-Andrew
Upcoming Review:
Logan Lucky (Advanced Screening – August 16th: My review will be up that evening!)