Annabelle (3) Comes Home

Elevator Pitch: It is 1968 and the Warrens secure Annabelle the creepy doll which is capable of raising spirits, in a sacred glass case. They go off on a quest leaving their 12 year old daughter in the charge of Mary Ellen the babysitter. She is visited by Daniela, a friend who feels guilty at the death of her father in road accident while she was driving. As a result she thinks she may be able ot contact him by breaking into the Warren’s occult museum, where she releases the doll. A night of mayhem follows as the demons are released. Will they survive until dawn?

Content: No sex, nudity, drinking or smoking. The doll shows what it is capable of hazarding the Warrens on their way home. When it is released from its case a variety of demons make their appearance, most of them, so it seems, familiar to fans of the franchise. Bob, who is keen on Mary Ellen, is chased by a hellhound and hides in a chicken coupe, Judy, the daughter, the only one with a grip on what is happening, is guided by a friendly ghost; Mary Ellen must take on the Ferryman in order to find the doll, and Daniela is invaded by the spirit of the demon bride. Other than that no problem.

A View: We have conciously avoided all the other outings from this franchise up to now, but were encouraged by the slightly favourable reviews, and the fact that it was on when we had a couple of hours to spare in the city. Well, other than lacking an actual plot it was not bad. We enjoyed the quiet, quiet, bang moments and I really liked the chicken joke. Watch for it. It has already made a fortune, so I suppose there will be more.

Additional Info: The film is dedicated to Lorraine Warren, who died a couple of months before the release.