Annabelle: Creation
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Synopsis
Years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home. Soon, they become the targets of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle.
Plot
In 1943, dollmaker Samuel Mullins and his wife Esther are left devastated when their seven-year-old daughter, Annabelle (nicknamed “Bee”), is killed in a tragic car accident. Desperate to see her again, they make a pact with an unknown entity they believe is their daughter’s spirit, allowing it to move into a porcelain doll Samuel crafted. When they realize the spirit is actually a malevolent demon seeking a human host, they lock the doll inside a closet lined with pages from the Bible. Twelve years later, in 1955, the Mullins open their large home to provide shelter for Sister Charlotte and six orphaned girls. The demon manipulates one of the girls, Janice, who is weakened by polio, into unlocking the closet. Once freed, the demonic entity begins terrorizing the girls, setting its sights on possessing Janice’s soul.
Ending Explained
The demon violently attacks the household, brutally murdering Samuel and Esther Mullins. Sister Charlotte and the other girls fight to survive the night as the demon fully possesses Janice. Sister Charlotte manages to trap the possessed Janice and the doll back inside the closet. When police arrive the next morning, they find the house abandoned, the doll sitting harmlessly in the closet, and a hole in the wall indicating Janice has escaped.
Janice later surfaces at an orphanage in Santa Monica, California, now calling herself “Annabelle.” She is adopted by an unsuspecting couple, the Higgins family. The movie then jumps twelve years forward to 1967, perfectly aligning with the opening sequence of the 2014 Annabelle movie: adult Annabelle (Janice) and her cult-member boyfriend brutally murder her adoptive parents, transferring the demon back into a porcelain doll. Additionally, the film features two credits scenes: one teasing the Annabelle doll moving on its own, and a post-credits scene set in 1952 Romania featuring the demonic nun Valak, directly setting up the spin-off film The Nun.
What We Think About This Movie
What We Liked
David F. Sandberg's masterful use of lighting and shadows to create dread before the jump scares even happen.
Outstanding and highly believable performances from the child cast, particularly Lulu Wilson and Talitha Bateman.
A much tighter, scarier, and far superior script compared to the 2014 Annabelle film.
The incredibly clever and satisfying way the movie's ending connects directly to the first Annabelle film.
Excellent sound design that maximizes the tension of every creaking floorboard and slamming door.
What We Didn't Like
Heavily relies on traditional jump-scare mechanics, which may feel repetitive to seasoned horror veterans.
The usual horror-movie trope of characters wandering alone into dark rooms despite knowing a demonic entity is hunting them.
Who Should Watch
Fans of The Conjuring Universe who want to see how the terrifying doll's story began.
Viewers who enjoy classic haunted house and possession thrillers.
Anyone looking for a genuinely scary, well-crafted popcorn horror movie.
Who Should Skip
Viewers who have a strong fear of dolls (pediophobia).
Audiences who dislike jump-scare-heavy supernatural horror films.
Movie Details
Where to Watch Annabelle: Creation in the USA
Frequently Asked Questions About Annabelle: Creation
Do I need to watch the first Annabelle movie before this one?
No, Annabelle: Creation is a prequel. You can watch it first as it explains the origin of the doll, leading directly into the events of the 2014 Annabelle film.
How does this movie connect to The Conjuring Universe?
The film serves as the origin story for the Annabelle doll introduced in The Conjuring (2013). It also features cameo references and a post-credits scene setting up The Nun (2018).
Is Annabelle based on a true story?
The films are heavily fictionalized, but they are inspired by Ed and Lorraine Warren's paranormal case files involving a supposedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll.
Who directed Annabelle: Creation?
The film was directed by David F. Sandberg, who gained fame for his horror hit Lights Out and later directed the DC superhero film Shazam!.
