Film Review — "Annabelle Comes Home"

It’s so freaking rad that The Conjuring managed to not only become a franchise, but spawn a whole extended universe of original characters and films. Eat your still-beating heart out, Marvel! 

James Wan’s The Conjuring kicked things off in 2013, which introduced us to Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) and also to the titular haunted doll Annabelle. In the six years since, nine or so spirit-sequels/spinoffs have been released, several of which feature the Warrens and/or Annabelle—who now has her own franchise within this universe. 

The Warrens bring so much humanity to these films. As liaisons to the other side, Lorraine and Ed lend an existential grounding to the films they’re in. They also have one of the coolest homes in modern horror cinema. Not necessarily for the design of it, but for their basement full of haunted treasures. When that subterranean room was first shown, I knew the day would come when it would play a major role in a film, and not merely serve as a location for bookend scenes.

And finally, in Annabelle Comes Home, Lorraine and Ed Warren’s room of spooky relics gets its own movie! In past films, their collection has always felt like a test kitchen for determining the franchise’s next villain or origin story. In a sense, every scene set there is basically an audition. Tickle the audience’s fancy and get your own movie! 

So, we all knew it was only a matter of time before the Warrens’ entire basement became compromised and released a whole gang of demonic entities at once.

And although the movie takes place almost completely in their home, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are hardly in Annabelle Comes Home. And I think I know why—more on that later. This installment focuses instead on their daughter Judy (Mckenna Grave), Judy’s babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman), and Mary Ellen’s friend Daniela (Katie Sarife). 

Lorraine and Ed are in enough of the movie to establish that this third chapter in the Annabelle saga directly follows the first. Then, en route back to their home, the Warrens are attacked by spirits from a cemetery. They evade the specters, and Lorraine deduces that Annabelle acts as a passport of sorts for vengeful souls. Thus, her containment in a blessed glass case. 

With a new wickedness on the horizon, the adult Warrens quickly fly off to solve another case, leaving their daughter in the care of Mary Ellen, an aggressively boring character. It’s not Iseman’s fault; her scene partners are just written better. Because way more interesting is her friend Daniela, who shows up at Casa Warren unannounced—and with ulterior motives. It’s no secret around town (or at Judy’s school) what the Warrens do, and so what better place for Daniela to try to make contact with the dead? 

And naturally Daniela opens Annabelle’s case, and Annabelle as a result unleashes basically every evil being from its artifact. So what was supposed to be a chill night turns into an all-out supernatural melee. 

Throughout this spectral rumpus, we’re introduced to many new ghostly characters—some of whom may end up getting their own film someday. Oh hey, New Line Cinema, if you’re reading, my vote is for the Hellhound, please. Because watching the devilishly cute Bob (Michael Cimino) battle it is a highlight of the flick, so I’d love to see where it came from—and go ahead and throw in a few adult cuties in while you’re at it.

As entertaining as this installment can be, I wish they’d gone more balls-to-the-wall with it in the final act. I mean, there’s unlimited potential for what could have happened, given all the unbridled dark energy that’s unleashed. So why not go The Full Poltergeist? So many beats of the third act feel held back. I understand budgetary constraints and whatnot, but come on. You’re how many films deep in this series? Just go for it, guys. 

Now… Annabelle Comes Home presents what I think is an important piece of this cinematic universe’s jigsaw puzzle. And it’s Judy. 

Look, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are busy actors who are eventually going to need to break from the franchise. And so many of these films take place in the past. Young Judy has already shown us her proclivity for the supernatural. Mckenna Grace does a wonderful job playing the paranormal padawan. So who better to hand the reins over to than their own daughter, who has grown up amongst all this?

And if the creators want to jump to the present, they could easily cast an adult Judy to be the next Lorraine and Ed figure. Once again, New Line Cinema, if you’re reading, Jennifer Connelly would be a solid choice.

So… Does Annabelle Comes Home feel like a helluva lotta fan service? Yeah. But is it still fun as hell? Also yeah, most of the time. So is it the best in the franchise? Probably not, but it’s still a good time.