{"id":8767,"date":"2019-06-25T13:48:58","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T20:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog-proxy.atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/?p=8767"},"modified":"2019-06-27T05:46:04","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T12:46:04","slug":"annabelle-comes-home-review-three-reasons-to-see-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/annabelle-comes-home-review\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Annabelle Comes Home\u2019 Review \u2013 Three Reasons To See It"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Gary Dauberman\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atomtickets.com\/movies\/annabelle-comes-home\/289656\"><em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em><\/a> is, as once lyricized in Halloween infamy, a \u201cgraveyard smash.\u201d James Wan\u2019s ongoing Conjurverse, which he still produces, at least doubles its villain roster throughout this one haunted house sequel. \u201cThe Ferryman,\u201d \u201cThe Black Shuck,\u201d and more snarling heavyweights make their presence known in this frightfully fun-filled war against Annabelle\u2019s supernatural squad. Oh, how far we\u2019ve come from 2014&#8217;s\u00a0<em>Annabelle<\/em>, as John R. Leonetti&#8217;s once-weakest spinoff has become the Conjurverse\u2019s steadiest and scariest subfranchise.<\/p>\n<p>Madison Iseman plays Mary Ellen, babysitter for the famed Warren family. When Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) must skip town overnight, Mary Ellen is employed to watch Judy (Mckenna Grace). Early birthday celebrations are crashed by Mary Ellen\u2019s mischievous friend Daniela (Katie Sarife), who arrives intent on exploring the Warrens\u2019 archive of tainted artifacts. Lies are told, keys are found, and Daniela eventually does the stupidest thing imaginable &#8211; unlocks Annabelle\u2019s holy spirit-enhanced casing. Daniela may have made a mistake, but all three girls will pay the price as they evade horror canon forces of evil all night. Annabelle does not go back in her box without a fight.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CY3Lqmb3l_A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Warner Brothers will release <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> this weekend, the latest in their Conjurverse saga. Here are three reasons not to miss Mr. Dauberman\u2019s directorial debut.<\/p>\n<h2>1. The More Monsters, The Better<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-8772\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-proxy.atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-500x313.jpg 500w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever-400x250.jpg 400w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-is-back-and-as-eerie-as-ever.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Annabelle\u2019s assembled army, made of enemies from the Warrens\u2019 past, introduces new Conjurverse entities at an alarming and enjoyable rate. Remember watching <em>Cabin In The Woods<\/em>, as characters selected their ultimate fate based on whichever basement item was engaged? <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> mirrors a similar scene, except it\u2019s only Daniela and she touches every freakin\u2019 possessed artifact. \u201cThe Black Shuck\u201d hellhound, a grabby \u201cFeely Meely\u201d Milton Bradley game, the very ritualistic \u201cFerryman\u201d soul collector, an aggressive wedding dress &#8211; Annabelle invites plenty of new friends to the Warrens\u2019 impromptu demon party, all of whom are celebrated additions.<\/p>\n<p>Dauberman\u2019s threequel is more creeptastically managed than outright scary, which is thanks to Annabelle\u2019s rowdy teammates. Where <em>The Nun<\/em> or <em>The Conjuring<\/em> workshop specific tones, <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> personalizes each tormentor\u2019s unique \u201cpersonality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Take howlin\u2019 Mr. Black Shuck, who patrols outside the Warrens\u2019 household. A thick fog reminiscent of England\u2019s muggy moors impairs vision as the werewolf claws through automobile fabric via ferocious animal attacks. Then you immediately flip indoors to Daniela, pursued by a ghost of her past who\u2019s all about establishing comfort then pivoting into mangled discomfort. Upstairs? Ms. Maniac Bride stalks her victims, knife drawn, as a slasher villain. Elsewhere? The \u201cFerryman\u201d tosses his coins to lure victims into dark enough reaches for bodily harvesting. It\u2019s a \u201cChoose Your Fighter\u201d <em>Mortal Kombat<\/em> mentality where each monster sells their spinoff potential. You know who wins in that scenario? You, the viewer.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Annabelle&#8217;s Homecoming Is Loads Of Fun<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-8773\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-proxy.atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-500x313.jpg 500w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip-400x250.jpg 400w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/annabelle-comes-home-clip.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Note the keyword here: &#8220;fun.&#8221; Dauberman\u2019s experienced the distinct advantage of working alongside James Wan on both the Conjurverse and Atomic Monster projects (Wan&#8217;s production company), as well as David F. Sandberg on <em>Annabelle: Creation<\/em>. He&#8217;s undoubtedly learned from the right talents, and those influences elevate his feature debut &#8211; BUT. Yes, the almighty &#8220;but.&#8221; <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em>\u00a0at times feels a bit creaky in its delivery of scripted &#8220;babysitter in peril&#8221; motivations, especially when attempting constrictive scares. Dauberman&#8217;s at his best when maximizing the funhouse vibes of his rotten-hearted monsters, or recreating haunts of Conjurverse past. (Killer Bride&#8217;s first appearance when walking past windows is torn from Wan&#8217;s outlying\u00a0<em>Insidious<\/em> franchise, for example).<\/p>\n<p>Noting above, <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> is the precise kind of boardwalk thrills-&#8216;n-chills attraction worth punched tickets. In terms of summer blockbuster entertainment, Friday night horror lovers are going to revel in the contained chaos Dauberman achieves. The Warrens&#8217; artifact room is this realm of limitless potential from possessed pianos to ghastly garbs to traumatized toys. When Annabelle is found placed around the house by Mary Ellen, or Judy, or Daniela, accompanying screams are a variety of eerie sounds tuned into atmospheric enhancement. I selected the above image for a reason. As Judy&#8217;s nightlight cycles through colors like a viewfinder, in the blackness between panes grows the shadow above. First a child, then taller figure, standing adult&#8230;then something much worse.<em> Annabelle: Creation<\/em> is the scarier <em>Annabelle<\/em> sequel (well, prequel), but <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> might be the more purely entertaining of the two.<\/p>\n<h2>3. McKenna Grace Leads A Fearful Cast<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-8777\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-proxy.atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-500x313.jpg 500w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home-400x250.jpg 400w, https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/mckenna-grace-annabelle-comes-home.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Allow me to sing the praises of McKenna Grace, a.k.a. &#8220;Young Carol Danvers,&#8221; in <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em>. She&#8217;s no stranger to horror having starred in <em>Amityville: The Awakening, <\/em>Netflix&#8217;s <em>Chilling Adventures of Sabrina <\/em>and\u00a0<em>The Haunting of Hill House<\/em>, but the character of Judy Warren isn&#8217;t a scared little girl. Grace breaks the mold through fearlessness, as she may or may not harbor gifts handed down by her mother Lorraine. Judy wrestles with morbid discussions of afterlife studies, disturbing visions, and ultimately rises as the film&#8217;s heroic leader. Teeny Judy Warren sticking her hand into a handsy board game&#8217;s playing box or dashing into werewolf territory for Mary Ellen&#8217;s inhaler owns\u00a0<em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> through a mature-beyond-her-years performance.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not to shortchange\u00a0Madison Iseman&#8217;s blondie babysitter or\u00a0Katie Sarife&#8217;s grieving daughter who instigates the nightmare cinema because of a suffered tragedy.\u00a0Michael Cimino, playing Mary Ellen&#8217;s crush, cowers in a chicken coop for comedic effect when chased by a summoned hellhound. Scripting forces these parts into genre contrivances, especially Sarife&#8217;s selfish dabbling in black magic, but that&#8217;s the name of\u00a0Gary Dauberman\u2019s game. When <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em> excels, monsters overtake the screen and vie for who&#8217;s the baddest of them all. When it doesn&#8217;t, characters stare down blackened hallways and shudder thinking about what encounters could come next. Final verdict? Many dates will have their arms vice-gripped to a soundtrack of nervous laughter and gleeful squeals. <em>Annabelle Comes Home<\/em>, while not the &#8220;scariest&#8221; offering,\u00a0might just be the most fun horror fans will have this summer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atomtickets.com\/movies\/annabelle-comes-home\/289656?ref=insidertickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7948\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-proxy.atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Get-Tickets.png\" alt=\"get tickets\" width=\"200\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gary Dauberman\u2019s Annabelle Comes Home is, as once lyricized in Halloween infamy, a \u201cgraveyard smash.\u201d James Wan\u2019s ongoing Conjurverse, which he still produces, at least doubles its villain roster throughout this one haunted house sequel. \u201cThe Ferryman,\u201d \u201cThe Black Shuck,\u201d and more snarling heavyweights make their presence known in this frightfully fun-filled war against Annabelle\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8769,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58,52],"tags":[40,37],"class_list":["post-8767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horror","category-review","tag-featuredpage","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8767"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8802,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8767\/revisions\/8802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomtickets.com\/movie-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}