Annabelle: Creation is one of those films that will surprise you when you watch it. The first Annabelle wasn’t that good of a film, so fans didn’t really expect much when it came to this film. Yet there is one big difference between the first film and this one, and that difference is Creation‘s director, David F. Sandberg. He’s proficient at directing the horror genre and proves it again here. Lights Out was a terrifying yet creative film and Annabelle: Creation is no different. From beginning to end, Annabelle: Creation will scare you senseless. Sandberg once again uses darkness as a tool to frightening you. There’s nothing scarier than not knowing what’s in that dark hallway or dark room.
On the other hand, the scares won’t really affect savvy horror fans. They’ll be able to see some of the scares coming because of the film’s build-up to it. Even though the build-up will raise the heart rates of casual moviegoers, the jump scares come exactly when you expect it. Nevertheless, the jump scares are pretty terrifying to watch as it happens.
It’s truly surprising what Sandberg does with the film considering there’s a lack of material to work with. The storyline is as simple as it gets. Screenwriter Gary Dauberman went with an old-school horror approach when it came to the story. Meaning, he let the scares dictate the film instead of the story. Which would be fine if this were any other horror film. However, considering this is a part of the Conjuring universe, it’s held up to a higher standard.
Tons of credit goes to the young actress, Talitha Bateman, for her performance here. Her character goes through a wide range of personalities which is typically difficult for such a young actor. Yet her transition from one to the other is quite seamless. It’s actually pretty impressive. On the other hand, Lulu Wilson seems to struggle a bit at the beginning of the film. But when the number two hits the proverbial fan then she’s able to bounce back and play the character well. Stephanie Sigman does well as a character that seems to cruise through the film until the final act. She’s caring and likable but oblivious to all the eerie things happening within the Mullins household.
Overall, Annabelle: Creation is such a huge step up from the previous installment of the spinoff franchise. It’s incredibly terrifying to watch due to its creepy visuals and sound design. It would’ve been nice to see a deeper storyline and some character development in the film though. But as the Halloween quickly approaches, Annabelle: Creation is a perfect film to watch for those looking for something new.
Movie Rating: 3.5/5 atoms
Video
Annabelle: Creation is presented in a 1080P MPEG-4 AVC encoded video with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The black levels of the film are rich and there are no crushing to be found here. Since most of the film takes place at night time, this is a great thing. However, a red tint did show up in one of these dark scenes. Not to mention, some banding that was found in a couple of dark scenes as well. Other than that, no anomalies were found.
Believe it or not, there is some brightness to this film. When present, the whites are bright and never blooming. The colors and skin tones look natural throughout and the details are crystal clear. Overall, this was a modest presentation put forth by WB.
Video Rating: 4/5 atoms
Audio
Annabelle: Creation is presented in a Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Master Audio track. The review will reflect Annabelle: Creation‘s core Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Master Audio track. The audio presentation will sound terrific on your home theater system. The front, rear, and surround channels render a lot of the spooky environmental effects accurately. Not to mention, these effects effortlessly pan from one channel to another. Everything just immerses you within this creepy household with a similarly creepy demonic doll. In addition, the dialogue can be clearly heard even as scary things are happening. Overall, it’s the type of audio presentation that’ll make you think something’s in your household. Thus, making this one great soundtrack.
Audio Rating: 5/5 atoms
Special Features
Annabelle: Creation‘s Blu-ray contains the following special features:
- The Horror Continues
- Horror Shorts: “Attic Panic” and “Coffer”
- Directing Annabelle: Creation
- Deleted Scenes Featurette
Hands down, one of the best featurettes on this Blu-ray is “Directing Annabelle: Creation”. If you’re watching a behind-the-scenes featurette then chances are you’re eager to learn about how a film is made. That’s exactly what you’ll get here. Sandberg delves deep into his craft and shows us his method to creating this film. It’s a really useful and education piece if you have an interest in filmmaking. In fact, the Blu-ray is worth picking up for this piece alone. The other surprise is seeing two of Sandberg’s short films on this Blu-ray. Both are really scary and fun to watch. Unfortunately, the rest of the special features aren’t anything that exceptional.
Special Features Rating: 4/5 atoms
Despite its faults, Annabelle: Creation is an exceptionally well-crafted and terrifying horror film. The combination of James Wan and David F. Sandberg is a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre. Even though the video presentation is decent, the audio presentation makes up for it. Finally, the special features may lack quantity but it doesn’t mean that it lacks quality. The “Directing Annabelle: Creation” featurette is worth the price for its insightful and educational purposes.
Overall Rating: 4/5 atoms
This Blu-ray was reviewed using a retail/advance copy/unit provided by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
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