Adventures in Babysitting

The latest movie in ‘The Conjuring’ universe inspired by the spooky but fascinating case files of real-life paranormal investigating celebrities-couple Ed and (RIP) Lorraine Warren, is also the third entry of a spin-off sub-franchise centered on their most popular and interesting artifact: an evil, demonically possessed doll with braided pigtails named Annabelle (take that, Chucky!).  With her creepy rictus grin, Annabelle is made from the stuff of nightmares, much scarier than the cute Raggedy Ann doll she’s based on: The "Real" Annabelle.

 

‘Annabelle Comes Home’ is set in 1972, four years after the Warrens brought Annabelle into their paranormal collection of curiosities and imprisoned her in a glass case so she wouldn’t cause any more spooky trouble.  Despite their unorthodox profession, the Warrens are just a normal “Brady Bunch” family with their young daughter Judy and, due to the fact that they travel all over “ghost-busting,” they regularly employ a babysitter to look after Judy when they’re not around the house for an extended period of time.  ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ is the story of how, on one such occasion, Annabelle “came out to play” when Judy, the babysitter and one of her friends got bored and needed a little more excitement on Judy’s birthday.  JK.

ACH is another solid – if less than frightening – entry in ‘The Conjuring’ universe, earning a respectable $83.6 million worldwide ($36.4 million domestic) on a budget of around $30 million.  What it lacked in genuine scares it made up for in its likeable young protagonists as they attempt to put Annabelle back where she belongs before mom and dad come home.

Grade: B