What The Critics Are Saying About Annabelle Comes Home

Everyone's favorite frightening doll is back, and we're not talking about Chucky. We're talking about Annabelle, the messed-up face of the Conjuring universe. According to critics, this creepy toy's third spinoff movie, Annabelle Comes Home, looks like another big winner for the horror franchise. Congratulations, Annabelle!

While there was a moratorium on full reviews being published in the lead-up to the movie's release, Annabelle Comes Home was screened in advance for a few select critics, and their early reactions on Twitter were pretty positive. The general consensus? Series writer Gary Dauberman, making his directorial debut with this threequel, has delivered an atmospheric, creepy thrill ride that easily bests the previous Annabelle flicks in terms of flat-out fun.

Rather than focusing on the doll's origins in decades past like the previous two films, Annabelle Comes Home brings things, well, home, tying itself in with the original Conjuring series much more closely than the spinoff series has before. The movie prominently features the demonologists Lorraine and Ed Warren, the main characters in The Conjuring and its sequel.

Annabelle Comes Home chronicles the terrifying events that unfold when the Warrens sequester the doll inside their Artifacts Room for safekeeping...only to find out that her presence has some unexpected and rather unfortunate consequences.

In this movie, Annabelle and these other spirits all pose a grave threat to the Warrens' young daughter, Judy, as well as a pair of particularly unlucky babysitters who've been tasked with watching over her.

Attempting to describe the film, Conjuring universe mastermind James Wan said:

"[It's] basically A Night at the Museum, with Annabelle."

The critics who caught preview screenings of Annabelle Comes Home generally agree that the film is just as fun and over-the-top as Wan's description suggests.

CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg claims that the Annabelle series just keeps getting better and better. The critic wrote,

"Excited I can now say Annabelle Comes Home is excellent, solidifying the trilogy as a rare one that improves with each sequel. The cast is fantastic, the monster mayhem is surprisingly clever, and the whole experience is just super fun. It's a big win for The Conjuring Universe."

Silas Lesnick of MovieBill was pleased to report that the new crop of spirits didn't feel forced, thanks to some smart narrative choices.

"I'm thrilled to report that [Annabelle Comes Home] is great! It has a smart script, fantastic performances and it expands the Conjuring universe in some really clever ways. Mostly, though, it's just a ton of fun!"

Eric Francisco of Inverse was similarly impressed with the film's array of supernatural threats, calling the movie

"An atmospheric thrill that cements The Conjuring franchise as THE horror movie universe to reckon with. There's plenty more than just parlor tricks in the Warrens' forbidden room than you might expect."

While Wan's Night at the Museum comparison makes for an enticing blender pitch, Fandango's Erik Davis compared the horror film to another quirky comedy, one which might make you even more excited to see what the movie has in store. He wrote,

"[Annabelle Comes Home] is like Adventures in Babysitting as a horror movie, and it's a damn good time. The scares are never repetitive, the humor is on point & there are plenty of creepy entities to freak you out. Plus, I love movies where it's up to the babysitter to save the day."

Finally, Dread Central's Jonathan Barkan weighed in on the film, and, while he was careful to avoid spoilers, he offered up a few general thoughts on Twitter, saying:

"Seriously, I loved this movie. Had a genuine blast with it and I can't recommend it enough!"

Of course, he might only be saying that because of the special guest he says he saw the screening with.

While the consensus may change as more reviews come in, the early buzz is unanimous: Annabelle Comes Home is a bona fide success, and potentially a high point for the whole Conjuring franchise. Take a bow, Annabelle!

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