By KYLE PRATT
Staff Writer
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In case you haven’t noticed, its October, and in case you also haven’t noticed, it’s almost Halloween. Whether you love the holiday or hate it, the scary movies that come with it are tradition. Among the unfortunate few being released this season is Annabelle, released on October 3rd.
The movie centers on a doll that causes a lot of trouble and unrest for a family in Southern California. Annabelle has the typical paranormal phenomena and the jump out moments that cause you to accidentally punch your neighbor in the next seat. What sets this movie apart is… well… nothing. As entertaining as Annabelle was, it was not unique. Sure, there’s a creepy, red-headed 4doll, but what is unique about that? (Chucky, anyone?) The doll even bares an undeniable resemblance to the red haired, murderous, wannabe “Rugrat’s” character.
“But it’s a true story!” Yeah, yeah, yeah, they said the same for “Paranormal Activity.” Annabelle is your typical Hollywood exaggeration. They didn’t even get the doll right. The real Annabelle was a rag doll, not whatever creepy rendition it was in the movie. What person in their right mind buys a doll that looks like that? Not even the biggest doll enthusiasts would deny how creepy that thing is. A quick search on the internet will reveal that “Annabelle” the movie does not match the actual story.
Criticisms aside, Annabelle was a decent film. No part of the movie is boring, and it has its moments that are quite scary. One thing scary movie enthusiasts often look for is whether the story line of a movie is predictable or not. Watching Annabelle, they may be a little disappointed. The movie has a good, flowing storyline, but there is nothing particularly unpredictable, aside from the psychotic, possessed doll, of course. But even this can be predicted by the movie trailer, the posters, and the movie title.
One thing that does stand out in Annabelle is the computer generated imagery (CGI). Although the graphics don’t always look all that real, they are quite frightening. The kind of frightening that causes one to wake up in a pool of sweat. When the demon is actually shown is when the movie actually becomes scary. Not just the way it looks, but also its mannerisms and movements. This scene is by far the best one in the entire movie. Seeing the figure gives the doll a sense of meaning, which makes the rest of the movie more immersive, and therefore more enjoyable.
Overall, Annabelle is not unique, but it is moderately entertaining. The movie is one that will not become a classic. In twenty years, people won’t be talking about Annabelle like they do Halloween or The Exorcist. But for this season, it’s the best we have, and it’s worth a trip to the theater, but only if you have nothing better to do. Seeing Annabelle is a good way to spend a boring night when there is nothing else to do, but if you go out of your way to see it, you may be disappointed.
Let’s face it, dolls are creepy. Hollywood knows this and has blessed us with numerous movies about psychotic child’s toys. As concerning as that is, it’s what us viewers want. Well, some of us anyway. Annabelle is no different. The doll, which is placed in the newborn baby’s room, targets the baby after being possessed. The makers of the movie were careful to focus on the worst fear of any parent. The problem is that parents are not necessarily the biggest audience of scary movies. The teens and young adults don’t really relate to the horror that a parent would feel if a possessed doll was targeting their child. As a matter of fact, most parents probably couldn’t relate to that either.
Annabelle, in general, is a decent movie. However, if your goal is to see a movie that makes you jump out of your seat and look over your shoulder as you walk down the street, Annabelle may be a good choice, especially considering the scarcity of horror films this Halloween season. If you want to see a movie that is thought-provoking and gets you fully involved, a better idea may be to stay home, curl up on your couch, and watch a classic. Just be on the look-out for soul-hungry dolls.
