Annabelle Comes Home review: "As spook-packed as a Scooby-Doo special"

(Image: © Warner Bros.)

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Creakily slick like the rest of The Conjuring series, this spring-loaded spook story hits the mark more often than not.

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

“What is your fascination with my forbidden closet of mystery?” asks an exasperated Chief Wiggum of his son Ralph in The Simpsons. The same could be said by Conjuring Universe heroes Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) about their clearly haunted “artefact room”. Their mistake? Bringing home the eponymous doll, locking her up, then leaving town, while making their troubled daughter Judy (Mckenna Grace) and her babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman) promise not to meddle.

Needless to say, that doesn’t happen – Mary Ellen’s friend Daniella (Katie Sarife) soon breaks in – but she has a genuine reason to explore what amounts to a room full of horror Easter eggs, each awaiting their own spin-offs.

Yes, it’s cynical and derivative (Judy practically quotes The Sixth Sense verbatim at one point), but series writer Gary Dauberman makes the leap to director with sure feet. Despite her rictus grin and tobacco-stained skin, Annabelle is a tiny bit lame, so instead he shifts the focus of her role to being, as Lorraine puts it, “a beacon for other spirits”. Essentially this gives him carte blanche to hurl whatever he likes at the screen – a dead priest, a murderous bride, an Essex hellhound, a phantom ferryman – runtime be damned. “What else did you touch?” chides Judy. “Everything!” confesses Daniella.

As smooth as the 1970s tunes that play on repeat, and as spook-packed as a Scooby-Doo special, Annabelle Comes Home delivers on its – admittedly slim – promise. The acting’s decent, the kids are, unusually, sweet to each other, and there’s a shot of genuine grief to anchor things when they get silly.

Freelance Writer

Matt Glasby is a freelance film and TV journalist. You can find his work on Total Film - in print and online - as well as at publications like the Radio Times, Channel 4, DVD REview, Flicks, GQ, Hotdog, Little White Lies, and SFX, among others. He is also the author of several novels, including The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear in Film and Britpop Cinema: From Trainspotting To This Is England.

Latest in Action Movies
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink joins Spider-Man 4 and fans are already theorizing she might be X-Men’s Jean Grey
Doctor Doom in Marvel Comics
The Russo brothers say Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will draw inspiration from multiple comics – which explains how Doctor Doom might fit into the story
John Wick 4
John Wick 5 is still in the works, but Lionsgate isn't confirming Keanu Reeves' return just yet: "We're all on bated breath waiting to find out"
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson doubles down on never coming back as Black Widow: “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?"
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn on set of Joker 2
Lady Gaga jokingly celebrates Joker 2 reception and Razzie nominations: "Joke's on them. I love winning things"
Latest in Reviews
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"
Altered: Trial by Frost booster box and packs on a playmat
Altered: Trial by Frost review - "Satisfying enough to offer highly varied gameplay"
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind
Boro and Alta sit on a bench together in Wanderstop
Wanderstop review: "Exalting the transformative power of tea"