Annabelle

THE GIST: A father-to-be buys his expectant wife a rare vintage doll named Annabelle for her collection. One night, a satanic cult attacks and murders their neighbors, invades their house, and performs a rite on the doll. Soon after, a demonic presence starts harassing them, channeled through Annabelle. It seems to seek their newborn daughter's soul.

Given the success of The Conjuring and its sequel, a spin-off centered around one of the creepiest of the Warren's many relics made sense. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like the same amount of care went into making Annabelle as either of those two movies.

The script tells a story that, honestly, feels a bit ordinary, like something we've seen many times before. The scares are there, but again feel a bit stale.

The cast does its best, but the material is what it is.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The Conjuring universe expands here to take advantage of its success, but Annabelle proves a weak successor.

Grade: 5