For as long as I can remember, there have been countless attempts at making a horror cinematic universe. Universal were successful before my time with their Iconic Monsters universe and have since tried to create a new one for a new generation, but have yet to make it a successful attempt. Then there is several people behind the slasher horror films that have wanted a cinematic universe featuring the likes of Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, Chucky and Pinhead (plus others possibly), but despite hiniting at that in a few films, it's ultimately never happened due to licensing issues (the closest we have come to it is
Freddy VS Jason and the slashers' appearances in the game
Dead by Daylight). Finally, attempts to bring Stephen King's works together into one cinematic universe have been hinted, but again nothing comes of it. But somehow New Line Cinema has made one loosely based on the real life cases of paranormal investigator duo, the Warrens and to this day, 7 films (and one stand alone) have been made that are part of this universe. Most being origin stories for the paranormal entities that the two find in the main films, with sequels and prequels furthering the development of said beings. So let's take a look at this horror franchise that is, at the time of writing this, the highest grossing horror franchise of all time:
Will not be reviewing the stand-alone film in this review, as I haven't seen it yet at the time of typing this up.
The Conjuring
It's 1971 and the Perron family move into a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. While all is well at first, their dog Sadie, refuses to enter the house with the entrance to the cellar being boarded up. As time goes on, paranormal activites take place that lead to Sadie being killed and the mother/wife Carolyn (played by Lili Taylor) have large bruises. The family then enlist the help of the Warrens to investigate what is going on, before more things happen. Setting up the foundation of a cinematic universe is always the toughest part. But the reason why films such as
Iron Man and
Man of Steel work is how they make subtle references to a larger universe and not get too caught up on universe building. It's also important to note that even though the main films are based on true events, much of what happens can be considered fictional. It's a well crafted and creepy first entry into the franchise, even if it bears similarities to the likes of
The Exorcist and
Poltergeist. 8/10
Annabelle
So in the first film of the franchise, we get to see this doll called Annabelle and this is the start of a trilogy of films that explore the doll's origins, and its supernatural nature. In the first of those films, we are in Santa Monica, California, where Dr. John Form (played by Ward Horton) gives his wife Mia (played by Annabelle (coincidence probably) Wallis) a present in the form of a rare vintage porcelain doll. This would serve as a gift for their first child to be placed in a collection of sorts in their daughter's nursery. An incident takes place in which during a home invasion, the police manage to kill one of the invaders while the other slits her throat upon holding the doll. It soon becomes apparent that a demon lives inside the doll and must be exorcized before more death and destruction take place. As films like this go, it's basically a rinse and repeat of similar films like this. A doll that is demonic and just bad news. Yeah not much else going for it which does kind of make this film inferior to the first film in the franchise. But it is the first in its own trilogy, so who knows if things will get better. Guess will find out a little later on. 6/10
2: The Enfield Case
It's 1976 and The Warrens are investigating the famous case of the Amityville murders. As they perform a séance, Lorraine Warren (played by Vera Farmiga) finds herself drawn into a vision in which she relives the murders and comes across a demonic nun figure (played by Bonnie Aarons) and the impalement of her husband Ed (played by Patrick Wilson). Despite fearing for her husband's fate, Lorraine travels to London with Ed to investigate paranormal activity experienced by the Hodgson family, which may be tied to this Nun creature and other things too. While all too familiar as a sequel to the first film, it still manages to give us a great ghost story and also a scary monster that I personally have chills about. Yes, I know nuns are a thing, and they generally do good work, but I kind of have a bit of a fear of demonic nuns like the one in this film. At least I won't be forgetting about it anytime soon and much like Annabelle, the Nun creature got her own set of films (one soon to be released very soon at some point). But anyway, a good sequel that doesn't quite top the first. But still very good for what it is. 7/10
Annabelle: Creation
A prequel to the first prequel of the first Conjuring film, we return to Annabelle. At some point in the 1940s, a dollmaker named Samuel Mullins (played by Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife Esther (played by Miranda Otto) grieve the loss of their daughter who they call Bee, who died in a car accident. 12 years later, they open their home to a group of orphans and Sister Charlotte (played by Stephanie Sigman) who have lost their orphanage. They are all told not to go into Bee's room, but against the couple's wishes, the disabled Janice (played by Talitha Bateman), sneaks into the room when she finds a note that says "Find Me". She soon unknowingly unleashes a great evil from a porcelain doll that starts to terrorize the girls. Forcing them to find a way to survive. In contrast to the first sequel of the main films, this film is actually a lot better than the original
Annabelle. It ups the creepiness and further explores the idea that dolls can be quite creepy and should never be treated as if it's nothing to worry about. 8/10
The Nun
Now for a brand-new spin-off. Serving as an origin story for the demonic Nun (reprised by Bonnie Aarons), the year is 1952, and we are in Romania. At the Saint Cartha's monastery, two nuns are attacked by an unseen evil force, following the retrieval of an ancient Christian relic. While one of them is able to escape, the other becomes the demonic Nun we see in
The Conjuring 2. The situation soon catches the attention of the Vatican, who then send Father Burke (played by Demian Bichir) and Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga) to investigate the situation. Learning of an unholy secret and possibly more. As mentioned earlier, I do have a bit of a fear of nuns that are not quite as they seem. It's not a completely bad one to the point where I would not watch this film. But it does creep me out nevertheless. It's another stinker in the series that does well with its strong performances, set pieces and overall spookiness. But fails at its narrative and inconsistent logic. Not the absolute worst film I have ever seen (there is a list for those), but it's definitely not a horror film to cry home about. 6/10
Annabelle Comes Home
So this third Annabelle film is interesting as it feels like a main Conjuring film, at least at first. So the Warrens manage to confiscate the Annabelle doll from a couple of nurses and after doing some nasty things, it is sealed inside a sacred glass case that is blessed to contain the evil. A while later, the couple leave to work on another case while the house and their daughter Judy (played by Mckenna Grace) is left with the babysitter Mary Ellen (played by Madison Iseman). Judy starts seeing a ghostly priest, while Mary's friend Daniela (played by Katie Sarife) comes to the house uninvited with the intent of contacting the dead. She accidentally leaves Annabelle's case unlocked whose demonic being, unleashes terror inside the house and within the vicinity of it. Prompting the girls to stop it before even more terrifying things happen. This film is probably the one in the Annabelle trilogy that you will either love or hate. It's not terrible, and it is a fun film, even if it feels all too familiar and not as scary as what came before. But I guess this film is really more for fans of the Annabelle films if anything. 7/10
3: The Devil Made Me Do It
In 1981, the Warren couple document an exorcism and witness a demonic possession that soon becomes yet another supernatural being for the two to take on. A month later, Ed wakes up in hospital having had a heart attack and explains to Lorraine that the demon that possessed one Arne Cheyenne Johnson (played by Ruairi O'Connor) a month earlier, will soon cause a tragedy at the Glatzel household. This leads to a case that will be known in history as the first American murder trial to claim demonic presence as a defence, and the Warrens set out to put an end to this horrible demon. With a new structure in its delivery, this third film in the main series is just OK. I give the filmmakers credit for trying something different this time around, but it just doesn't quite reach the standard that the films set out to begin with. Having said that, performances are good, as is the spooky presence that lurks within. 7/10
A mix of good, bad and OK films which makes this series of films (which are loosely based on true events), pretty good for what it's trying to do. Doesn't borrow heavily on too many tropes and clichés and some of these films are genuinely scary I have to say. Worth binge-watching in October for sure. 8/10
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