“Annabelle” thrills and terrifies audiences

The descent of changing leaves and overpriced costumes can only mean the arrival of one spooky night- Halloween. As the month of October begins, countless frightening festivities begin to take place. This month’s release of horror films will leave any viewer sleeping with the light on until summer vacation.

“Annabelle” hit theaters on Oct. 3, and it is one supernatural film that would cause an adult man to scream like a four-year-old girl. Set mainly in Santa Monica, California, it is the prequel to the popular film, “The Conjuring.”

What makes the movie so frightening is that it is based off an allegedly true story. In 1970, a woman purchased an antique doll to give to her daughter, Donna, for her birthday. Donna was a college student, and she placed the doll on her dorm room bed. Soon, Donna and her roommate began to notice that the doll would move on its own. They would come back to their room and find the doll in a completely different place than it had been in when they left.

“Annabelle” transforms the Raggedy Ann Doll from 1970 into a porcelain doll that wrecks havoc over a family in this 98-minute long horror-show. Directed by John Leonetti, the film brings a creepy tale to new heights with actors Ward Horton, Alfre Woodard and Annabelle Wallis.

What sets itself apart from other horror movies is how realistic scenes in the film appear. Contrary to other movies of the same genre, the Annabelle doll in the film looks eerily similar to the popular porcelain dolls found in many homes today. Today, many paranormal films look cheesy and overdone in their special effects, making the film seem unrealistic and less frightening. Unlike these films, Annabelle succeeds in creating a uneasy environment with seemingly real special effects.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film. The amazing screenplay truly frightened me. Through sharp camera angles, the viewer is constantly caught off-guard. I frequently found myself petrified because I was unaware of what would come next. In one scene, the lead character, Mia (Annabelle Wallis), realizes Annabelle’s paranormal abilities. The indirect camera angles really developed the fear Mia felt when discovering that Annabelle is not the innocent, collectible doll she once thought she was. I would rate this film four out of five stars because although the film was very unpredictable and had incredible special effects, it took a while to get through the plot. If “Annabelle” had been more direct, I would have enjoyed it even more.

This paranormal adventure is the perfect remedy for those spine-chilling cravings, and it did not disappoint. I strongly suggest seeing the movie in the late hours of the evening to create the true ghostly excitement that only the month of October has to offer.

When looking for your next horror flick, grab some friends and head to the movies to see “Annabelle.” But don’t forget to lock up all inanimate objects before leaving the house; they just might come to life while you’re out.