It’s not uncommon now to hear of a successful film getting a sequel. Yet, five of them is an impressive amount. Fresh from The Conjuring series, Annabelle Comes Home, out today on DVD, Blu-Ray and digitally, brings us back in touch with the doll that no one wants to go near.

When Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Fermiga) leave their daughter with a babysitter from hell, they are faced with a familiar demon to handle. After opening up the madness in Annabelle, the family is ripped apart by the trouble it causes.

Unlike the previous features, Annabelle Comes Home feels a little bit repetitive. Nowhere near as scary as its predecessors, the series takes a step back in the wrong direction. Characters are hard to deal with and emotions go overboard. It is only the brilliance of Wilson and Fermiga that really make the whole thing work.

However, if you are a fan of the series than it could be one not to miss. Filling in certain gaps, there is an element of fun that comes with dealing with the new family dynamic within the films. A family who seem to have an unwanted daughter in the form of a doll amongst them. There is also the case of seeing exactly what Annabelle does, which is often thrilling to see as an audience member.

Yet, it doesn’t make the feature stand out entirely. Without the characters familiarity or the sense of knowing Annabelle, it might be a bad feature to start on. As a first-time viewer, go back and watch the rest before seeking this one out. As a fan, enjoy more for the cast than the plot. If you're in-between, take your pick whether it is one to be seen. Annabelle might have come home, but she hasn’t won this demon fight just yet.

3 Stars

Joey X