As we all gear up for the inevitable onslaught of horror titles synonymous with the month of October, Warner Bros. is taking steps to ensure that its attempt to earn moviegoers’ screams, The Conjuring spinoff Annabelle, doesn’t slip out of the public eye for a second. So far, we’ve seen some creepy TV spots, a blood-curdling full trailer and a smattering of images, but today brings a full-on barrage of shots from Annabelle.
In the 24 new images, we get our best look yet at the cast of characters for Annabelle, which tells the origin story for the same possessed doll that menaced Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring. Ward Horton and Annabelle Wallis (yes, that’s her name) topline as John and Mia, a young, expectant couple whose lives take a dark turn when their house is attacked by satanic cult members. Bearing both physical and mental scars from the attack, the pair try to move on with their lives, only to realize that the violence allowed a malevolent force to rise up and latch onto a physical object – a beautiful doll in a pure wedding dress that John bought for Mia.
Annabelle looks somewhat predictable as far as horror fare goes, but The Conjuring cinematographer John R. Leonetti is holding the reins on the spinoff, so moviegoers can at least expect comparably haunting, gorgeous visuals. The script, from Gary Dauberman (Swamp Devil), is a bit of an unknown, but with James Wan involved as a producer, one would hope that it will hold up to the acclaimed first film.
Annabelle opens October 3rd.