If The Conjuring is an effective homage to The Exorcist (among other horror films), then Annabelle is one to Rosemary’s Baby; incorporating old-school eeriness, a 1960s setting (half of which takes place in a city apartment) and suspiciously comparable characters. Similar to its prequel, Annabelle avoids being a rehashed clone by including different features, such as supernatural jump scares and an affirmative portrayal of religion (both of which Rosemary’s Baby lacks). Yet while The Exorcist remains superior to The Conjuring (my favorite horror film of 2013), Annabelle succeeds in being on par with its tributed film.
I should however expand upon the above statement, lest I misguide you with the wrong perception. I consider The Exorcist to be one of the finest in its horror genre; an atmospheric film that’s setting, characters, cinematography and effects creates a haunting experience. Perhaps it’s not as terrifying as when first released, as well as foolishly omitting memorable scenes from the book (yes there is a book)…yet as I sat in my dorm room, two in the morning, my computer eerily failing to connect, everyone home for the weekend, directly after watching, I came to experience the true terror The Exorcist brings. And while The Conjuring doesn't surpass its influencer, it certainly comes closer than most horror films in the past 10 years (with the exception of the TERRIFYING Paranormal Activity).
When matched with The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby pales in comparison, though it’s by all means a good film; containing wonderfully creepy performances and a refreshing plot while tackling taboo subjects in the 60s (such as nudity, drugs, rape, abortion, the death of religion, etc…). Yet Rosemary’s Baby’s sluggish pacing, combined with a protagonist who’s always three steps behind the viewers’, ends up creating a frustratingly flawed movie. Annabelle avoids committing similar errors, having its characters quicker with comprehending the dangers of the doll (but not too quick of course, or we wouldn't have a movie); perhaps at times a bit too quick, seeing how the husband instantly believes his wife’s demonic encounters…but you know I’m absolutely fine with that. What’s the issue with having a husband who trusts his wife enough to not claim she’s crazy, but instead (gasp!) actually believe what she says (yes those husbands exist).
When Annabelle scares, it scares effectively! They’re the type of thrills I know are going to happen, yet get shocked nonetheless; though Annabelle isn't completely predictable, at least in determining HOW the frights will play out (using my knowledge of horror films to its advantage). For example when the priest decides to take the demonic Annabelle back to his church…all alone…while driving his car…with the doll in the backseat…and a consistent viewpoint of the priest’s rearview mirror…I expected to sooner or later see the doll’s head pop up; yet shockingly (almost disappointingly) Annabelle takes an unexpected turn with the scare. The film takes advantage of those familiar with Rosemary’s Baby, using their similarities to create viewer distrust for everyone the wife knows. Anyone could be collaborating with Annabelle, including her husband, the priest, and even the demon-knowledgeable lady with the devil-themed store! Surprisingly, the most frightening shocks happen right at the beginning, where the film relies on realistic fears of home invasion, paranoia, and neighborhood danger (similar to Rosemary’s Baby). These opening shocks are nightmarishly scary and all too realistic, leaving a heavy impression on its viewers which the film struggles to surpass (though this isn't necessarily a bad thing, since no one expects the best scares in the beginning).