Annabelle: Creation
New Line Cinema | Release Date: August 11, 2017 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
62
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
9
Negative:
4
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago TribuneKatie WalshAug 10, 2017
It's simply a treat to watch Sandberg's style on display in Annabelle: Creation, filled with circling dolly shots that reveal and conceal evil in torturously teasing ways, effective narrative use of practical lighting for dramatic effect, and heart-pounding sound effects and a score of screaming strings. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeIsaac FeldbergAug 9, 2017
If some light deja vu is the price horror fans must pay for a mainstream offering this spine-tingling, most will still come away feeling spooked and satisfied. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweJun 20, 2017
Closer in tone and old-school psychological fright tactics to the original film than either The Conjuring 2 or Annabelle, David F. Sandberg’s incisive approach capably resets the franchise. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoAug 11, 2017
A truly effective genre flick. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn closer than anyone would have predicted. Read full review
75
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanAug 10, 2017
Horror works — or it doesn’t — in the flickering, moving images of the screen, not the page. Sandberg knows that. His artistry, for that’s what it is, is like that of the dollmaker Sam Mullins: to take inert material and create a living, breathing thing. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineKeith WatsonAug 10, 2017
Like Lights out, David F. Sandberg's previous film, Annabelle: Creation is a haunted-house horror story that plays on our primeval fear of the dark. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubA.A. Dowd Aug 9, 2017
Like the "Conjuring" films, Annabelle: Creation is a symphony of cheap tricks; its scares are strictly of the funhouse variety, not the keep-you-up-for-days kind, but they’re executed with precision and panache. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangAug 10, 2017
The result may not be much more than an exercise in craft, a skillful demonstration of all the games you can play with long takes, moving cameras, blurred focus and cavernous pools of darkness. But craft is hard to overrate these days, and Sandberg’s technique, far from feeling assaultive or bludgeoning, has the effect of heightening your concentration. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisAug 10, 2017
As with last year’s “Lights Out,” [Sandberg] proves a master of the flash-scare, a nifty choreographer of precipitous timing and striptease visuals. But he’s also adroit with more leisurely horrors. Read full review
70
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzAug 10, 2017
A surprisingly effective horror film, which is to say it’s scary in all the smart ways. Read full review
70
IGNJim VejvodaJun 20, 2017
Annabelle: Creation is the rare horror sequel that improves upon the original, featuring more engaging protagonists and a far less problematic ending. Read full review
70
TheWrapRobert AbeleJun 20, 2017
Annabelle: Creation is a professional jitters-fest, made with deep-seated esteem for the genre rather than cynicism about a box-office sure thing. Read full review
70
VarietyPeter DebrugeJun 20, 2017
Here, Sandberg once again plays with both lighting, composition and suspense, framing shots in such a way that we’re constantly searching the shadows for hints of movement, while drawing out scenes for maximum tension. Read full review
67
ConsequenceRandall ColburnAug 11, 2017
Sandberg finds much of his terror in the tension that exists between light and shadow, an unsurprising discovery considering his previous film hinged on the two. They’re used much more effectively here, however. Read full review
67
IndieWireJamie RighettiAug 10, 2017
Annabelle: Creation does offer several shocking moments, and manages to deliver some truly eerie imagery. Even when you can spot the gimmicks from a mile away, Annabelle: Creation hits the horror notes it’s aiming for. Read full review
67
The PlaylistDrew TaylorAug 7, 2017
If anything can happen (and, trust me, it does), then there’s never a way of predicting where the next scare will come from. And for a genre that oftentimes feels threadbare and hopelessly predictable, this cannot be commended enough. Read full review
More From This Movie

62 Critic Reviews

6.8 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 78 John Wick: Chapter 4
2 73 Creed III
3 72 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among...
4 67 Avatar: The Way of Water
5 63 Knock at the Cabin
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL