Annabelle (2014)

Last updated:
September 8, 2025

Annabelle (2014), directed by John R. Leonetti, is a supernatural horror film that serves as a spin-off from The Conjuring universe. It dives into the origins of the infamous cursed doll and how it became a vessel for malevolent forces.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Introduction: The Doll That Shouldn’t Be

The film begins with a brief reference to the Warrens, the paranormal investigators from The Conjuring, who possess the Annabelle doll as part of their collection. We’re then taken back in time to 1967, where the story truly begins with John and Mia Form, a young couple preparing for their first child.

The Gift Gone Wrong

John gifts Mia a vintage porcelain doll, completing her collection. Shortly afterward, their neighbors are brutally murdered by their estranged daughter and her boyfriend, members of a satanic cult. The killers break into John and Mia’s house, and in the chaos, the daughter dies while holding the doll. Her blood seeps into the toy, binding a dark presence to it.

Strange Events Unfold

After this incident, terrifying supernatural occurrences begin in their home: objects move on their own, strange sounds echo through the halls, and Mia sees dark figures haunting her. The doll becomes the center of these disturbances, but John and Mia initially dismiss the possibility of a supernatural cause.

Seeking Help

As the attacks escalate, Mia reaches out to Father Perez, a local priest, for guidance. He confirms that the doll is being used by a demonic force, one that doesn’t want the toy—it wants a human soul. Specifically, it seeks the soul of Mia’s unborn child.

Escalating Terror

The demon uses the doll as a conduit to terrorize Mia. From violent encounters to full-blown apparitions, the force grows more aggressive. The priest attempts to take the doll away, but he’s brutally attacked before he can deliver it to the church. The evil presence makes it clear that it will not stop until it has a soul.

Movie Ending

The final act sees Mia cornered by the demon. It manipulates her into considering the unthinkable—offering her own soul by sacrificing herself. As she contemplates jumping from the window with the doll in her arms, her husband John and their friend Evelyn intervene. Evelyn, who has been struggling with guilt over her own daughter’s death, chooses to sacrifice herself instead. She takes the doll and leaps to her death, effectively offering her soul to the demon.

In the aftermath, the doll vanishes. The Forms are spared, and they move on with their lives, but the evil clearly isn’t gone. The closing scene reveals the doll being purchased at an antique shop, setting the stage for its journey into the hands of the nurses seen in The Conjuring. This ending ties directly into the larger Conjuring Universe lore and confirms that Annabelle’s curse is only beginning.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Annabelle does not have a post-credits scene. The story is fully wrapped by the final sequence of the doll being bought by another unsuspecting victim.

Type of Movie

Annabelle is a supernatural horror film with strong elements of demonic possession, occultism, and haunted objects.

Cast

Annabelle Wallis as Mia Form
Ward Horton as John Form
Alfre Woodard as Evelyn
Tony Amendola as Father Perez
Kerry O’Malley as Sharon Higgins
Brian Howe as Pete Higgins

Film Music and Composer

The haunting score was composed by Joseph Bishara, who is a frequent collaborator on The Conjuring universe films. His eerie, atmospheric sound design blends ambient tones and dissonant strings, amplifying tension in key scare moments.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California, with sets designed to capture a 1960s suburban aesthetic. The location choice was critical—it added a sense of realism and groundedness to the supernatural events, making them more unsettling by taking place in such an ordinary, cozy neighborhood.

Awards and Nominations

Although Annabelle didn’t win major awards, it did receive recognition at genre festivals and horror awards, particularly for its sound design and scare sequences. It was also nominated for the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Director John R. Leonetti also served as cinematographer for The Conjuring (2013), giving him visual continuity for this spin-off.
The production team used multiple versions of the doll, each designed with subtle changes to enhance specific scenes.
Many of the doll’s close-up shots were done with practical effects rather than CGI.
Some crew members reported strange occurrences on set, such as unexplained noises and lights flickering.

Inspirations and References

The film was inspired by the real-life Annabelle doll, which is actually a Raggedy Ann doll kept under lock and key by Ed and Lorraine Warren. While the real story differs, the movie amplifies its mythology, blending fact with fiction.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no widely known alternate endings, but deleted footage included more extended dialogue between Mia and Evelyn, exploring Evelyn’s grief in greater detail. These were cut to maintain pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no direct book adaptation of Annabelle, though the character is inspired by case files documented in The Demonologist by Gerald Brittle, based on the Warrens’ investigations. The biggest difference: the real Annabelle doll looks nothing like the porcelain version used in the movie.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The cult members’ home invasion, which sets the tone for the entire film.
The elevator scene where Mia is trapped as the demon stalks her.
Father Perez’s violent attack by the demonic entity.
Evelyn’s sacrifice, which provides the film’s climax.

Iconic Quotes

Father Perez: “You don’t stop evil. You can only protect yourself from it.”
Evelyn: “Your soul is worth saving. But maybe mine isn’t.”
John: “It’s just a doll, Mia. It’s just a doll.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The film briefly references the Warrens, connecting the timeline directly to The Conjuring.
The vintage setting (1967) aligns with when the real Annabelle case was first reported.
A hidden nod to the Conjuring franchise: Father Perez mentions having contact with Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Trivia

The porcelain design of the doll was chosen to make it visually scarier than the real Raggedy Ann.
Alfre Woodard’s character was not based on anyone from the Warrens’ files—she was added for emotional depth.
The real Annabelle doll is kept locked inside a glass case at the Warren Occult Museum in Connecticut.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy slow-burn supernatural horror, jump scares, and cursed-object narratives, Annabelle is worth the ride. It’s a foundational piece of The Conjuring universe and gives the infamous doll her own terrifying backstory.

Director’s Other Movies

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) – cinematographer
The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006)
Wish Upon (2017)

Annabelle (2014)