Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film directed by John R. Leonetti, written by Gary Dauberman, and produced by Peter Safran and James Wan. The movie is a spin-off of The Conjuring and focuses on the origins of the Annabelle doll, a central element in the Conjuring universe.
The story begins in Santa Monica, California, in the late 1960s, where John Form, a medical student, gifts his expectant wife Mia a rare vintage porcelain doll named Annabelle. The doll is intended for their daughter's nursery collection. However, their lives take a dark turn when their home is invaded by satanic cultists, Annabelle Higgins and her boyfriend, who are part of a cult known as The Disciples of the Ram. During the attack, the female cultist, Annabelle Higgins, dies in the nursery while holding the doll, and some of her blood lands on it, inadvertently infusing the doll with a malevolent spirit.
Following the attack, the Forms experience a series of terrifying supernatural occurrences. After Mia gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Leah, the family moves to a new apartment in Pasadena, hoping to escape the horrors of their past. However, they soon discover that the doll has been packed among their belongings, and the paranormal events continue. Mia seeks help from a local bookstore owner, Evelyn, and their parish priest, Father Perez, to understand and combat the evil presence. The demon, using the doll as a conduit, targets Leah's soul, leading to a desperate attempt by Mia to protect her child.
In a climactic moment, Evelyn sacrifices herself to save Leah, jumping from a window while holding the doll. This act seems to appease the demon, and the doll disappears from the Forms' lives. The film concludes with the doll being purchased by another family, setting the stage for future events in the Conjuring universe.
Annabelle received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, leading to the creation of sequels and further expanding the Conjuring franchise. The film is praised for its tense atmosphere and the chilling portrayal of the Annabelle doll as a vessel for malevolent forces.