HOLLYWOOD—Just in time for Halloween, the spookfest is beginning at the multiplex. In 2013, Warner Bros. released the haunted house thriller “The Conjuring” which featured a spooky doll named Annabelle. Its now 2014 and the success of that movie has spawned the tale “Annabelle” that further examines the story behind the haunted and creepy object.

The big question that audiences will eagerly want to know is rather “Annabelle” lives up to the hype as its predecessor “The Conjuring.” The answer to that question is no, but it does deliver the thrills for those looking for a great scare this Halloween. I found it interesting that one of our protagonists in the film Mia Gordon is portrayed by an actress with the first name, Annabelle. Coincidence, probably, but still a bit creepy if you ask me.

The bulk of the story revolves around Mia and John Gordon (Ward Horton) who thinks he has found the perfect gift for his pregnant wife in Annabelle, a doll that absolutely screams bad things will happen. I can’t think of a movie with an inanimate object that has been so gut-wrenching scary. I mean “Child’s Play” had a scary doll to a degree, but this is an entirely different movie if you ask me.

There are those jump-out of your seat moments that will indeed have audiences talking or grabbing the hand of the person sitting next to them. I rather not divulge precisely what transpires that way the spectator enters the theater with little expectations for something to happen.

The couple discovers a bigger mystery involving this antique doll when their home is invaded by a cult who wants to do them harm. What happens next becomes a fight for survival, but a question of the supernatural. The audience will be left with the question of rather there is a difference between a ghost, a demon, a spirit or a malevolent entity. The answer: yes.

“Annabelle” does follow the trope of a typical horror movie where characters fail to acknowledge and see the evil that is surrounding them. I mean if your house is haunted the wise thing would be to escape, not stick around.  That ideology can be quite frustrating to the audience who hates to see smart characters behave in a stupid manner knowing that it could be the difference between life and death. While “Annabelle” won’t win any awards to the best horror film in years, it does just the trick to make a viewer think twice about bringing a doll into their home.