Motherless Brooklyn: A Mystery

It's the 1950s. There's a murder to solve.

Motherless Brooklyn was released on January 28. Viewers can try Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared early on January 14.

BROOKLYN

Motherless Brooklyn gets inspiration by the Jonathan Lethem 1999 novel of the same name. I have not read the book - but apparently in a twist - Edward Norton wanted to take those same characters from 1999 time into a different period and plot and to put the story in the 1950s.

The project was such a passion for Norton for quite some time, and he acquired the rights to the book back in 2001.

Moviegoers were not exactly so passionate. The film has a 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, which makes it enough for the 'Fresh' rating. But the box office was slightly over $18 million worldwide.

(It was also given an R-rating. It's not a movie for all ages.)

The film did manage to surprise with scoring one Golden Globe nomination. Daniel Pemberton made it with Best Original Score. While no nomination, there is an original song written and performed by Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Oscar-nominated Edward Norton directed-wrote-produced-and starred in Motherless Brooklyn. The cast includes Bruce Willis, Guga Mbatha-Raw, Bobby Cannavale, Cherry Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Leslie Mann, Ethan Suplee, Dallas Roberts, Josh Pais, Robert Ray Wisdom, Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe.

Norton is Lionel Essrog, a private detective. Although not mentioned in the movie, Lionel has a combination of Tourette Syndrome and OCD. (At least that's how Norton describes it in the Special Features.)

TAKE

Would I buy this film? I would make it a snowy day selection.

Motherless Brooklyn is not a movie I would set out to see in theatre.

While the cast for the film is impressive, if you want to see this film because of Bruce Willis, you could be disappointed. He plays Frank Minna, mentor and friend to Lionel. Frank's murder happens within the first 10 minutes. This sets the rest of the mystery story in motion as the first 10 minutes has a lot of information and is a bit hard to follow. It comes into play later.

And no, it's not really a spoiler, if you've seen the trailer or read a synopsis. The movie promotion gives it away rather early.

With the many hats that Edward Norton wore, it's hard not to appreciate how much work and effort he put into the project. The character on the acting side is unlike anyone I've ever seen him play before.

But. If anything at 144 minutes - with credits - the film feels quite long. It might have been better to cut out about 20 minutes or even more. The mystery of what happened to Frank Minna is what kept my intrigue for the movie.

And yes, the movie touches on political corruption and racism which could very well be applied for today. It's when the story shifts away from the murder mystery, it slows down the pace a lot.

For example - a dance scene in a jazz club in Harlem, many can see it as artistic and beautiful, but to me, it just felt like it goes on much longer than it needed to be.

The cast and the mystery may make it watchable for others. If you don't have the patience, though, it may not be as enjoyable.

   

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

Making of: Edward Norton's Methodical Process (9 minutes, 38 seconds.)

- Norton talks about his thought process, how he found the book and making the switch to the 1950s. With some comparisons to the old film noir style movies. The cast talks about being involved in the movie.  What was it like to work with an actor-director-writer like Norton.

Deleted Scenes (5 minutes, 19 seconds)

- As usual, they are the kind of scenes that you would never notice missing in the actual film. People may have a curiosity factor.

Commentary with Director Edward Norton.

Warner Brothers Entertainment 

Joker: Lots of Buzz

Smile.

Joker was released on January 7. Viewers can buy the Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared early on December 17.

JOKER

Joker has been on an impressive run. It made over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office and is one of the top movies of 2019. It also smashed expectations to become the biggest R-rated movie ever at the box office.

Joker’s run continues by doing surprisingly well during this awards season. Joaquin Phoenix won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice award for Best Actor. Hildur Guðnadóttir won each for Original Score and Best Score.

Most notably, Joker picked up a cool 11 nominations for the upcoming Oscars. These include Best Picture and Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.

The past wins make Phoenix a good contender for an Academy Award. If it does happen, it would be a huge ‘acting win’ for comic-book movies since Heath Ledger won posthumously for Best Supporting Actor. (Which would be even more intriguing as Ledger was the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight.)

On the flip side, like plenty of movies - despite all the awards love and huge box office - a lot of people do not like Joker. The Rotten Tomatoes has a “Fresh’ rating of just 69%. Some critics called it awful, stupid, and dumb.

This new origin story of the Joker also brought controversy.

It’s 1981 in Gotham City. The city is fractured. The mentally-ill and troubled comedian, Arthur Fleck, has been taking care of his mother, Penny (Frances Conroy), while she is dreaming of Thomas Wayne to save them.

One shining light is the show Live! with Murray Franklin (Played by Robert De Niro.) Arthur imagines making an appearance.  

Arthur’s bleak world eventually reaches a breaking point, and he descends into more madness and murder. Some felt the story came across too much like real-world news that it might inspire real-life violence when the film was initially released. And some viewers were so put off by the story that they walked out of the theatre.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? Yes.

Todd Phillips directed the movie and co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, based on characters from DC. The movie was produced by Phillips, Emma Tilliger Koskoff and Bradley Cooper. Yes, that Bradley Cooper.

The cast includes Phoenix, De Niro, Conroy, Zazie Beetz, Brett Cullen, Gleen Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, Marc Maron, Douglas Hodge, Josh Pais and Leigh Gill.

Batman was my superhero pick when I was a kid. He still is. I have The Dark Knight movies. I’ve probably even seen the George Clooney version a couple of times. I’m curious what Robert Pattinson will do with the role.

So, if there is anybody expecting something like a Batman movie, though, you will likely be disappointed in Joker. There are no big action sequences, and things are much smaller scale.

And yes, there is no dispute. The movie is dark and disturbing. When the violence comes it feels more shocking because it comes across more real. But somehow, the film is so well-done and looks so different from other comic-book movies that I found it hard not to like.

Phoenix is practically in every scene of the 122 minutes, and although I can’t debate the other acting nominees, I get the impression Phoenix is well-deserved of the awards. He’s sweet and awkward and caring to unsettling and murderous. I think I was tense, just watching him in certain scenes. Arthur Fleck’s laugh is uncontrollable at inappropriate times because of a medical condition - which is a real mental illness and not made up for the movie.  

While De Niro is in a much smaller role - and I have not watched The Irishman - this is probably the best acting I’ve seen from him in a long time.

If you are a Batman or comic-book fan, it is probably best to set your expectations accordingly. Director Todd Phillips even called the story an alternate universe in the special features.

But if anything, I say it’s Joaquin’s Phoenix’s performance is what makes the movie.   

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

Joker: Vision and Fury (22 minutes, 25 seconds.)

- The most interesting of the special features because it is the most extensive. As Director Todd Phillips called the movie an alternate universe, he also calls the story as a character study. How does a person become a certain way? Gotham was inspired by New York in the 80s. There is also talk of Joaquin was the first person in mind for the role and how Arthur Fleck is an original character, with no history in the comics.

Becoming Joker (1 minute, 25 seconds.)

- Joaquin was going through various looks as Arthur and Joker. There is no talking whatsoever.

Please Welcome…Joker! (2 minutes, 44 seconds.)

- There was no such thing as a repeated take for Phoenix. They showed his entrance to the Murray Franklin Show. Every single take, he did something different.

Joker: A Chronicle of Chaos. (3 minutes, 4 seconds)

- A series of photographs from the movie.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

The Goldfinch: Patience

It’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning book turned movie.

The Goldfinch has been out since December 3. It’s on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared on November 19.

GOLDFINCH

The Goldfinch novel is by Donna Tartt and published in 2013. Critics gave mixed reviews on the book, but the story still managed to be a bestseller and win the Pulitzer Prize. The distinguished prize has gone to stories like Gone with the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird.

There will be no prestigious awards for the film adaptation of The Goldfinch. It turned into one of the biggest bombs of 2019. The film made over $9 million worldwide. It landed a low 24% on the Rotten Tomatoes scale.

Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman lead the cast. There’s Oakes Fegley, Aneurin Barnard, Finn Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson and Jeffrey Wright.

The ensemble is rounded out with Ashleigh Cummings, Willa Fitzgerald, Aimee Laurence, Denis O’Hare and Boyd Gaines.

The director is British Academy of Film and Television Arts winner, John Crowley. Oscar-nominee Peter Straughan wrote the screenplay.    

TAKE

Would I buy this film? Surprisingly, I would make it a rainy day or snowy day selection.

I have not read The Goldfinch. I can’t compare the two.

Teenager Theo Decker (Oakes Fegley) saw his mother for the last time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A terrorist bomb exploded. He survives, but also makes a decision that impacts him for many years to come. He takes a painting of The Goldfinch. (Which is a real painting by Carel Fabritius from 1654.) The bombing trauma hits hard, and he develops a drug addiction. Which never really stops as Decker grows up into looking like Ansel Elgort.  

(So, yes, it is R-rated.)          

Your attention is required as the story cuts back between those teenage years and adult Decker. Plus, quite a few glimpses of the museum bombing crops up in these two different parts of Decker’s life, as he struggles with keeping his big secret.

I’ve only seen Elgort in one other movie - Baby Driver. For which I quite liked, and he is in the majority of the scenes. (Nowadays, you have to get past the fact that Kevin Spacey has numerous allegations against him.)

Elgort may not be an Oscar-calibre actor in The Goldfinch but came across as watchable. The transition with his teenage self (Oakes Fegley) was done quite well and seemed believable that the two could be the same person. Same goes with Finn Wolfhard and Aneurin Barnard as the younger and adult version of Decker’s friend, Boris.

The story feels more like a character-focused drama with relationships of love, family and friendships and also glimpses of the dark side. So if you lean more towards a genre like action films - The Goldfinch is likely not for you. There’s a certain amount of patience needed. The pace comes across as slow.

And to emphasize, I mean the story is - slooooww. Those 149 minutes (with credits) felt so much longer. 

I don’t think it’s a movie I’ll rush to watch again anytime soon. The film does look so beautifully shot though. With credit to Oscar-winning director of photography Roger Deakins. And the young and adult cast do quite a good job with the material they have, that I can’t help but give some positive points.

So, if I was to slot the film just from the last couple of months I would put The Goldfinch above a movie like The Kitchen with Melissa McCarthy.  

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The DVD contains only The Real Goldfinch

The Goldfinch Unbound (12 minutes, 54 seconds.)

- The behind-the-scenes-reel. There is a talk for when the book first came out, to the casting. Finn Wolfhard (of Stranger Things and IT) was not the first choice for Boris, but impressed with his Russian accent. Also was talked about Roger Deakins and his work.

The Real Goldfinch (8 minutes, 38 seconds.)

- If you like history, this may be more interesting. As mentioned, The Goldfinch is a real painting. They tell a little bit about Carel Fabritius and how he died and where you can find the Goldfinch today.

Over 16 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary from Director John Crowley

- The movie could have been longer. John Crowley talks about editing the movie and talks about some of the scenes. One of the notable is probably Decker going to a therapist. While adds depth to the character, it kind of stalls the overall story. 

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

IT Chapter Two: Pennywise Lives

IT is the biggest horror movie in 2019.

IT Chapter Two arrived on December 10. You can find it on 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared on November 19.

IT 2

IT terrorized back in 2017. Many critics were positive, with a high 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Losers Club and their battle with Pennywise smashed expectations and raked in over $700 million worldwide. IT became the top-grossing (R-rated) horror movie of all time.

IT Chapter Two was not able to match those record-breaking 2017 levels. The 2019 box office came in at over $470 million worldwide and more mixed reviews with 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is still enough for a ‘Fresh’ rating.

Regardless. IT Chapter Two still ended up as the biggest horror movie of the year and currently is in the Top 10 list for the domestic biggest films of 2019. (Rather hard to top those pesky Avengers in Endgame.)

As with Chapter One, most people already know, IT is lifted from the pages of a book. The Stephen King bestselling novel was first published in 1986.

(Stephen King even makes a cameo this time around as a shop owner.)

Andy Muschietti returns as director and Gary Dauberman took another to whirl to write the screenplay.

The original Losers return - Jaeden Martell (Bill), Wyatt Oleff (Stanley), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie), Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Sophia Lillis (Beverly), Chosen Jacobs (Mike) and Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben).

It’s 27 years later for Chapter Two. Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård, again) has returned to Derry to terrorize. The Losers made a pact. If IT returns, they will come back to Derry and fight. Mike (Mustafa) is the only one to remain and calls the rest of the Losers Club to return home. Mike thinks he knows how to defeat Pennywise.

Everyone else went their separate ways and even forgot what happened in the summer of 1989. But what happened that summer has stayed with them more than they realized.

Those Losers have grown up and taken up a bulk of the action now - James McAvoy (Bill), Andy Bean (Stanley), James Ransone (Eddie), Bill Hader (Richie), Jessica Chastain (Beverly), Isaiah Mustafa (Mike) and Jay Ryan (Ben.)   

TAKE  

Would I buy this film? Yes.

I am a fan of Stephen King and the weirdness that comes with the stories. I have read the book of IT. (It’s been a long time now.) Because of a long time, the adult stuff in the book became pretty fuzzy for me.

For a horror movie, there is a surprising amount of humour and amusing one-liners, which some people may or may not like.

On the flip-side of humour, I didn’t find the first IT to have much in terms of scares. Neither did Chapter Two. (Ok, a couple of jump scares.) And if you’ve never seen Chapter One - why are you watching Chapter Two?

But IT maintains the creepy atmosphere from the first movie, I think anyway. (Which some people didn't find creepy at all.)

There are a few really brutal and disturbing moments for this film, though. A couple of examples, the opening sequence is a hate crime towards two gay men - this is before Pennywise even shows up. And we learn Beverly (Jessica Chastain) married an abusive man.

The movie earned its R rating.

Overall, the adult cast is quite good at taking on the roles from the younger kids. They make it watchable. When the group meets up at a Chinese-style restaurant for the first time in ages, it might be one of the better group scenes.

I think Bill Hader as Richie proved to be the scene-stealer among them. The young Losers return for mini-flashback scenes and a brand-new sequence, as an underground clubhouse wasn’t in the first movie.

The film is long. It clocks in at 169 minutes with credits. But at times, it doesn’t feel that long either. Which I guess adds up to say the pace is up and down for such a big story. 

I don’t feel disappointed by the ending, but things get bogged down by some visual effects. It goes big on the weirdness, too. Let’s say a bit more - Outer worldly - which wasn’t heavy in the first movie.

I will watch the IT story again someday - they are a couple of the better Stephen King adaptations I’ve seen. But I think I will lean more towards Chapter One a bit more, because of the Stand By Me vibes (a much older but very-good Stephen King movie) with the younger version of Losers Club.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The DVD features all - except the Commentary

The special features feel more extensive than Chapter One.

Pennywise Lives Again! (9 minutes, 55 seconds.)

- Bill Skarsgård discusses returning as Pennywise after a couple of years. The make-up he went through and some motion-capture work he had to do. It’s good if you’ve never seen Bill without make-up.

This Meeting of the Losers Club Has Officially Begun (8 minutes, 12 seconds.)

- The young actors talk about who might play their ‘older’ selves.

The Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain choices turned into reality.

The young actors even were asked to write letters to their older selves.

Finding the Deadlights (6 minutes, 18 seconds.)

- More focused on Stephen King and a behind-the-scenes look at his time on set. He talks a little bit about writing IT.

Commentary with Director Andy Muschietti

The Summers of IT: Chapter One, You’ll Float Too (35 minutes, 38 seconds.)

- A must watch if you like behind-the-scenes-reel. They show auditions, screen-tests. Talk about casting like over 150 actors auditioned for the role of Pennywise. Or Jaeden, who is Bill, actually auditioned to be Eddie first.  

The Summers of IT: Chapter Two, IT Ends (39 minutes, 30 seconds.)

- Another behind-the-scenes-reel. Although a bit repetitive in places like the letter-writing and aspects of Pennywise return are reused from other features.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

Blinded by the Light: Bruce Springsteen Approved

Can music offer inspiration?

Blinded by the Light arrived November 19. It’s on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital. The Digital format appeared early on October 22

THE BOSS

Blinded by the Light’s noteworthy selling point is a large chunk of the story features Bruce Springsteen music and lyrics. (The Bruce cassette starts to play around 25 minutes into the 118-minute movie.) Springsteen, himself, approved from the very beginning, the use of his music. Which, apparently, is something he rarely does for a lot of projects.

The Rotten Tomatoes number jumped high with 89%. The figure makes Blinded by the Light a ‘Certified Fresh’ production. On the downside, the movie flew under-the-radar for its summer 2019 release. The film only ticked slightly over $17 million worldwide.

One theory for the low box office result was, perhaps, it's release came mere weeks after Yesterday, a film which featured The Beatles music, and fared out with around $145 million worldwide. Maybe audiences felt tired of the ‘jukebox musical’ style. Maybe. (I had to Google ‘jukebox musical.’)    

Blinded by the Light is inspired by the true story, and based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir, ‘Greeting from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll.’ Manzoor wrote the screenplay with Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges. Chadha was behind the camera as the director.

The cast included Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapen.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? Yes. Although…I probably wouldn’t rush to get it.

But, it was much more entertaining to watch than The Kitchen, from the previous post.

I can’t say I’m an expert on Bruce Springsteen and his music. I do like a handful of songs, for sure. But for anybody who is a bigger fan of his music, it is worthy of a viewing.

‘Baby, we were born to run’ became stuck in my mind for the rest of the night.

The story is about Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British-Pakistani-Muslim teen living in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. With racial divides and economic issues, like massive unemployment at the time, it doesn’t always mean there are friendly people around.

Javed writes poetry, songs and essays as an outlet, while he dreams of more. Javed also tries to deal with his strict, traditional father, who refuses to bend his views on just about anything. Be it parties, school, travel, etc.   

I suppose the coming-of-age PG-13 story will feel familiar. You may have an idea of how it will all end before you make it to the ending, too. It also feels a bit different with the focus on a British-Pakistani-Muslim family. And Bruce Springsteen’s music highlighted throughout is, of course, a rarity. Overall, it still makes an impression. 

Some of Bruce’s lyrics show up on the screen, to feature how Javed is feeling and connecting to them, which is an interesting directing technique. When Javed is introduced to the music of The Boss in the movie, he becomes obsessed. And slowly, his life and attitude towards life begin to change.

The Bruce Springsteen music may be the big draw for some. The story has more going on, too.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The DVD only has the Memoir to Movie selection.

Memoir to Movie (6 minutes, 10 seconds)

- Director and writer Gurinder Chadra and author Sarfraz Manzoor discuss the book and there are changes from Manzoor’s life to add a bit more drama, but also not make it so personal. (Parent’s names are different, as it the main character of Javed.)

The Most Crazy Thing (6 minutes, 55 seconds)

- Gurinder and Sarfraz talk about Bruce Springsteen and how they managed to get his full blessing on the movie. (Springsteen even liked Sarfraz’s book. Which Sarfraz couldn’t believe.) It’s probably the most intriguing of the features.

Deleted Scenes and Extended Scenes (9 minutes, 48 seconds.)

- Mostly extension of scenes that are already in the movie. Maybe adds extra depth to characters, but also didn’t add much more to the final story. I thought, anyway.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

The Kitchen: Messy

Welcome to The Kitchen.

The Kitchen arrives on November 5. It’s on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.

The Digital format appeared early on October 22.

EXPECTATIONS

The Kitchen may have had higher expectations for the summer 2019 release.

Melissa McCarthy was riding the wave of her first-ever lead Oscar nomination from Can You Ever Forgive Me? But she also won a Razzie. For the worst performance in The Happytime Murders and Life of the Party.

(The stats show McCarthy has been hit and miss, the last few years. I didn’t mind Life of the Party. But one viewing felt like enough. The Happytime Murders I haven’t watched.)

The Kitchen cast is rounded it out with many familiar faces. Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss are the other two female leads.

Domhail Gleeson, James Badge Dale, Brian d’Arcy James, Margo Martindale, Common (an Oscar winner), Bill Camp, Jeremy Bobb, E.J. Bonilla, Wayne Duvall and Annabella Sciorra, are in the rest of the ensemble.

Yet.

Not only did the movie struggle - but it bombed by many box office standards. It made just $15 million worldwide. The Rotten Tomatoes rating came in at a measly 22%.

The DC Vertigo comic book series created by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle is the inspiration for the movie. The screenplay was by Andrea Berloff, who was also the first-time director.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? No.

The curiosity factor may be the only worthwhile point of checking out the movie. I do not know the DC Vertigo comic book series, so I cannot make any proper comparison.

It’s 1978 in Hell’s Kitchen. Three men are sent to prison by the FBI. Of course, there are connections to the mob. So, three housewives enter the uncharted territory to fend for themselves. They decide to take the business into their own hands. They hope to make the community better with the mob duties, instead of only taking the money and disappearing. They can set their own way until their husbands return.

The film gets points for the 1970s feel and the soundtrack. The music was cool. Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain and Carry on my Wayward Son by Kansas, as an example.

It’s an R-rated film, so it is violent and dark at times, and plenty of colourful language. 

Overall though, it doesn’t work for me. At 102-minutes it actually ended up feeling way too long. The pacing of the story came across jumbled for a crime film, that honestly, it was boring at times to watch.

I do like McCarthy, Haddish and Moss in general as actresses. They do well with the dramatic stuff. But, I never really cared much for them in this story.

For wives who were never involved in their husbands’ shady work. Yet, the three quickly challenge their mob competition, take to getting protection money, conduct negotiations, and are involved in murders and violence, and it all seems like surprising ease for them. The number of funerals becomes almost laughable, too, if it wasn’t meant to be a serious movie.       

It’s an impressive cast. The Kitchen felt like it could have been so much better, though.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

Running Hell’s Kitchen (9 minutes, 1 second.)

- Discussion of the filming, the graphic novel/comic book, and how much women were involved in the production.

Taking Over the Neighbourhood (5 minutes, 22 seconds.)

- Some history on Hell’s Kitchen, how they made the movie feel 1970’s New York with the clothes, store signs and even the garbage on the street.

Deleted scene (1 minute, 25 seconds.)

- The quick scene is between Tiffany Haddish and James Badge Dale - her husband in the film. Like four lines of dialogue. I can see why it was cut out.

Warner Brothers Entertainment

Annabelle Comes Home: A Haunting Night

Annabelle returns.

Annabelle Comes Home - can be in your home - since October 8.

It’s on Blu-Ray Combo Pack and DVD. The Digital format appeared early on September 17.

CONJURING

Annabelle Comes Home is the third installment for the sinister doll. This is, of course, part of the expanding Conjuring Universe with New Line Cinema. Home follows Annabelle (2014) and Annabelle: Creation (2017.)

Annabelle was first introduced in The Conjuring (2013). When Ed and Lorraine Warren crossed paths with the doll. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise the two Warrens here.

The timeline gets a little fuzzy. It seems like Annabelle Comes Home takes place between Conjuring 1 and 2. Essentially, bringing the Annabelle movies full circle, back to the home of the Warren’s.

The Warrens were real people, there is a real Annabelle doll. But the story for this particular movie is just for the thrills. (The Conjuring movies are more grounded in true/recorded events.)

Annabelle Comes Home grossed over $226 million at the worldwide box office. This is the weakest result of the three Annabelle movies. Although it was the second-best rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 65%. (The first Annabelle for comparison was just 29%)

The rest of the small cast includes Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman and Katie Sarife.

Gary Dauberman is the screenwriter for the Annabelle films, IT and The Nun. Annabelle Comes Home is his directorial debut. He wrote the screenplay. It is a story he hatched with the Conjuring Universe creator, James Wan.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? With Halloween on the horizon, I would say yes.

I think it’s a bit more effective if you have seen The Conjuring or at least one of the Annabelle movies.

The opening sequence of Comes Home is like an extension of The Conjuring. The Warrens drive home with the doll and figure out how to contain Annabelle.

Although it is cool that the Warrens are a part of the movie, they are not the driving force of this story. Out of the 106 minutes, they might appear in, maybe, 20 minutes of the run time.

But.

The story is simple - basically, a house becomes haunted. It may not be so difficult for a newbie to follow along. The Warrens have a locked room of artifacts they collected from cases to contain the evil. Including Annabelle.

Mary Ellen is ready to babysit the daughter of the Warrens, Judy (Judy is still around in real life, too.) A recent article about Ed and Lorraine draws mostly negative attention for Judy. But piques the interest of Mary Ellen’s friend, Daniela. She is determined to see inside the house.

Daniela soon makes the eye-rolling decision to unlock the artifact room. (Her motive is driven by emotion.) Mayhem and chaos soon descend on the house. The three girls must find a way to make it through the night.

Like past Conjuring Universe movies, Annabelle Comes Home is quite good with the creepy atmosphere. Quite a few scenes have no dialogue at all. And the movie plays with ‘scare’ expectations a handful of times. A jump scare coming? Some are obvious. A few are not.

The buckets of blood levels are always low too, which I don’t mind. Haha.

Does Annabelle Comes Home get me to want to see more? I’ll most likely be watching The Conjuring 3 in 2020!

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The special features are minimum compared to some movies. These last almost 30 minutes.

Deleted Scenes (11 minutes, 28 seconds.)

The most interesting one is the alternate ending. A sequence is slightly different from the movie. It’s intriguing the little changes that are featured. And the changed for the final reel.

The Artifact Room and The Occult (5 minutes, 7 seconds)

This is a closer look at some of the artifacts that are featured or hidden in the room. A few that may be used as stories for potential movies.

The Light and the Love (4 minutes, 26 seconds)

A discussion of Ed and Lorraine Warren. How The Conjuring/Annabelle can be just as much as a horror story, as it is a love story.

Behind the Scenes

The Ferryman/Demon (5 minutes, 18 seconds.)

The Bloody Bride (2 minutes, 57 seconds.)

The Werewolf (3 minutes, 7 seconds.)

A closer look at some of the supernatural in the movie. The make-up, backstories, acting, that went into it. A lot of it is practical effects over special effects.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment