Annabelle, the infamous doll at the center of one of paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren’s most profiled cases, made her terrifying screen debut in James Wan’s box office sensation “The Conjuring.” Even while shooting the film, Wan and producer Peter Safran were already entertaining the idea that the not-so-innocent doll needed an entire movie of her own.
Wan, who has always been fascinated with the Annabelle case, says, “We know she’s so bad that, even after all this time, she still has to be kept locked up …but, how did she get that way?”
Safran adds, “How does something so charming, so sweet, become a conduit for pure evil and destruction?”
Now, New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” answers those questions by tracing where it all began for the terrifying doll.
Wan and Safran approached Wan’s longtime director of photography, John R. Leonetti, to direct the film. “I have been very fortunate to have had John there right by my side, shooting on most of my films, so it was a natural progression for John to direct ‘Annabelle,’” Wan attests. “His visual style, his passion for this story and his innate ability to connect with cast and crew was the total package and we were very fortunate to have him on this film.”
Leonetti, who crafted chilling shots for Wan on “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” films, among others, was just as intrigued with the sinister doll’s beginnings and translating that to the screen, this time as director.
“I’m a huge horror fan,” says Leonetti. “I also love collaborating with James and Peter and am thrilled they had faith in me to take the helm. I couldn’t wait to bring all that I’ve experienced shooting with James, who is the master of scares, and put it into this project.”
Safran notes, “John and James have worked together so extensively they really have a mind meld going, and the three of us worked so closely on ‘The Conjuring’ that there’s a certain trust among us as a creative team. They’re tremendous partners in the process.”
Leonetti immediately responded to screenwriter Gary Dauberman’s script positing how the doll had turned devious. “Gary’s take on how this might have all started was great; the story was suspenseful and had such a cool psychological layer,” he comments.
Dauberman had been eager to work with the team that had frightened him so intensely with the previous film. “I couldn’t wait to play in this playground with these guys,” he offers. “Everybody loves a good scare, and that was our number one goal.”
Leonetti adds, “Annabelle is an incredible way to facilitate fright because she’s real, and nothing is scarier than that.”
“Everyone’s had a toy that they’ve thought was alive at night,” says Annabelle Wallis, who stars in the film as an expectant stay-at-home wife who also happens to collect dolls. “It definitely resonated with me and I think will resonate with a lot of other people too.”
Ward Horton stars opposite Wallis. The story also made a big impression on him. “I loved the script,” he offers. “It rattled me to the core at the same time that it made me care about the characters.”
Alfre Woodard had never done a supernatural thriller, but “thought it would be fun. To tell you the truth this film really disturbed me because it creates a very convincing reality where truly alarming paranormal events take place.”
Leonetti notes, “There are realms beyond our senses we can’t comprehend and there are entities we can’t fathom. The mythology of demonology will always fascinate people—and mess with their heads…especially a possessed doll that is beautiful and creepy all at the same time. We had a lot of fun with that.”
Opening across the Philippines on October 01, 2014, “Annabelle” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.