David F. Sandberg directs Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman and Anthony LaPaglia in this prequel to the prequel of The Conjuring’s subplot; this time orphaned girls uncover the demonic doll in her creator’s farmhouse.

Creepy and well acted, this is miles better than the other Annabelle prequel yet still lacks the rollercoaster relentlessness and star power of the core The Conjuring flicks. Acceptable for a couple of keen rural setting shocks and some taut dread-building throughout, this should just about sate horror aficionados.

5