Annabelle Comes Home ★★

THE latest film in the Conjuring horror series is a disappointment.

Annabelle Comes Home starts promisingly but becomes mired in the antics of its teenage protagonists to the extent that the story moves in circles for much of the running time.

There are a range of demonic forces at play, but none of them are frightening or even threatening.

It’s as if the main aim of these entities is to annoy people rather than possess or destroy them.

Barely do the scares rise above low, generic standard, which is far from what you expect with this series.

Based on the talent behind the camera, it should have been a good addition to the franchise.

First-time director Gary Dauberman does a serviceable job but you expect more from the writer of two previous Annabelle films, the two It chapters and The Conjuring 1 and 2.

There is a bit of a cheat going on here as well.

This instalment is billed as a crossover that brings the Annabelle and Conjuring films together, featuring the husband and wife demon-hunting team of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

But the Warrens, played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, are barely seen in the film that is over-run with screaming teenagers.

Some of the series’ atmospherics and visuals are retained, but generally this latest Annabelle effort strays too far from home.

It’s the weakest of the franchise to date.