Annabelle: Creation Review: Scary Prequel or Horror Trope Fest?

In Episode 2 of Scream Creeps, Jeremy and Josh continue their chronological journey through The Conjuring Universe with the 2017 prequel, Annabelle: Creation. Elaine sits this one out due to illness, leaving the guys to debate whether this installment improves on the foundation laid by The Nun or falls into the trap of clichéd horror tropes.

The discussion gets heated as Josh argues that the movie relies too heavily on characters making bad decisions—like walking into dark rooms or investigating creepy noises when they should be running away. Jeremy, however, appreciates that the doll itself doesn't walk around like Chucky, maintaining a more subtle, demonic presence. They also break down the "gore factor," specifically a gruesome finger-breaking scene and a shocking moment involving the mother, and compare the "Creepiness Factor" to the previous week's movie.

Key Highlights
[01:54] Chronological Watch: The hosts confirm that Annabelle: Creation is the second movie in their chronological timeline watch of The Conjuring Universe, set in 1955.
[05:00] Valak Cameo: A discussion on the subtle Easter egg where the demon nun Valak appears in a photograph, tying the movie back to the first episode's review.
[06:30] The Demon's Form: Jeremy notes his relief that the doll doesn't walk, but they discuss the reveal of the demon's true form, comparing it to the devil in the movie Legend.
[15:30] The Gore Factor: A breakdown of the movie's more visceral moments, including a gruesome finger-breaking scene involving the father (Anthony LaPaglia).
[26:35] Creepiness Ratings: Josh gives it a 7/10 for creepiness, citing his fear of dolls, while Jeremy rates it a lower 2 or 3, finding it less atmospheric than The Nun.
[30:53] What's Next: The team announces that the next episode will cover the original Annabelle movie, continuing the timeline.

What is Scream Creeps?

A horror podcast talking about everything horror with The Heart of Geek group. We will talk about anything from tropes to comparisons and all else horror. We hope you enjoy :)