When it comes to reviews, it's fair to say 2014 horror flick Annabelle has been on the receiving end of a fairly mixed bag. A spin-off from the previous year's The Conjuring, the movie scored just 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 119 critics' reports.
But it appears this year's prequel, delving further into the story of the titular haunted doll, is already doing much better with moviegoers.
Annabelle: Creation is still more than a month away from being released in UK theatres, but it was screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. Since that premiere, film buffs have headed to the movie review website to give their two cents.
And the response has been overwhelmingly positive. If you're wondering why, check out the trailer:
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
The average rating is 7.9/10 but it's being listed as 100 percent on the 'Tomatometer'. Out of more than 4,500 people, 92 percent are keen to see it when it's released. Justin Lowe, critic for the Hollywood Reporter, says director David F. Sandberg "demonstrates a deft affinity for the elaboration of horror conventions, as well as the expansion of the Conjuring universe."
While Peter Deburge from Variety adds: "This effective yet empty-headed horror movie goes to show how eager audiences are to be scared, and how even an unsightly doll can do the trick when the spirit is willing."
The prequel will focus on how the creepy doll came into existence. It was created when a husband and wife lost their young daughter, but later became possessed by the girl's spirit - if you're wondering how this pans out in the movies, essentially she tears shit up.
It's one of several plots being developed from the Conjuring series. Last year, fans were excited at the concept of the Nun character from The Conjuring 2 getting her own spin-off movie. It's scheduled for release on 13 July 2018.
Another character from the series, The Crooked Man, will also get his own time in the spotlight.
Credit: The Conjuring 2/Warner Bros. Pictures
Last year, producer Peter Safran teased the idea of the film, telling the Hollywood Reporter: "I think there's something fascinating in the Crooked Man. Maybe tonally he's not as grounded as The Conjuring itself is, and maybe that's why some people felt it wasn't what they were looking for in The Conjuring, but I suspect a movie with him would be really, really cool.
"I just love what that character can be. We have some interesting ideas for him."
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesTopics: Horror film