Religious Horror: A Rhetorical Analysis of Annabelle: Creation, Summaries of Speech-Language Pathology

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A Rhetorical Analysis of Annabelle: Creation Katherine Vasquez Lone Star College-University Park

Abstract The Annabelle franchise has made it to the top most iconic spine-chilling story in the horror and mystery genre yet it is also known as the most cliche and mediocre horror movie you can get. In the film Annabelle: Creation, director David F. Sandberg invites the audience into a world where innocence is corrupted by darkness and weakness is rewarded by death. What seemed as an innocent gift, Annabelle then later goes on to reveal that she is actually a vessel for a powerful curse, granting her immense abilities that torments families in exchange for a soul. Documented in Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators, case in the 1970’s, Annabelle is a real-life doll that is possessed by a demon and is currently being held at the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe. By having this connection to reality, Sandberg was able to create a more narrative depth to the movie that allows the viewers to question what they are watching and what lies beyond their beliefs. Sandberg also does a great job of capturing the audience's attention by conflicting their emotions throughout the film as they feel both fascinated yet uneasy with these horrors. This film’s impact goes beyond our collective consciousness, as it not only frightens us with the historical backstory, but it also compels us to confront our fears. Annabelle transcends more than just for mere entertainment, it can bring togetherness within families in fear as the audience starts to blur the lines of reality and fiction.

eerie tales of Conjuring 1, 2, &3, The Nun 1 & 2, Annabelle 1, 2, & 3, and The Curse of La Llorona , these films have viewers questioning how we perceive the world and beliefs. Annabelle: Creation argues that there are consequences of forbidden knowledge when people attempt to contact the dead or engage with the supernatural forces that are beyond their understanding. In this film, the doll’s possession and the characters’ actions, reflects on the dangers of overstepping spiritual boundaries as they invite malevolent consequences. Although this film is open to all, this deeper connection is directed towards non-believers and believers. Throughout the film, there are multiple moral warnings against the occult, the narrative warns against meddling with the supernatural, particularly through forbidden practices like summoning the dead. For religious viewers, this serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of respecting spiritual boundaries and religion. In the article, Catholic Mom, considers how Annabelle impacts religion and beliefs, “In spiritual warfare, we need to comprehend the relationship that is taking place. The victim is only a victim because they have invited the demon into his/her life” (Catholic Mom, 2017). The Annabelle movie has also tested people's faith, “We don’t have control over any situation that a demon is invited in…requires…authority of Jesus through the presence of the priest to drive it out” (Catholic Mom, 2017) which helps the viewers see the film as a spiritual lesson. For non-believers, the source of evil can be interpreted as a malevolent force rather than “demonic”. This allows the audience to leave room with questioning about the unexplained supernatural phenomenon. Overall, Annabelle’s storyline of contrasting views of “meaning” will be analyzed through an ideological methodology to uncover and evaluate how effectively the film perceives the demonic doll as a lesson of redefining life, discovering religion, and comforting fears as Annabelle: Creation is followed with terror, cultural change, and demonic possessions.

Description of Artifact and Methodology In order to truly grasp this portrayal, it’s vital to understand the 110-minute depiction of the porcelain doll’s background, reason, and capture before finally understanding the unsettling truth behind this film. The beginning of the movie features the Mullins family in the 1940’s, where doll-maker Samuel Mullins had just finished his work on an exclusive set of a hundred porcelain dolls for his wife and daughter. However, their happy family was short-lived as the Mullins' 7-year old daughter, Annabelle, was tragically killed by a speeding car, and the only way to see her again was to accept a demon, that claimed to be their daughter, to move into one of Samuel’s dolls. The Mullins family was desperate to have their daughter back, so they failed to realize that a malevolent demon was inside their doll instead. Luckily, Esther Mullins was able to recognize the evil spirit and had it locked away in their daughter's closet with the help of the church. Twelve years later, the Mullins family decided to welcome Sister Charlotte and a group of orphans into their home. Despite warning them that Annabelle’s room is off limits, Janice, one of the orphans, lured into the bedroom and unlocked the closet, and revealed the evil-spirited porcelain doll. Curiosity and interest soon transforms into uncertainty and fear as Janice starts to experience the terror as Annabelle unleashes her true demonic form and attempts to take her soul. Through this perspective of an unreliable narrator, the characters start to become “psychotic” as Annabelle manipulates the mind. After the murder of Esther Mullings, Sister Charlotte throws both Janice and Annabelle back into the closet in hopes to contain the terror. Once the police arrive they notice a hole in the wall that Janice escapes through, after Janice being nowhere to be found, the police decide to drop the case. Sometime later, Pete and Sharon Higgins arrive at the orphanage, where they find

the root of it, angelology and demonology are both responsible for shaping the meaning of life, and in Annabelle: Creation , Annabelle’s victims experience these ideologies and discover the meaning of a world of terror. Looking more into the victims of Annabelle, one can assume how their experiences answer to a variety of Christian demonology discussions. What are the limits of demonic power over objects and people? How does demonic possession challenge human free will? Why does evil prey on the innocent, and how does it impact faith? What role does faith play in protecting against evil forces? These questions will raise and continue to raise as the audience come across unique takes in defining Christian demonology. Applying the ideological methodology of Christian demonology to Annabelle: Creation will answer how effectively this film establishes themes of religion, meaning of life, and the consequences of forbidden knowledge.

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