I recently watched the second part of the Annabelle series and decided it was time to write an occult review of the series. This will be a regular part of my website from now because an interest in all things occult lends itself very naturally to a love of horror movies (and novels). Besides, a third part to the Annabelle series is out this month. Oddly enough, I didn’t realize it until I began writing this article.



In this post, I’ll consider the veracity of the existence of the actual Annabelle doll (the reader is likely aware of this if they’ve found their way to this page). I’ll also write about the process by which such an ‘artefact’ might come to be created. I’ll also touch upon the dangers of buying used objects – toys and other kinds of goods. Hence, the title of this post!



Let’s begin!

I’ll begin with what I think about the series. In my opinion (as a horror fan), the idea behind the series has been bled drier than the paint on the doll they used for the series. Few other horror series have managed to successfully sustain prequels/sequels (William Peter Blatty’s ‘The Exorcist’ comes to mind as does Clive Barker’s ‘Hellraiser’ series). Annabelle is no exception to this inability to effectively stretch out a horror into several parts. Jump-scare tactics are the main attraction here. If you’re looking for carefully researched material that inspired the series, you will have to look harder. Having said that, I thought the 2014 movie (Annabelle)was much better than the 2017 prequel (Annabelle: Creation).

As I mentioned before, from the viewpoint of a fan of the genre, the 2014 film does not disappoint. It remains entertaining to watch albeit incapable of sustaining repeat viewing unless a significant amount of time has passed. In style, the Annabelle series borrows heavily from certain other flicks made in recent times. I track the start of this new form of jump-scare heavy horror to 2010’s ‘Insidious’. This is not unsurprising considering the involvement of James Wan in all of them.

Can a doll be possessed?

In short, yes.



However, I find it important to note here that an entity can attach itself to any object – not necessarily a doll or some other toy. Having said that, I will add that dolls and statues can make for superior conduits owing to certain reasons upon which I will speculate later in this post.

In the case of the ‘Annabelle’ doll, the movie series which began in 2014 (although initially hinted at in 2013’s ‘The Conjuring’) is based on the existence of an actual doll in possession (no pun intended) of the Warrens. On a side note, I encourage readers to find a copy of ‘The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren’ by Gerald Brittle which makes for a gripping read. The Warrens had an interesting career to say the least and are notable for their involvement in at least one other well-known (if controversial) haunting – the Amityville episode. Perhaps I might cover that in another post.

The Amityville House as it was in 1973. Source: Wikimedia Commons (BrownieCharless99)

But let’s get on with the doll. It was first brought to the attention of the Warrens through an Episcopal priest (this detail in notable because the Warrens are Catholic). A young woman (Deirdre Bernard) was gifted a large Raggedy Ann doll by her mother. The woman worked as a nurse and lived with a roommate (another young woman named Lara) in an apartment complex. Over time, the two began noticing that upon returning home to their apartment, the doll would be in a different place from where it had been left. In addition, its posture would also be noticeably different.

Over time, the pair began to find little hand-written notes, seemingly in the scribble of a child which seemed to be from the doll (this element has been carried over in the 2017, ‘Creation’ movie). Even more oddly, the girls reported that the notes were written on scraps of parchment using a pencil. Yet, the young women could find no trace of either parchment or pencil in their apartment.

Next, the girls made attempts to determine if someone was entering their apartment in their absence. Logically, this would explain the doll’s movement or the appearance of the scribbled notes. However, (to the best of their abilities) they were unable to uncover any evidence suggesting that someone was physically entering their apartment in their absence.

The appearance of what seemed to be blood stains on the doll was what prompted the girls to seek out a medium. It is notable that the blood stains reportedly appeared in the form of three drops. The medium was successful in establishing contact with an entity who indicated that it was the spirit of a long-dead little girl named Annabelle Higgins. Apparently, the spirit had attached itself to the girls and was communicating with them by moving the doll around the apartment. She (It?) asked them (presumably through the medium) whether she might stay with the girls by moving into the doll. The girls agreed to this proposition.

Shortly after granting permission to the spirit to move into the doll, an incident occurred which marked a change in the nature of the doll’s interactions with people. Lara (the roommate) had a boyfriend named Cal who visited often and had reportedly always viewed the doll and its strange actions with not a little suspicion. He began to have bad dreams about the doll while asleep in his own home. This might be chalked down to a case of nerves. However, one night he was visiting and planning a trip with his girlfriend in her room. The nurse was not home. Therefore, when the two heard noises issuing from the nurse’s bedroom, they proceeded to investigate. Cal entered the nurse’s bedroom first and found the doll on the floor. As he reached for it, he reported feeling a presence as though someone was behind him. He turned around and felt a sharp pain on his chest. They realized that he had somehow been cut on his chest viciously enough to cause a wound that bled. The marks which formed the injury seemed to have been made by a claw of some kind (this is also interesting to note). It was this incident that prompted them to seek out the Episcopal priest who in turn reached out to the Warrens for advice.

Upon visiting and hearing the story, the Warrens had the priest conduct an exorcism of the doll, the apartment and the girls. Understandably, the women wanted nothing more to do with the doll so they handed it over to the Warrens who took it home with them. While this may seem strange, they were considerate in not simply tossing it away for someone else to find. The Warrens reported that unusual negative incidents continued to occur (including a near-miss accident on the drive home). As a result, they housed the doll in a special repository where it still rests.

The real Annabelle doll in the protective receptacle built by the Warrens. Source: Wikimedia Commons (User: Altor)

An Occult Explanation of the Doll

Without knowing where the doll was from or its history, it is difficult to speculate on whether an entity was already attached to it. It is possible that the girl’s mother bought it second-hand in which case the doll’s history would have been unknown to her. It is therefore possible that the doll had already been the subject to an energy or force which caused its association with an unwholesome presence. Or, it is possible that one of the girls or someone else who lived in the premises opened a doorway to negative forces which then focused their attention on the doll.

Regardless of the origin of the doll itself, here are a few interesting notes from my point of view. Firstly, I believe the story to be true based on some of the more unusual points recounted by those involved in the original story.



I noted the presence of the Episcopal priest in the early part of this section because exorcisms are usually the domain of Roman Catholic (and sometimes Eastern Orthodox) clergy. It is rare to hear of cases related to possession or exorcism being dealt with by the Protestant or Anglican priesthood. Indeed, it is notable that in the case of the possession of the young boy on which William Peter Blatty’s ‘The Exorcist’ is based, the family involved initially sought help from their Protestant pastor. It was only upon his failure to remedy the situation that help was sought from the Catholics (who were successful in the exorcism). Happily, in the instance related to the doll, the Episcopal priest was able to help the young women. The doll however, seemed to remain affected. This persistence of the presence in the doll again suggests that it had always been in the doll rather than transferred from one of the women or someone living in the vicinity.

A note here on the nature of hauntings. The Warrens (as well as other paranormal researchers) seem to think that objects cannot be possessed but rather, hauntings are associated with people. Based on experience and a study of recorded occurrences of similar phenomena, I tend to disagree. Personally, I believe that objects can play host to entities or forces. These can be benevolent or malevolent in nature. The best example of benevolent energies being tied to objects can be found in holy relics associated with religious movements and figures. Similarly, certain objects have been renowned for being ‘jinxed’ or predisposed towards causing negative or unlucky occurrences. A well-known (if somewhat questionable) example of such an object is the ‘The Hands Resists Him‘ painting which has gained notoriety in recent years.

The Hands Resist Him – A Haunted Painting? Source: Fair Use

Regarding Annabelle, the Warrens were likely correct in identifying the associated entity as a demonic one. A few points within the story add credence to this conclusion while also marking the account as a true one. The movement of the doll (while never observed in action) is similar to accounts of classic poltergeist activity. What is absent is the telltale noise which marks the presence of the poltergeist (the word literally means ‘noisy ghost’ in German). Further, in classic poltergeist hauntings, it is usually more than one object that is the focus of disturbance. In the case of Annabelle, the focus is clearly a single object – the doll itself.

The appearance of objects (in this case, parchment with scribble on it) is also noted in poltergeist manifestations. Typically, these objects are taken from the inhabitants of the dwelling and reintroduced at another time (usually) in a different place. The appearance of parchment is very unusual considering that the objects seemingly appeared out of nowhere. It should be stressed that while not impossible to find, parchment is certainly not common in modern times. Such (usually unrecognized) objects which appear out of nowhere are typically referred to in paranormal literature as ‘apports’. The appearance of apports in this instance are clearly tied to the doll and do not involve personal items belonging to either of the girls.

Another interesting aspect of the account is the that the entity attempted to communicate with the girls and ask for permission. Presumably, this action was intended to strengthen the connection between the girls and the entity rather than open a new one – it should be clear that the doorway was already opened which allowed for powerful activity even before this incident. In all likelihood, the doorway was opened by the gifting of the doll to the unfortunate nurse by her mother.

A word of caution here – be wary of the gifts you receive. Particularly when dealing with statues or old items, it might not be a bad idea to politely inquire as to the origin of the gift. The act of gifting automatically grants permission to entities to attach itself to a new host. This is the same premise by which curses work – a curse is a negative blessing and is ‘given’ to a target subject.

Whatever was attached to the doll likely required the energy of a human host to manifest and grow stronger. The young woman was employed as a nurse and therefore highly likely to have been more frequently exposed to instances of charged emotional energy through her occupation. This could have proved to be a good source of energy. It is also possible that children or other emotionally affected people lived in the nearby surrounding which allowed for manifestations to occur. Emotional energy is one way by which the experienced magus can cast spells and there is no reason to suppose that external entities cannot make use of available emotional energy for their own purposes.

The appearance of blood or blood-like marks on the doll was also a cause for serious worry. Blood is used in magical rituals because of its ties with spirit. It is closely bound to the act and energy of living. The appearance of blood on the doll marks an attempt at more serious manifestation. It is unclear if the marks were actually blood or something else. It the marks were caused by something else, the psychological implications would remain the same on those who observed its appearance – an inspiration of emotional fear. Also important to note is the detail regarding the appearance of blood in three distinct spots. The number 3 is frequently noted in demonic manifestations and likely carried the same significance here.

The invitation of a medium is usually a mistake in such instances. Inviting a medium to open communication with entities in an area is the same as using a Ouija board or some other form of contact. If anything, it is far more powerful depending on the authenticity and psychic power of the medium conducting the seance. If a doorway was not open earlier, it certainly would be after a medium attempts to make contact. And if one was already open, it could provide additional energy for whatever is present. This can be especially problematic if the entity is of a preternatural source. In the Annabelle instance, the medium simply relayed whatever story best suited the girls (and the entity). In this instance, the entity chose to communicate under the guise of a little girl who was lonely and looking for companionship. Undoubtedly, this would have inspired nurturing and empathetic feelings in two young women (one of whom was a nurse). However, the unusual request to inhabit the doll was a red flag and should have been called out by the medium even if it were not considered unusual by the two women.

The physical attack on the boyfriend is one of the most convincing details which argues in favour of the doll being the focus of a demonic or negative entity. The attack resulting in the creation of an injury or mark that seemed to have been made by a claw of some sort adds credence to the story. It is an otherwise unusual if odd detail. In accounts of demonic manifestation, the appearance of the entity as an animal or partly animal is well documented. Indeed, the Warrens were reported to have experienced the appearance of a black cat or cat-like animal in the presence of the doll after it was transferred to their home.

It takes a certain amount of energy and malevolence to psychically project physical harm upon individuals. Such energy is not commonly noted in regular (?) cases of hauntings. Poltergeist activity has been noted to result in causing harm to one or more people. The infamous ‘Bell Witch’ case comes to mind. As mentioned earlier, it is important to keep in mind that ultimately, the focus for all these occurrences was the doll. Undoubtedly, if the activity had been allowed to continue without interference by the priest, it would have resulted in far greater tragedy if not a transfer of attachment of the entity from the doll to (presumably) one of the two women living in the same space.

Why Might a Doll be Possessed ?

Why might any object be possessed for that matter? We must differentiate between energy and calculated intention that might drive it. As stated earlier, it is possible for physical objects (and even places) to be infused with negative (or positive) energy. Such objects can hold their ‘charge’ for a long time and perhaps even grow a simple form of awareness or intent over time. The hotel in Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ is a good example of such an occurrence.

The second kind of possession involves an intelligence. When negative, it could be demonic. However, it is notable that some of the earliest forms of religion and magical belief involve the possession of an image or ‘fetish’ with the spirit or energy of a God or Goddess. This was (and is) particularly prevalent in pagan religions. There are reported instances of misfortune occurring when someone carries home a statue or symbol belonging to a cult or religion. A recent example of this phenomena can be viewed in the Netflix documentary, ‘Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses’ in which a young woman in New Zealand appears to be possessed by an external force. The stealing of a century-old statue from a hotel courtyard is indicated as the cause of the disturbance.

The use of statues or images in magic also has a long tradition. Indeed, the earliest forms of magic are seen in cave-art when the shamans of the tribe would draw images of the hunt before the hunters set out on their mission. The popular idea of the Voodoo doll draws from the same concept – the use of an effigy resembling the human target to maximize the ‘likeness’ to the target. Why would a child’s doll be any different? In many ways, a doll or statue is even more desirable than other objects owing to the ready likeness to a real human being.

Another reason for why a doll or statue might make a good conduit is an emotional one. A doll (or any similar childhood toy) might be the subject of strong feelings of attachment from a child. These feelings are emotional energy and are likely capable of creating a strong bond between the child’s budding personality and the inanimate object. An external force could capitalize on this association by feeding off the energy while setting up shop in the doll. The same principle would be in play when considering why an external force might take residence in a statue of a god or goddess to which one or more people devote emotional energy towards in a focused manner.

Finally, yet another way in which an object such as a doll might become the subject of an external force is through the emotional energy put into its creation.

Conclusion

Note: I will be updating this post again as I have much more to say.

Annabelle was based on a true story. I am inclined to believe the veracity of the account provided by the Warrens. Some of the details are too bizarre to be anything but the truth. The most important point that can be made from a study of the doll is to remember to not take home things that don’t belong to you.



In the meanwhile, check out the main Movies page to read more occult reviews on other horror movies. If you’re looking for a movie that contains better researched concepts, I recommend my post on 2018’s Hereditary.