In 2014 we were introduced to Annabelle, a cursed doll that brings terrifying supernatural occurrences and attacks from a satanic cult to a couple that owns it. The movie is part of an extended Conjuring Universe, inspired by some sketchy so-called real-life supernatural occurrences, and despite what you think of these movies, you cannot argue with their success. If you were a fan, here are 10 scary horror movies like Annabelle that you might enjoy.
10 Movies Like Annabelle
Poltergeist (1982)
Classic haunted house built on an ancient burial ground premise given the Steven Spielberg treatment, with Tobe Hooper in the director seat, or was he? I will leave that up to you, but the scary clown doll that terrorizes the kids in the house means this film is high on the list.
Puppet Master (1989)
This low-budget shlock thriller is more of a revenge horror, with the demonic puppets coming to life to avenge the death of their creator. The film would go on to achieve cult status spawning numerous sequels and prequels and is in a rabbit hole all of its own, if you care to look into it.
The Boy (2016)
The creepy porcelain doll featured in this shocker is just the start of a nightmare for an American nanny who arrives in the UK to care for what she thought was just a young boy in a decaying mansion. When she realizes that it’s the doll she has to look after, the creep factor just keeps going until the twisted final act.
Trilogy of Terror (1979)
This classic made-for-TV anthology features three separate stories all starring Karen Black in different roles, and is run-of-the-mill stuff until the jaw-dropping third story featuring the terrifying Zuni fetish warrior doll that comes to life and chases our protagonist around her apartment armed with a razor-sharp spear. Relentless, often comedic, but ultimately just disturbing, this is a must-see old-school horror masterpiece.
Child’s Play (1988)
Of course, we would have to include one of the Chucky movies, so best to start with the original offering. The iconic doll would become a smash hit inspiring numerous sequels and spin-offs and a reboot that would fail to recapture the magic of the original.
Magic (1978)
Have ventriloquist dolls ever not been scary? There have been many iterations of the cheeky dolls, causing madness and havoc for their owners in everything from The Twilight Zone to Doctor Who, but none did it better than the slow-burning and ambiguous Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins. Failing magician Korky finds a new twist to his act, introducing Fats, the potty-mouthed wide-eyed doll that makes him a star, but that way lies madness, as Fats takes control, sending Korky into dark waters. Unmissable.
Dead Silence (2007)
James Wan has made a name for himself with his horror films, but this one is often overlooked and forgotten, There are more shenanigans with ventriloquist dolls here, and it follows a man returning to his hometown looking for answers in regards to the death of his wife, but uncovering a lot more in the process. Overwritten and convoluted but with a few nice jump scares, if you like that kind of thing.
Saw (2004)
Thought it best to include Saw on the list, with James Wan hitting his stride here and creating a franchise that would just run and run. Of course, the story would become so top-heavy it is hard to put it into a cohesive timeline, but who can forget the image of Billy on screen and riding that tricycle? Chilling and iconic.
Megan (2022)
From the Blumhouse Halls of Horror comes this charming tale of a young girl and her new AI best friend robotic dancing doll, Megan. Megan has its circuits finely tuned to protect her human companion, and to learn as much as possible along the way, slowly turning into a nightmare for everyone who dares to cross her path.
Sabrina (2018)
Here’s an international entry from Indonesia on the list that is a sequel to another creepy flick called The Doll, but the director changed his mind at the last minute and decided to make this more of a stand-alone spin-off than a direct sequel. Maira lives with Aiden, who makes dolls and owns a toy company. But Vanya, their adopted daughter and Aiden’s niece, is still dealing with the loss of her mother. After Vanya takes part in a supernatural rite, she summons her dead mother, leading to Maira being terrorized by the Sabrina doll.
Do you have any recommendations for scary movies like Annabelle? Let us know in the comments.
RELATED: Annabelle (2014) Review
