I expected it to be bad although not quite this bad. The problem with sequels in the horror genre is that once you've seen the boogeyman in the first movie repeat appearances by him grow less and less scary because there is o element of surprise or suspense. Is that something moving in the dark? Don't worry, it's only that doll again. In other words we're familiar with the creature and what does familiarity breed? Contempt. And boredom too. This again? Seen that already, you can't scare me with that again.

So, intrinsically less scary then to start with. But with clever writing and directing that can be overcome and several horror sequels have very successfully overcome and scared the pants off us a second or third time. So could Annabelle achieve this? The director, whose previous helms are not impressive, didn't inspire much confidence but I gave the film a chance. Then came the first scenes with Annabelle. OK, little girl whips off the sheet. It's the doll and she has her usual look and that works well. So far so good. Little girl gets spooked and closes the door before walking away.

The camera kept the door behind her in shot and I thought no, surely they're not going for that old chestnut. If the film had any chance of being a good movie that door must not open. It opened. One strike against the film. Little girl goes back, closes the door and locks it. I groaned. Surely this director isn't going to have the door open again?

Oh but he is. I could't believe how tired and predictable this scene was. Little girl grabs the sheet and I shouted at the screen as if the director could hear me. "You dumbass, you're gonna have the kid cover Annabelle up and then when she walks away the doll is going to rise up slowly and follow her. How could you be so damned unoriginal? It was genuinely scary once. Almost a century ago when they did it in the silents. I'm through with you, you are a terrible terrible director."

I don't know how I did it but I actually sat through the rest of the film. Things did not get better. The last director just wounded Annabelle, this guy killed her and threw her in the trash. I don't think she'll be back.

Three out of ten for managing to point the camera in the right direction.