The film is set in 1967 (predating The Conjuring 's 1971 timeline). It follows John and Mia Form, a young, expectant couple. John gifts Mia a rare, large porcelain doll—the Annabelle doll. After their neighbors, the Higgins, are brutally murdered by members of a Satanic cult (the "Ram's Cross" disciples), one of the cultists dies in the Form’s nursery, bleeding onto the doll.
Ed Warren performed a ritual to seal Annabelle away from the entity's influence. The ritual involved blessing the doll and sealing it in a glass case to prevent the entity from escaping. The case was meant to contain the entity, preventing it from interacting with the physical world. Annabelle 1
: A prequel to the first film, explaining the doll's fabrication. The film is set in 1967 (predating The
: A common complaint is the lack of depth in the main couple, John and Mia, making it difficult for some audiences to invest in their safety. Audience & Fan Perspectives After their neighbors, the Higgins, are brutally murdered
The climax takes place in the basement of the occult book store owned by the mysterious Evelyn. In a moment of sacrificial love, Mia offers her own soul in exchange for her baby's safety. She stabs her own hand to draw blood, breaking the demon's claim.
According to Ed Warren, the entity inhabiting Annabelle was an ancient spirit that had been awakened by Donna's careless handling of the doll. The entity, which Warren identified as a type of demon, had been drawn to the doll's innocence and vulnerability. Over time, the demon had grown in power, using the doll as a conduit to interact with the physical world.