Stephanie Sigman stars in a scene from the movie "Annabelle: Creation." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/Warner Bros.)

By Catholic News Service

Despite a pattern of irrational behavior from those confronting the figurine-haunting demon at the center of this horror prequel, there are some old-fashioned shivers awaiting those grown viewers willing to brave its fleeting scenes of graphic gore.

In 1950s California, a group of displaced orphans (most prominently Talitha Bateman and Lulu Wilson) shepherded by a nun (Stephanie Sigman) are offered refuge in the spooky home of a dollmaker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his invalid wife (Miranda Otto) both of whom are still overcome by grief following the death of their young daughter (Samara Lee) in a tragic car accident a dozen years before. Along with the counter-scriptural concept that infernal fiends can steal human souls, director David F. Sandberg’s follow-up to the 2014 original — itself a spinoff of “The Conjuring” franchise — features an incidental portrayal of Catholicism so wildly inaccurate that it will annoy and distract the faithful.

A distorted presentation of Catholic faith practices, mostly stylized but briefly very bloody violence, numerous gruesome images, at last one mild oath. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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