A large part of me actually wanted to enjoy 'Curse of the Witch's Doll'. The idea for the story was so intriguing, it looked pretty creepy with a very unnerving-looking doll and the cover, while suggestive of the film being derivative of 'Annabelle', was good-looking.

'Curse of the Witch's Doll' was not a terrible film and had its moments and good things. Another good thing is that despite any fears it is not a carbon copy or rip-off of 'Annabelle', despite its deceptive advertising indicating this. Those moments and good things conversely were too few, and not enough to save the film from not doing anywhere near enough with its concept. A shame because there was a decent film in 'Curse of the Witch's Doll'.

Some of the first half actually was pretty good. There are unsettling moments, and a real creepiness and suspense. The doll agreed is genuinely eerie as is the music score.

Moreover, 'Curse of the Witch's Doll' has a slick, atmospheric and unsettling visual look. The acting is better than average generally.

There are issues with the pace though. Creepiness and suspense don't come consistently in the first half, there are dull stretches and it does take a little too long to get going. The characters are sketchy in development, and there is very little interesting or explored with the witch's character or back-story.

Do have to agree that 'Curse of the Witch's Doll' falls apart in the second half, where the creepiness and suspense is minimised further and things get duller, weirder and sometimes plain silly. The ending is one rushed and incomplete anti-climax, where it doesn't really end or resolve much needed questions leaving things hanging in the air.

Overall, lacklustre and doesn't do enough with the promise that it had. 4/10 Bethany Cox

England in the early 1940's. Adeline Gray (a fine and appealing portrayal by Helen Crevel) and her daughter Chloe (a solid performance by Layla Watts) seek shelter in an old rundown manor. After Chloe suddenly goes missing, Adeline suspects that a scary doll possessed by the vengeful spirit of a witch (a creepy portrayal by Claire Carreno) is responsible.

Writer/director Lawrence Fowler relates the absorbing and intricate story at a deliberate pace, offers a flavorsome period atmosphere, ably crafts a spooky and unsettling ooga-booga mood, and delivers a few neat twists, with one especially tragic twist adding some unexpected depth and poignancy to the proceedings. Philip Ridout lends sturdy support as kindly neighbor Arthur Harper. A nifty little fright flick.

Adeline Gray (Helen Crevel) and her daughter Chloe (Layla Watts) go to live in a safe manor away from the bombings in England 1942. The place is owned by Arthur Harper (Philip Ridout). Adeline and her daughter see and hear an ugly doll, we see briefly in the first scene as belonging to an accused witch in 1660. We get a twist at about an hour, one that has been done too many times, although I didn't see it coming.

The film wasn't very scary. The witch wasn't developed and neither was the doll. I assumed it was simple revenge against all of mankind 350 years later. Dialogue was dry and characters didn't grab me.

Guide: caught 1 F-word. No sex or nudity.