It would seem that the Conjuring Universe and the DC Extended Universe exist within the same, well, universe, as two of DC’s top films have now included cameos from Annabelle!
Last year, director/Conjuring architect James Wan worked Annabelle into the Jason Momoa-starring Aquaman, and we were delighted to discover over the weekend that director David F. Sandberg similarly allowed for Annabelle to cameo in his new DC movie, Shazam!.
Early on in the film, a young Billy Batson gets in trouble with the law after robbing a pawn shop, and when the cops enter the building, the Annabelle doll can be briefly seen on a shelf!
After directing Lights Out, an expansion on a short film he had made, Sandberg directed Annabelle: Creation for WB/New Line, so the cameo was a fun nod to his previous film.
Surprisingly, Shazam! is all around a treat for horror fans, as Sandberg hardly even tries to hide his love for the genre. The antagonist of the film is Mark Strong’s Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, a super-villain who quite literally possesses control over the seven deadly sins – who happen to be massive, terrifying creatures who could each be the solo villains of their own monster movies.
At the end of the day, Shazam! may be a family friendly superhero movie, but a couple of sequences Sandberg brings to the screen are sure to be pure nightmare fuel for young kids. And that’s just another reason to love DC’s latest film, which is one hell of a good time. And like Aquaman, it’s another reminder that horror guys are some of Hollywood’s top talents.
Keep your eyes peeled when you go see it again/for the first time!
