DANGEROUS DOLLS

SOME TOYS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED

- By Sarah Marinos.

Strange curses, unexplained events and haunting histories surround some of the world's spookiest dolls. Forget the glamour of Barbie and the cuteness of Labubus - there are some dolls that are simply not meant to be played with because, instead of helping to create happy childhood memories, they're the inspiration for horror movies and the stuff of nightmares...

ANNABELLE

She's the rag doll with red hair, a cotton smock and bloomers who inspired the hit Hollywood film series The Conjuring. But today, ‘Annabelle’ is kept in a wooden case with a sign reading: “Warning, positively do not touch.”

Annabelle was bought in a craft shop in Connecticut in 1970, a gift from a mum to her daughter, Donna. But Donna soon noticed the doll would mysteriously change poses or suddenly appear in other rooms. She also found strange notes reading “help me”.