DOLLY - - A Trip Back to the Video Store

Review by Steve Barton II

The horror genre really found its place in the mainstream world of film starting in the 1970's. We got iconic masked killers like Michael Myers in Halloween and horrific, secluded and often deformed murderous families like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. When it comes to DOLLY, Rod Blackhurst gives us a perfect blend of 70’s grindhouse/exploitation horror that you’d see on your local video store shelf. DOLLY is based on Rod’s short film from 2022 titled Babygirl and sets the foundation for Dolly to run on with her turned-in feet. DOLLY follows a couple, Macy (Fabianne Therese, Starry Eyes) and Chase (Seann William Scott, American Pie) while out on a hike in the woods, they encounter creepy dolls all around them and quickly discover that they aren’t alone in the woods after all. 

Going into this film almost completely blind on everything but the title was an extremely rewarding experience. DOLLY wastes no time jumping into the deep end with some intense gore and horrifyingly brilliant set designs that immediately put the audience on edge. Unlike many horror films, they show Dolly up close and personal very early on, but the terrifying feeling every time the camera pans to her never fully subsides. The design of the mask itself is incredible, capturing the crisp and creepy look of a porcelain figure, while also being dirty and partially broken due to Dolly’s intense nature. The performance by Max Lindsey (a.k.a. Max The Impaler by wrestling fans) as Dolly is what truly makes this film work! The large build of Max and their physicality, makes the actions of Dolly throughout the movie feel realistic (other than one specific digital kill). They may have drawn inspiration from a fellow wrestler in the past, playing a horror villain with Kane in See No Evil, but Max makes Dolly feel like a living being who I’m terrified will be waiting in the woods on my next adventure.

The pure brutality of Dolly and how she eviscerates her victims with her brute strength may even put Jason Voorhees to shame. Other than a few moments of (not so great) digital VFX that may have needed some more time and/or budget, the practical work looks incredibly gnarly. Dolly can get some work done, especially with her shovel! The visual look that Rod Blackhurst and his crew create for DOLLY captures the grindhouse grit of 1970s horror, especially with them shooting on 16mm film. The film grain baked into the frames when you're seeing this giant monster with a dollface dismembering folks with their doll collection surrounding them is something you’d only see in video nasties or your own worst nightmares.

DOLLY is a love letter to 70s/80s low-budget slashers that generations loved to rent and scream at while watching at sleepovers. While they don’t have a ton of setup time for our main characters, it’s the perfect amount with showing the couple’s current relationship hurdle without bogging down the constant tension. The set design with all of the creepy, dirty dolls scattered throughout every scene and the exterior of Dolly’s home even resembling a dollhouse, the effort and love put into this is remarkable. While Dolly herself takes inspiration from several of the horror icons, she still feels like an original character who you’d love to see on Halloween night! 

DOLLY unleashes onto theaters starting March 6th! 

Rating: 4/5