Macy, a young woman, is abducted by a monstrous figure intent on raising her as their own child.
Chuck says:
“Dolly” a Pale Clone of Better Films
By Chuck Koplinski
Chuck says:
More than any other genre, the horror film carries a stigma, one facilitated by lazy directors who fail to understand its potential. Whereas “Night of the Living Dead,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Alien” and “Get Out” transcend the genre by commenting on social or political issues through movies of this sort. Far too many “filmmakers” produce movies of little substance, their intent being to shock the audience with instances of excessive violence and gore. Thinking these elements horrific, they fail to realize the without any narrative heft, their Grand Guignol moments have no lasting impact, past their initial shock value.
Rod Blackhurst’s “Dolly” is such a movie, a derivative, plodding exercise in sadism that fails on every level, except in delivering what fans of this kind of trash refer to as “good kills.” Using “Chainsaw Massacre” as its template, this an uninspired, simplistic production that utilizes every slasher movie trope you can think of with little inspiration and no imagination. At only 82 minutes, the film is still a slog, only inspired performances from its veteran cast providing points of interest.
You can’t help but feel for Chase (Seann William Scott). He has big plans as he’s taking his girlfriend Macy (Fabianne Therese) to a romantic getaway in the woods where he’s going to propose. Instead, the poor guy ends up getting his foot chopped off and his jaw ripped away, by a homicidal maniac. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
While hiking in a remote area, the couple initially sees various old dolls nailed to trees. Thinking it a prank or perhaps an art installation, they brush it off. That is, until they go deeper into the woods and discover an open grave containing a headless body. That it is surrounded by a ring of antiquated dolls is a superfluous grace note.
Wouldn’t you know it, there’s a homicidal maniac running amok! His gimmick is dressing up in a Raggedy Ann costume and wearing an oversized porcelain doll’s head to hide his identity. Oh, and his weapon of choice is a shovel. What with chainsaws, machetes, trowels and hedge shears already associated with other horror icons, that’s about all that’s left. Personally, I think a pruning saw would have been an inspired choice, but that’s just me.
Chase gets mangled while Macy is abducted and taken to a large doll house in the middle of nowhere. There, she’s dressed in doll’s clothes and pampered as if an infant by the narrative cypher. No explanation is given as to why the killer is behaving as he does. Providing motivation would require effort and a bit of brains, which Blackhurst lacks.
Scott is a trouper, enduring what would have been a painful make-up process, while required to crawl about in the damp, dank woods. Ethan Suplee as Tobe, the killer’s brother, provides a bit of a spark, giving much more energy to this “script” than it deserves. Too bad he’s not around longer. As for Therese, she’s really very good, bringing a genuine sense of desperation, giving a convincing portrayal as the requisite “Final Girl.” She deserves a much better movie.
Though I’ve underestimated fans of this sort of schlock before, I don’t think “Dolly” will catch on. It’s not distinctive enough to have an impact, its tired plot relying far too much on cliches. Besides, I can’t see horror convention cosplayers wanting to run around in a doll costume while wearing a porcelain head. It would just be too cumbersome and the way it would limit your sight, you’d probably end up repeatedly cutting yourself with your shovel.
1 Star
