Fantastic Fest audiences had the chance to see an incredibly disturbing, thrilling world premiere for the film Dolly. The film was directed by Rod Blackhurst (Night Swim, Here Alone), who also wrote the screenplay along with Brandon Weavil, making his feature-film debut. When a couple go on a hike through the woods, a doll-obsessed maniac kidnaps the woman. This nightmare gets worse when the woman realizes her kidnapper wants to raise her like a real baby.

Seeming to be a blend of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Barbarian, Dolly is a gruesome throwback to the meaner horror films of the early 2000s. The film introduces couple Chase and Macy. After dropping off Chase’s daughter with a babysitter, the couple go for a hike where Chase plans to propose. Macy, figuring out his plan, is a bit nervous because she never wanted to be a mother despite loving both Chase and his daughter. After spotting some strange dolls along their hike, the couple accidentally stumbles upon the titular character, Dolly. Dolly takes Macy and locks her away to be Dolly’s new baby. Macy will have to use all her wits and strength in order to escape her captor and return to the people she loves. Every moment is more horrific than the last, taking the audience on a journey they won’t soon forget.

The film is horrifying, suspenseful, and delivers one shock after the other. While Dolly does unfortunately continue the horror trend of depicting someone who is mentally unwell as the villain, it also incorporates some more surrealistic elements to separate the film from reality. This includes Dolly being a hulking figure with unimaginable strength, as well as a few hallucinatory scenes. Audiences will likely find themselves picking their jaw up off the floor with every violent, grotesque, and terrifying moment. Be sure to stay through to the very end of the credits for a brief hint at a possible sequel.

The cast of Dolly is fairly small, but the performances are stellar. Fabianne Therese (John Dies at the End, Sequence Break) plays Macy. When the audience first meets Macy, she’s conflicted. Yet in the face of danger, the one thing that keeps her going is her love for Chase and his daughter. Therese is a powerhouse, conveying the character’s determination, and even a feral desperation, to escape and return to those she loves. Max the Impaler is a non-binary wrester playing the vital role of Dolly. Because Dolly wears a mask throughout the film, the most important part of their performance is their physicality. Max is absolutely deranged as Dolly, switching from shy and diminutive to hulking and dangerous at the drop of a hat. Other great performances come from Seann William Scott (Final Destination) as Chase and Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans) as Tobe.

To add to the gritty, grimy look of Dolly, the filmmakers decided to film entirely in 16mm. It gives the film a texture that perfectly matches the tone of the story. There are also so many dolls throughout the film. Whether in the forest or in Dolly’s dilapidated home, there are porcelain faces staring in almost every scene, adding to the creepiness of each moment. Not to mention, Dolly herself wears a giant porcelain doll head that looks iconic while also being downright horrifying to behold. Using a combination of practical effects and CGI, there is plenty of gore and bloodshed to behold. All of these sights are tied together with a chilling, unnerving score composed by Nick Bohun (Creep Box).

Dolly is a gruesome, shocking thriller that brings to life an iconic new horror villain to haunt your nightmares. Blackhurst and Weavil have crafted a tale of murder, mayhem, and motherhood audiences won’t soon forget. It features great performances from Therese and Max the Impaler, along with graphic and disturbing violence. This is the kind of film that will make viewers feel dirty after watching, which is a testament to Blackhurst’s ability to bring the story to life. Keep an eye out for when Dolly gets a wide release – this is one violent horror film that needs to be seen to be believed.

OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10