Carl Roberts 
“While it doesn’t reinvent the horror movie/ slasher movie wheel, Rod Blackhurst’s Dolly is a great throwback to those 1970s/1980s slasher flicks.”
If you’re like me and remember those heady days of the horror/slasher movie craze of the 1970s/1980s, you’ll be happy with Dolly. Rod Blackhurst takes his 2022 short film, Babygirl, and expands it into a full-length feature. The cast includes Fabianne Therese, Max the Impaler, and Seann William Scott. Moreover, the film premiered at last year’s Fantastic Fest. Featuring elements that are clear from the start, is the film a great movie to play with? Or should it have stayed in the toybox?
PREMISE
The film follows Macy, a young woman who battles for her survival after a monstrous figure abducts her, determined to raise her as its child.
THOUGHTS
From the very start of the film, we can see where the film’s influences lie. It looks almost like a grindhouse film, all grainy and seemingly shot on 35mm. It also has the feel of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre at times. This tells you all you need to know about the film. That being said, it actually suits it perfectly. It feels like a 1970s/1980s slasher, a throwback to those days that those of us of a certain age remember well. Furthermore, it reminded me of one of the low-budget horror movies that hit VHS at the height of the horror movie craze in the early 1980s. And it was a welcome reminder of those days.
With a story that moves fairly briskly, some nasty deaths and sequences, and a plot that keeps us guessing and doesn’t tie up all loose ends by the climax, the film manages to hold our attention throughout its 83-minute runtime. With that said, though, if there was ever a film that is crying out for a prequel movie, this is it. Like X, which stretched into a prequel and a sequel, the film really needs both. There’s an important backstory that deserves to be told. I want to dive deeper into Dolly’s character before the events of this film.
THE CAST
Apart from some brief scenes with Seann William Scott, the film focuses mainly on the characters of Fabianne Therese as Macy and Max the Impaler as Dolly. Between them , the relationship is a shocking, frightening and almost toxic one. Dolly treats Macy as if she really is a child. Like a baby, in fact. This leads to some scenes that are shocking, horrific, but surprisingly, almost tender. Dolly seems to really care and love Macy as if she were her own daughter. When Macy wets herself in fright, Dolly changes her. She even feeds Macy like a mother would feed a baby.
However, when it comes to nursing her from her breast, the scene becomes one of repulsion and horror. Between them, Fabianne Therese and Max the Impaler are a superb pairing, giving their all in their respective roles. While we are never comfortable with the pair, we can see a small bond forming between them. However, when have you ever known a mother to rip a child’s ear almost off and then lovingly reattach it by sewing it back into place? Dolly disciplines her ‘child’ violently at times, turning understanding into horror.
VERDICT
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel of horror/slasher movies, Rod Blackhurst’s Dolly is a great throwback to those 1970s/1980s slasher flicks. It does enough to convince us to require more of the two main characters and a prequel showing us what went on previously in Dolly’s life. Although we can get a sort of picture with this film, we need to know more so we can understand it better. Perhaps that’s what Rod Blackhurst is aiming for. To be honest, he does deserve to get the chance to tell the backstory of Dolly’s life and existence. There’s more to the story than the startling image of her cradling a headless body at the start of the film before chopping off one of its fingers. Why is she doing this? We want and need to know.
With that in mind, we are thankful for what we have been given here. Yes, it may not be completely original, but it is effective. The main problem with the film is that it chops the plot into chapters, some of which only last two minutes. It does begin to grate on the nerves after a while. But if we overlook this, we will have a lot of fun.
This is, as I said before, a welcome throwback to the VHS days, a reminder to many of us why we fell in love with the horror genre in the first place. At times, I could actually picture myself going to the video store and renting the film back in the day. With some knowing nods and easter eggs to look out for during the film, Dolly is a worthy and enjoyably nasty little tale that will be an ideal Friday night at the movies. Just don’t disturb her, defy her, or allow yourself to sit on her lap.
Dolly will be in cinemas from Friday, courtesy of Vertigo Releasing.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
