by Henry Pham
If you’re looking for something simple, brutal, and a more serious horror movie, your best bet is this one, as you did for Weapons or Sinners. If you’re not a horror fan, please consider skipping this one. The film has been featured at Fantastic Fest 2025 in Austin, Texas, and is based on the director Rod Blackhurst’s own 2022 short film, Babygirl. The story for this version follows a young woman, Macy, who, along with her boyfriend Chase, sets off for a lovely hike in the woods. However, as she gets lost in the woods, she is abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise her as her own child. With that, Macy must rally herself and fight against that monster for survival.
Fabianne Therese (Netflix’s Teenage Cocktail) stars as Macy, who is abducted by a doll-like monster and taken to its abandoned home in the woods. The creature treats Macy as its own child. While Therese may not be widely known, her performance is compelling, capturing both the intensity of horror and the will to survive. She delivers raw, unfiltered emotion and portrays vulnerability in the most effective manner. Supporting performances from Seann William Scott (American Pie films), Ethan Suplee (Mallrats), and Max the Impaler (in their acting debut) are solid and help advance the story.
Rod Blackhurst directed the film and also contributed to the story for Night Swim, which was directed by Bryce McGuire, produced by James Wan and Jason Blum, and starred Wyatt Russell and Oscar nominee Kerry Condon. Although Night Swim received negative reviews, it grossed over $54 million worldwide at the box office. Dolly stands out as an independent production, featuring impressive 1970s-inspired cinematography by Justin Derry. The film pays homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Toxic Avenger franchises, yet it clearly reflects Blackhurst’s unique vision. Special effects are strong, though the CGI becomes inconsistent in the second half, which features intense scenes of blood and gore. While the Dolly character is unsettling, the overall tone remains somewhat lighthearted.
As you remember from the past, horror movies are not my thing. It may not be perfect, but it’s a savage, violent movie intended for horror fans and the people who love horror films, including some disturbing ones. It goes look like it’s a horror film directed or produced by James Wan, but it’s not. This film shows that we need to step away from movies offered by James Wan and Jason Blum, and focus on looking at other horror filmmakers, both unknown and low-budget ones, as they also have some powerful voices to share. Dolly is a dark, gritty tale that recaptures the spirit of a 1970s horror thriller. It clocks in at 83 minutes, which is oddly short for a horror movie. The reason for this runtime is probably due to pacing, which felt short and dragging. I want to see more of this if the filmmakers have not cut down some of the good stuff away, maybe add some scenes to build a 90-minute movie would fix this. Still, as mentioned in my intro, it is simple, brutal, and serious, and you will get a decent amount of entertainment if you go along with this thrilling adventure.
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